Experimental chlamydial salpingitis in immunosuppressed guinea pigs infected in the genital tract with the agent of guinea pig inclusion conjunctivitis. At necropsy indication of spread of infection to fallopian tubes was found in 25 of 41 (60%) female guinea pigs infected in the genital tract with the chlamydial agent of guinea pig inclusion conjunctivitis and immunosuppressed with cyclophosphamide. Eighteen were examined histologically, and the diagnosis of acute salpingitis was confirmed in 10, based on inflammatory reaction, detection of guinea pig inclusion conjunctivitis in tissue, and formation of cysts (pyosalpinx and hydrosalpinx). Infection of fallopian tube tissue was confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence and electron microscopy. Infection of endometrial tissue and peritoneum was also recognized. Data suggested that the immunosuppression mediated by cyclophosphamide resulted in a prolonged genital tract infection and concomitant ascending infection leading to salpingitis.


Macrophages in immunity to syphilis: suppressive effect of concurrent infection with Mycobacterium bovis BCG on the development of syphilitic lesions and growth of Treponema pallidum in tuberculin-positive rabbits. Paired groups of male rabbits were challenged with Treponema pallidum and Mycobacterium bovis BCG. One group had been sensitized to BCG by inoculation 3 weeks before challenge. All animals were challenged intradermally at multiple sites with T. pallidum alone, BCG alone, and both organisms into the same sites. The resulting lesions were followed clinically and histologically. BCG lesions enlarged more rapidly in sensitized rabbits, but they were otherwise no different from those in the controls. T. pallidum lesions enlarged and regressed simultaneously in both groups, but in the BCG-sensitized animals they became twice as large as those in the unsensitized rabbits. Mixed BCG-T. pallidum lesions showed the greatest differences in the two groups of animals. Like the pure BCG lesions, they enlarged more rapidly in the sensitized rabbits but began to recede after 1 week. The corresponding lesions in the controls enlarged more slowly and reached their maximum size after 3 weeks when the receding lesions in the sensitized animals were much smaller. The most marked histological-histochemical difference between the two groups of animals was in the number and activation of macrophages. These cells were more numerous in the mixed lesions of BCG-sensitized animals than in similar lesions of the controls and more activated as determined by beta-galactosidase staining. Although sparsely distributed, activated macrophages were more numerous in the pur T. pallidum lesions of sensitized animals than in those of control animals. Silver-stained sections revealed fewer treponemes in mixed lesions of sensitized animals than in the mixed lesions of control animals. Quantitation of treponemes in pure T. pallidum versus mixed lesions was determined in two groups of rabbits challenged intratesticularly. The total number of treponemes per testis in the mixed lesions of BCG-sensitized rabbits was significantly less than the number in the mixed lesions of control animals, and also less than the number in pure T. pallidum lesions of both groups of animals.


Combined effect of intercalating agents and antibiotics on R-factor carrying bacteria in broth culture. Growth of Salmonella typhimurium LT2 and Escherichia coli K12 bearing any of four R-factors of the fi+ and fi- group in repressed and derepressed form was not inhibited by a combination of ethidium bromide with ampicillin and kanamycin.


[Tobramycin concentrations in human renal tissue (author's transl)]. Investigation of kidneys from 20 patients revealed relatively low tobramycin concentrations in cortex and medulla after one day of treatment. After administration for several days a significant accumulation was observed in only one of three patients. Attention is drawn to the higher tobramycin concentrations found in renal parenchyma which has undergone chronic inflammatory changes compared to the "normal" values in kidneys infiltrated by tumours. A higher accumulation thus occurs in renal tissue which has already undergone structural damage as a result of bacterial inflammation.


[Wild-type and acquired resistance patterns of clinical isolates of Escherichia coli (author's transl)]. Stored data on the inhibition zone diameters of 2274 strains of Escherichia coli that had been determined during the first five investigation periods (1975 to 1977) of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft "Resistenz" using the standard disc susceptibility test on Mueller-Hinton agar, were evaluated for: (1) frequency of secondary resistance to ampicillin, carbenicillin, cephalothin, chloramphenicol, kanamycin, nitrofurantoin, streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole on the basis of statistically defined break points; (2) number, frequency, and qualitative characteristics of multiple resistance patterns; (3) regional distribution of the more common resistance patterns; (4) more detailed characterization of resistance patterns using the mean diameters of inhibition zones; and (5) occurrence of additional resistance determinants. The significance of such data in the epidemiological control of resistance to chemotherapeutics in gram-negative bacteria is discussed.


Reparable and irreparable damage in yeast cells induced by sparsely ionizing radiation. It is shown that in diploid yeast there are significant differences in the extent of irreparable damage after irradiation with X-rays, 60Co-gamma-rays and 30 MeV electrons. At extremely low dose rates, 60Co-gamma-rays were found to produce almost no irreparable damage at least up to 1200 Gy. X-rays, however, at the same low dose rate caused irreparable damage in the same dose range yielding a surviving fraction of 0.25 at 1200 Gy. For irradiations at high dose rate followed by liquid holding recovery the relative biological effectiveness of X-rays amounted to at least 4 for absorbed doses of up to 1000 Gy. With 30 MeV electrons at high dose rates an accumulation of sublethal and potentially lethal damage resulting in irreparable damage occurred above 1000 Gy. It is suggested that irreparable damage in yeast is due to a cooperative effect of neighbouring track ends.


Excision of uracil from bromodeoxyuridine-substituted and U.V.-irradiated DNA in cultured mouse lymphoma cells. A uracil-DNA glycosylase activity was detected in cell-free extracts from cultured mouse lymphoma L5178 cells. We investigated whether or not this enzyme plays a role in the removal of uracil from chromosomal DNA. U.V. light (254nm) irradiation of the cells with BUdR-substituted DNA produced not only single-strand breaks but also 'internal' uracil residues that were recognized as substrate sites by uracil-DNA glycosylase. These 'internal' uracil residues were lost from the DNA upon reincubation of the irradiated cells. The product released from the DNA was identified as uracil. Thus, the intracellular action of the uracil-DNA glycosylase was demonstrated and the subsequent reconstitution of the DNA strand was inferred in cultured mammalian cells.


Mechanism of action of nitroimidazole antimicrobial and antitumour radiosensitizing drugs. Effects of reduced misonidazole on DNA. Electrolytic reduction of the hypoxic tumour cell radiosensitizing drug misonidazole was carried out at a controlled potential under anaerobic conditions in the presence of Escherichia coli DNA. During the reduction process the DNA was examined by viscometry, thermal hyperchromicity, melting and renaturation profiles, hydroxyapatite chromatography, agarose gel electrophoresis and alkaline sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The reduced drug decreases the viscosity, hyperchromicity and renaturation of DNA. These effects are consistent with strand breakage of the molecule which was corroborated by finding an increase in the single-strand content of DNA, increased migration and loss of fluorescence intensity on agarose gels and sedimentation to a less dense region in alkaline sucrose density gradients. The results are discussed in relation to postulated mechanisms of the selective toxicity of the drug towards anaerobes and cytotoxicity of electron affinic radiosensitizers of hypoxic tumour cells.


Investigation of phospholipid changes in actively metabolizing by high-performance liquid chromatography of 32P-labelled phospholipids. A high-performance liquid chromatographic system was employed to study turnover rates of phospholipids in various types of cells, such as leukocytes, erythrocytes and yeast cells. In the extracts obtained from 32P-labelled cells ten to twelve different phospholipids could be identified. Phosphatidyl glycerol and other minor phospholipids show a high specific activity, so that the lipids may be readily detected. The reproducibility and sensitivity of the method permits the determination of lipid changes during nutrient uptake, phagocytosis, or other cellular activities.


Rapid assay for tryptophanase using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. A rapid and sensitive high-performance liquid-chromatographic assay for tryptophanase based upon the fluorometric measurement of the enzymatically liberated indole was developed. The total incubation time is 20 min, and the reversed-phase separation is fast (elution time of indole in 8 min) and reproducible. The sensitivity of the method is in the nanomole range. This method was tested in the assay of tryptophanase activity in E. coli, giving an average activity of 6589.6 U/g of cells. Because of its speed, high sensitivity and minimal sample preparation, this method circumvents several problems commonly encountered in standard spectrophotometric methods of analysis.


High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of prostacyclin. A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the analysis of prostacyclin using a laboratory prepared reversed-phase column packing is described. A relative standard deviation of less than 1% was obtained for ten replicate injections. The system resolves prostacyclin from its hydrolysis product, 6-oxo-prostaglandin F1 alpha and from other prostaglandins present as impurities. These can be estimated to levels of approximately 0.5%. The separation of other unrelated prostaglandins by this method is briefly reported.


[Quantitative and qualitative aspects of Feulgen's reaction in neurons of Gasser's ganglion of the rat fetus]. This quantitative and qualitative photometric study of the Feulgen reaction, shows in trigeminal ganglion neurones of rat foetuses, a differential effect of the tested fixatives upon chromatin stability in response to different types of acid hydrolysis. The technic conditions the most adapted to foetal ganglion neurones are: fixation with formalin (Regaud or salted formalin), hydrolysis with chlorhydric acid (HCl 5N) at room temperature which gives a Feulgen reaction of great intensity and stability for hydrolysis lasting from 30--40 to 60 minutes. Furthermore the fact that the maximal reaction intensity is reached with relatively short hydrolysis points out the weakness of chromatin stability in foetal ganglion neurones. Histophotometric study of the Feulgen reaction conditions in rat foetal trigeminel ganglion neurones.


Evaluation of procedures suggested for reducing the pathology workload in a carcinogenesis testing program. A sampling procedure for reducing the pathology workload in evaluating a carcinogenicity bioassay was utilized for a rodent bioassay. The use of the procedure resulted in 50 percent fewer tissues being examined histologically, in the control groups and 12 percent fewer tissues in the treatment groups. The obvious saving in pathologist's time was negated by an increase in technician time, interference with quality control procedures and loss of nontumor pathology information.


Long-term effects of perinatal exposure to hormones on normal and neoplastic mammary growth in rodents: a review. Exposure of mammals to hormones and drugs during pregnancy sometimes results in profound consequences in the offspring. In this review, the long-term effects of perinatal exposure to hormones on the mammary gland in female rodents at advanced ages are discussed as a model for possible human consequences of antenatal exposure to sex hormones. In general, antenatal hormone treatments may influence the development and growth of the mammary gland. Perinatal treatment with estrogen, androgen, progesterone, or even prolactin in some cases induces not only irreversible abnormality of mammary growth but also influences spontaneous and carcinogen-induced mammary tumorigenesis. Effects of neonatal hormone treatment on mammary tumorigenesis, which appear to be mainly due to the endogenous hormone imbalance produced, vary according to the time and period of the treatment and to the species and/or strain employed.


[Rhinobasal deompression of the optic nerve following trauma (author's transl)]. Six cases of indirect trauma of the optic nerve caused by head injuries are reported. After rhinobasal decompression of the optic nerve an improvement in visual acuity and visual field was achieved in 4 cases. The indication for optic nerve decompression is discussed, comparing the neurosurgical transfrontal procedure with rhinobasal decompression. The authors advise an early operation, because an improvement may be accomplished even if blindness has occurred immediately after the accident.


[Pars plana vitrectomy--results and complication of 100 consecutive cases (author's transl)]. Indications, results and complications of 100 consecutive cases of pars plana vitrectomy are reported. In 83% of patients with anterior segment and/or vitreous opacities a clear view to the fundus could be obtained; visual acuity improved significantly in 73%. Complicated retinal detachments, not managable with conventional retinal surgery, could be reattached in 26% of the cases. In carefully selected patients vitrectomy was indicated to stabilize the anatomic situation and to prevent further visual deterioration.


[Long-term follow-ups of iris sutures (author's transl]. Previous reports from the Freiburg Eye Clinic concerning surgical techniques and experiences with iris sutures are complemented by this description of long-term follow-ups (up to 8 years, 6 1/2 years on average) of a random selection of 65 eye which underwent surgery. There were no harmful reactions to the suture of the suture material (nylon, 30 micrometers). Three-fourths of the eyes examined presented with tissue bridges, indicating fibroblastic unification of the sutured tissues. Even where there was preoperative atrophy of the connected iris parts (following glaucoma attacks with iris infarction) the connection remained stable over the years. These long-term follow-up findings support earlier recommendations concerning indication and surgical technique.


[Timolol: long-term results, tolerance test and early-morning measurements (author's transl)]. In a study lasting 16 months, Timolol was tested on 57 eyes of a group of selected patients with open-angle glaucoma. Patients whose IOP could not be stabilized with the 0.25% solution were treated with 0.5% drops twice a day. In five separate cases, where regulation was inadequate, pilocarpine 2% twice a day was prescribed in addition. At the end of 16 months' treatment pressure had been lowered to a statistically highly significant degree in 66% of the patients. While the degree of regulation in the remainder was not statistically sifnificant, most of them were adequately stabilized. Further, following stabilization with Timolol, 42% of the patients were subjected to tolerance tests under constant conditions (darkness test, water test, coffee and tea tolerance) and their 6.00 a.m.values were measured. While good pressure levels were recorded in the tolerance tests, the early-morning IOP rose to critical threshold levels in some patients. However, during the entire period of observation visual fields and optic disk findings remained unaltered in all cases. Only a few cases were subjective and/or objective side-effects seen. Ten percent of those patients who had been treated previously required new glasses (+0,5 to +1 D over the previous correction).


[Central serous retinitis or chorioretinitis (retinopathy or chorioretinopathy) and central hemorrhagic chorioretinitis (juvenile disciform macular detachment; focal hemorrhagic chorioiditis, presumed histoplasmosis) (author's transl)]. There are no clinical or etiological connections between central serous and central hemorrhagic chorioretinitis, Serous chorioretinitis is seen mostly in men; full visual acuity is regained in approx. 80% of all cases. It mainly affects subjects aged between 36 and 45. Hemorrhagic chorioretinitis affects both sexes to about the same extent and causes severe impairment of visual acuity. Both forms should be regarded as genuine inflammations (chorioretinitis centralis serosa, chorioretinitis centralis hemorrhagica), not as "pathies". Whereas the hemorrhagica disease is generally thought to be caused by inflammation, the serous form also often shows signs of inflammation such as varying leakages with inflammatory depigmentation and more frequently inflammatory protein increase (exudate) with precipitation on the posterior surface of the retina/anterior surface of the pigment epithelium.


Interrelationships between sodium clearance, plasma aldosterone, plasma renin activity, renal hemodynamics and blood pressure in renal disease. This study was designed to evaluate the role of aldosterone, glomerular filtration and blood pressure on sodium excretion in renal disease. Sodium clearance (CNa), plasma aldosterone (PA), plasma renin activity (PRA), glomerular filtration rate (GF), paraaminohippurate clearance (CPAH) and blood pressure were measured simultaneously in 19 normal subjects, 38 patients with benign essential hypertension, 3 with renal artery stenosis, 48 with chronic glomerulonephritis, 20 with the nephrotic syndrome, 24 with tubulo-interstitial disease and 21 with a renal homograft. CNa was significantly depressed in patients with the nephrotic syndrome. Mean PA and PRA were increased in renal artery stenosis but within the normal range in other groups. CNa correlated inversely with PA in all groups but one (tubulo-interstitial disease). CNa correlated directly with GF in the nephrotic syndrome and with the mean blood pressure (mBP) in chronic glomerulonephritis and tubulo-interstitial disease. PA correlated directly with PRA and inversely with GF or CPAH in most groups. It is concluded that PA is an important determinant of the basal natriuresis in renal disease with the exception of tubulo-interstitial nephropathies. In the nephrotic syndrome sodium retention is largely determined by the interaction of PA and GF. In chronic nephropathies, but not in benign essential hypertension, the fractional sodium excretion is partly blood pressure-dependent. Impairment of renal function is often accompanied by a rise in PA.


Protein-RNA interactions during TMV assembly. A review of the structural studies of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) is given. TMV is essentially a flat helical microcrystal with 16 1/3 subunits per turn. A single strand of RNA runs along the helix and is deeply embedded in the protein. The virus particles form oriented gels from which high-resolution X-ray fiber diffraction data can be obtained. This may be interpreted by the use of six heavy-chain derivatives to give an electron density map at 0.4 nm resolution from which the RNA configuration and the form of the inner part of the protein subunit may be determined. In addition, the protein subunits form a stable 17-fold two-layered disk which is involved in virus assembly and which crystallizes. By the use of noncrystallographic symmetry and a single heavy-atom derivative, it has been possible to solve the structure of the double disk to 0.28 nm resolution. In this structure one sees that an important structural role is played by four alpha-helices, one of which (the LR helix) appears to form the main binding site for the RNA. The main components of the binding site appear to be hydrophobic interactions with the bases, hydrogen bonds between aspartate groups and the sugars, and arginine salt bridges to the phosphate groups. The binding site is between two turns of the virus helix or between the turns of the double disk. In the disk, the region proximal to the RNA binding site is in a random coil until the RNA binds, whereupon the 24 residues involved build a well-defined structure, thereby encapsulating the RNA.


The regional association of actin and myosin with sites of particle phagocytosis. Contractile proteins are thought to play a causative role in motile processes such as phagocytosis. In order to investigate their role in phagocytosis further, simultaneous immunofluorescence localization of F-actin and myosin was carried out in resident mouse peritoneal macrophages after phagocytosis of opsonized zymosan particles. Both actin and myosin appeared to concentrate rapidly at sites of particle phagocytosis. The observed concentration of both proteins at such sites preceded ultimate particle engulfment. Cytochalasin B, a drug which was shown to block pseudopod extensions around the particle, did not prevent the concentration of the two congth effects as an explanation for the observed concentration of actin and myosin at phagocytic sites. Kinetic analysis showed that actin rapidly concentrates at particle-cell binding sites within minutes (or less) of contact with cell surface. The two proteins are present throughout the engulfment phase until and after ingestion is complete. Finally, at later times the particles become clustered over the cell nucleus and the particle-associated actin-myosin seen earlier is no longer evident.


Neuropeptide hormones in cerebrospinal fluid. Experimental and clinical aspects. Neuroendocrinologists are now realising that the brain-pituitary relationships in man are more complex than they had previously thought. It seems that the brain is also a gland, whereas the pituitary produces neuropeptide hormones which work in the brain. Since most substances which carry information between those two neuroendocrine partners are present in cerebrospinal fluid, it is natural to assume that cerebrospinal fluid has an important role as a carrier of molecular signals between the brain and pituitary. Whether or not the analysis of cerebrospinal fluid neuropeptide hormones will give more information about the brain activity in neurological and psychiatric patients is not yet known exactly despite some promising new findings.


An autoradiographic study on the fate of 65Zn in zinc-rich tissues in some rodents. Whole-body autoradiography of 65Zn, administered as 65ZnCl2, in mice showed a high initial radioactivity in several parenchymatous organs. Some other tissues showed a rather slow accumulation and a pronounced retention of 65Zn. This applied to the pancreatic islets, which showed the highest soft-tissue radioactivity at most survival intervals and in which 65Zn was detected still 60 days after a single dose. 65Zn was also retained in the hippocampus of the brain, the dorsolateral prostate, Paneth cells in the intestine, the bone and the hair. A few guinea-pigs and rabbits were studied. In the guinea-pigs, there was no specific labelling of the pancreatic islets. The rabbits showed the highest soft-tissue radioactivity in the mandibular salivary gland. Most tissues which retained a high level of 65 Zn have previously been reported as containing high levels of endogenous zinc. The results of the present study indicate that there is a slow zinc-turnover in these tissues.


Hypothalamo-pituitary regulation of liver function. Sex differences exist in the metabolism of histidine, drugs and steroids by the liver. These differences are controlled, at least in the rat, by the hypothalamo-pituitary axis. Histidase is controlled by growth hormone, giving an increase in the male to the female level. Drug and steroid metabolism are controlled directly from the pituitary in the female rat by means of an unidientified hormone designated "feminizing factor". In the male rat, androgens derived from the testes and adrenals  are involved in the regulation of liver function, probably by a feedback action on the pituitary secretion of feminizing factor. The thyroid glands are involved in the control of liver function in both males and females. Regulation of lactogenic receptors in rat liver is very similar to that of drug and steroid metabolism. The secretion of feminizing factor is regulated by the hypothalamus and probably involves higher centres, notably the amygdala.


Bone marrow chromosomes in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: a long-term study. The bone marrow chromosomes of 25 children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) were examined at diagnosis before treatment, during remission, and in 12 cases, also during relapse. Follow-up was for at least six years. At diagnosis, 17 patients had a major population of chromosomally abnormal cells and of these 11 had identifiable clones. The commonest abnormality was hyperdiploidy. Eight patients had predominantly normal cells, but four of these had a minor abnormal clone. In remission, some samples were completely normal but, when pooled, remission samples had a minor population of chromosomally aberrant cells which were rarely clonal. The incidence of structural abnormalities was the same in patients who ultimately relapsed and those who remained in first remission at the end of the study, but the presence of hyperdiploid cells and/or clones in remission was more frequently associated with subsequent relapse. Relapse patterns were of two kinds: in three patients there was a return of the chromosomal abnormalities seen at diagnosis; in six others, chromosomal features in relapse were distinct from those at diagnosis. It is suggested that relapse associated with distinct chromosomal features may represent malignant transformation of a previously unaffected cell line. While chromosomal abnormalities seen prior to treatment can be related to the leukaemic event alone, abnormalities seen in remission and in relapse may result partly from drug and X-ray treatment. The relative importance of treatment and other factors to chromosomal change in ALL is discussed.


[Regulatory role of proteolytic enzymes]. The article reviews various aspects of the regulatory function of proteolytic enzymes: their role in the biogenesis of some physiologically active proteins and peptides, in triggering and mediation of a variety of biological processes, in intracellular interactions and in metabolic refolding during adaptation. The data on localization and functions of some intracellular proteolytic enzymes, as well as data on regulation of their activity are presented. The limited proteolysis as an especial form of biological control is considered.


[Repair of recombinant plasmids].

[Repair of recombinant plasmids]. Comparative analysis of UV-sensitivity was carried out on plasmids of various molecular weight. Recombinant plasmids containing fragments of prokaryotic DNA (E. coli, phage lambda) are repaired in E. coli cells more effectively than those containing eukaryotic DNA fragments. It was also shown that UV-sensitivity of recombinant plasmids is independent of their molecular weight provided that the active repair process in fact occurs. UV-sensitivity was strongly proporational to DNA size only when E. coli double mutant strain was used as host. The survival of plasmids strongly increased after M. luteus UV-endonuclease treatment when E. coli mutant strain uvr- was used as host, but remained practically constant in case of wild type strain. Agarose gel electrophoresis data provide evidence that DNA double-stranded breaks appear un UV-irradiated as well as in UV-endonuclease treated plasmids. One can suggest that UV-inactivation of plasmids results from DNA breaking as a consequence of repair gaps overlap when wild type strain is used as host. Mathematical analysis was carried out assuming this possibility. Experimental data are shown to fit theoretical values calculated assuming that the repair gap size in one DNA strand is equal to 2000-3000 bases.


[Cold-sensitive mutation in the beta-subunit of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase affecting the opening of promoters]. A cold-sensitive mutation in Escherichia coli, affecting the beta-subunit of RNA polymerase and causing an increase in the temperature of promoter opening on T2 phage DNA, was obtained. The mutation also affects the stages preceding promoter opening by increasing the dissociation rate of RNA polymerase--DNA closed complexes. The affinity of RNA polymerase to T2- and lambda-DNA is differently changed by the mutation. The relative efficiency of transcription of these two templates is also changed. These results suggest a participation of the beta-subunit of RNA polymerase in the interaction with promoters.


[Arguments in favor of the genetic origin of malformed syringohydromyelic pictures]. After a critical analysis of the criteria usually used for arguing in favor of the hydrodynamic determinism of the syringohydromyelic malformations, the authors report convincing data according to which such dysmorphic status would be the result of abnormalities in the genetic programs of the morphogenesis of the central canal.


[Effect of rifampicin and RNA polymerase changing mutation on the spectrum of proteins synthesized in Escherichia coli cells]. Rifampicin (30 mkg/ml) drastically changes the spectra of proteins synthesized by E. coli cells. The formation of some polypeptides is stimulated while that of others is inhibited. Thus, the earlier reported rifampicin stimulation of the synthesis of RNA polymerase beta and beta'-polypeptides is not an exception, the formation of some other proteins is being also enhanced by the antibiotic. After infection of UV-irradiated cells by lambda rifd47 transducing phage the viral proteins are less inhibited than the bacterial ones encoded by the phage. The spectra of proteins synthesized are also affected by rpoC1 mutation at non-permissive temperature. The obtained data suggest that rifampicin and rpoC1 mutation change the interaction of RNA polymerase with different promoters and/or regulatory factors.


[Experimental models of vascular microsurgery on small-calibre arteries]. The authors, after studying the various types of microvascular sutures performed by participants at the Microsurgical Course (Dr Ph. Ploncard) from the Brussel University during a chosen period of over one year, draw several conclusions concerning the results in order to explain the main failures that may be found--aneurysms, stenosis, thrombosis--after surgery. The indications of this type of training are pointed out-extra-intracranial by pass, coronary by pass, flap revascularisation, etc... A good technique gained after an intense training together with an obvious individual predisposition are according to the authors the two main reasons of success in this meticulous surgery.


[Quaternary structure of the ribosomal 30S subparticle: the model and its experimental verification]. In considering the structure of the ribosomal 30S subparticle from Escherichia coli we have assumed that : 1) all or almost all the proteins in the 30S subparticle are compact and globular as has been shown for isolated proteins S4, S7, S8, S15 and S16 in solution [Serdyuk I. N., Zaccai G. and Spirin A. S. (1978) FEBS Letters, 94, 349-352]; 2) RNA within the 30S subparticle has the same specific V-like or Y-like shape demonstrated for the isolated 16S RNA in a compact conformation [Vasiliev V. D., Selivanova O. M. and Koteliansky V. E. (1978) FEBS Letters, 95, 273-276]. On the basis of this assumption and numerous data published on the mutual localization of ribosomal proteins, we have constructed a model of the quaternary structure of the ribosomal 30S subparticle. We have tested the model by comparing the theoretically calculated curves of neutron and X-ray scattering at different contrasts with the corresponding experimental scattering curves of the E. coli 30S subparticles and have found that they coincide. The calculated scattering curves of several previously published three-dimensional diagrams of protein topography in the 30S subparticle do not agree with experiment.


The management of muscular dystrophy: a clinical review. The optimal management of muscular dystrophy is multidisciplinary and aggressive in nature. Serial assessment aids in determining the functional stage of the disease and in indicating specific therapies. Physical therapy can augment strength through exercise and relieve contracture through passive stretching. Occupational therapy is employed to help the patient manage his activities of daily living within the restrictions imposed on him by his disease. Progressive disability can be delayed through a variety of physiatric and orthopedic techniques, including surgical release of lower-extremity contracture, repair of foot and ankle deformity, and correction of scoliosis. Appropriate orthoses are available, as are a variety of special devices to facilitate ongoing care for postambulatory patients. Physicians treating the muscular dystrophies should be aware of the complications of these diseases, particularly cardiomyopathy, pulmonary failure, and psychological and social problems.


[(Informed consent in clinical trials and its impact on methods of randomization and statistical evaluation)]. If patients eligible for a clinical trial are fully informed on alternative therapies, randomization, risks, benefits and right to refuse some of them will disagree with randomization. Random procedures which pay regard to that fact are described. The effect on statistical evaluation and sample sizes is investigated.


[(General rehabilitation in oncology)].

[(General rehabilitation in oncology)]. Rehabilitation has become a modern expression. For many years optimal rehabilitation has been carried out in many different sectors of illness. Too few activities, however, have been developed for the rehabilitation and control of cancer patients. No other group requires rehabilitation as foremost as that of cancer patients who need a complete and complex program which besides pure medical treatment affords psychosomatic care primarily. By developing a program under the title "Wiener Modell" (Vienna Model), our department was able to put into practice a suitable program for the control of cancer patients. The success was possible due to the excellent teamwork of doctors, nurses and therapeuts as well as the inter-disciplinary cooperation of all specialists available in a municipal modern hospital.


[Anemia in malignant tumors. Loss of circulating transferrin due to lysosomal storage in human and rat malignant tumors]. The cellular uptake of 67Ga-labelled transferrin was studied in the carcinoma of the human respiratory tract and in the Morris hepatoma 5123 C of the rat. In both types of tumors a positive tumor imaging by 67Ga-transferrin scintigraphy was evident. The intracellular distribution pattern of the radioactivity showed that the incorporated 67Ga-transferrin is accumulated within the lysosomes of the tumors. The uptake of 67Ga-transferrin by the tumor cells resulted in a faster disappearance of the tracer from the blood. The accelerated disappearance of 67Ga-transferrin from the blood showed a direct correlation to the mass of tumor cells. The loss of circulating 67Ga-transferrin from the blood showed a close parallelism to the grade of the anemia observed in the tumor bearing rats. We conclude from these findings that the uptake of transferrin into the tumor cells is one of the factors which are responsible for the anemia observed in malignant diseases.


[(Management of acute toxicity after high dose methotrexate therapy)]. A 13-year-old girl with osteosarcoma and pulmonary metastases developed life-threatening renal toxicity, encephalopathy, and bone marrow failure following high dose methotrexate therapy. After successful treatment, high dose methotrexate therapy was continued without further problems. Recommendations for the prevention and the current management of methotrexate toxicity are discussed.


[(Meningeal carcinomatosis in patients with breast cancer)]. Four cases of breast cancer with meningeal involvement are presented and a review of the literature is given. Post mortem examination of patients with malignant epithelial tumors shows meningeal carcinomatosis in less than 1%. In these solid tumors breast cancer is the most common primary site. The mode of tumor spread to the leptomeninges is not yet decisively known. Clinical symptoms and findings can be divided concerning three anatomic areas: cerebral, cranial nerve and spinal root. Slow onset of clinical symptoms and findings as well as their mixed pattern is generally noticed. Characteristic findings in cerebrospinal fluid are increased protein content, hypoglycorrhachia and identification of malignant cells. Other laboratory tests are generally of no diagnostic value. In some cases myelogram shows typical alterations. The value of computerized tomography in meningeal carcinomatosis remains to be solved. The following treatment for meningeal carcinomatosis by breast cancer can be recommended: Intrathecal methotrexate 0.2 mg/kg every 3 or 4 days until improvement of symptoms and laboratory findings in cerebrospinal fluid, followed by radiation of the clinically most involved areas and maintenance therapy with intrathecal methotrexate or systemic BCNU.


[(Diagnosis of pancreatitis and pancreatic carcinoma by means of intraoperative fine needle aspiration biopsy)]. Intraoperative fine needle aspiration biopsies were performed in 69 patients with clinical suspicion of pancreatic carcinoma. The biopsies were positive in 20 to 25 patients with proven pancreatic carcinoma. The cytologic appearances and the cellular components of pancreatic carcinoma and pancreatitis are presented and illustrated.


Residual corneal astigmatism after perforating keratoplasty. A statistical analysis was made of post-operative astigmatism after perforating keratoplasty in subjects with various corneal diseases. A total of 100 cases were analyzed on discharge (25th day) and 6 months after surgery. The degree of astigmatism and its time course was assessed, and its effect on post-operative visual acuity was investigated, including any changes resulting from removal of the continuous suture. Mean astigmatism values were 4 dioptres on discharge and 4.2 dioptres after 6 months. No statistically significant relation was found between degree of astimatism and recovery of visual acuity.


Clinical aspects and importance of pneumococcal infections. Annualy in the USA, the estimated occurence of pneumococcal disease exceeds 500 000 cases of pneumonia (50 000 deaths), 1 200 000 cases of otitis media and 5 000 cases of meningitis. The pneumococcus remains the single most important pathogen which can cause pneumonia. When bacteremia accompanied pneumococcal pneumonia (one-fifth of these), the case fatality rate is approximately of 25% and exceeds 50% in individuals over 50 years of age. Most of the deaths (60%) occur within the first five days of illnesses, despite prompt antibiotic treatment of these patients. Emergence of pneumococcal strains with diminished sensitivity for penicillin, or resistant to tetracycline and other antibiotics is also a factor which lend increasing support to the concept that high risk patients should be protected from pneumococcal infection by immunoprophylaxis. A change of capsular types associated with bacteriemic disease has occured, in the USA, during the past three decades. The types 1 and 3 are less common than in the pre-antibiotic era, and the types 4, 8, 12, and 14 have become more prevalent. Infections with type 2, an epidemic type, have occured infrequently in the past 20 years. In the USA, at the present time, nearly four-fifths of bacteremic cases are associated with only 14 of the 84 pneumococcal capsular type ; in descending frequency : 8, 4, 1, 14, 3, 51, 12, 6, 56, 9, 19, 23, 5 and 20 (American system of nomenclature). The predominant capsular types of otitis media are : 1, 3, 6, 7, 14, 18 and 23. The polyvalent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine newly developed in the USA, is safe, antigenic and effective. Its widespread use can be expected to reduce the number of deaths attribuable to pneumococcal bacteremia.


[The pneumococcal infection in a general hospital of a parisian suburb: a prospective study in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges hospital (author's transl)]. The authors have carried during one year, in the hospital of Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, a prospective study on 229 cases of pneumococcal infections with bacteriological findings. They emphazise the frequency, the high-exposed groups and the gravity of these infections despite of the antibiotherapy. The emergence of multiply resistant pneumococcus makes out another argument for proposing a preventive vaccination taking notice of the most frequent serotypes found in France.


[Pneumococcal infections and pediatric intensive care (author's transl)]. During the period 1965 to 1978, 62 cases of severe pneumococcal infection were admitted in Saint-Vincent de Paul pediatric intensive care unit. Recovery without sequelae was observed in only 17 of 49 meningitis. 5 fulminant pneumococcal infections after splenectomy or other disorders were observed. This late condition may be preventable by vaccination.


[Contribution of the counter-immunoelectrophoresis for the diagnosis of pneumococcal infections (author's transl)]. Using counter-immunoelectrophoresis (CIE), the authors have looked for pneumococcal antigens in biological fluids in 141 pneumococcal infections cases (70 meningitis, 25 empyema, 40 pneumonia, 5 peritonitis, 1 pericarditis). The best results (superior to bacteriological results) were obtained with CSF and pleural fluid. Testing sputum by CIE seems to have a real interest in pneumonia. CIE associated with bacteriology, gives more than 20% increase in aetiological diagnosis in pneumococcal infections and permits to set accurate aetiological diagnosis in less than two hours.


Liver transplantation: the pathologist's perspective. In the years 1963--1977, the pathology department of the University of Colorado Medical School did 93 autopsies of patients with liver transplants. Fifteen of these patients had received a second graft. Sepsis was the greatest single cause of death or failure, and fungi and other organisms often considered opportunistic were frequent pathogens. Problems relating to removal of the liver from the donor, emplacement of the graft in the new host, and maintenance of the graft during the prolonged procedures together offer a monstrous challenge to the transplantation surgeon. All of these problems, classed as technical, include as complications infarction of the graft as the result of prolonged ischemia and blood loss or shock due to various causes, and all may produce alteration in structure of the liver; such changes may be misinterpreted as rejection. Rejection was a major cause of failure in only 5 patients, although the immunosuppression employed to control it contributed to the sepsis that so often was lethal. Hyperacute rejection was not observed in any of these transplanted livers, although 15 of these patients received a second transplant. Two of the patients whose grafts failed due to rejection had changes that indicated progression to an early stage of cirrhosis. We conclude that despite the persistent problems the liver is an organ peculiarly favorable for transplantation.


Synthesis of the nascent strand of tRNAfMet from E coli. Oligonucleotides corresponding to the total tRNAfMET FROM E. coli have been synthesized. These fragments were joined by using RNA ligase to yield quarter molecules. The 5'-quarter molecule showed 84% amino acid acceptor activity when it was combined with the natural three quarter molecule.


Spontaneous contractile activity of isolated ovarian human vein. A dual influence of prostacyclin (PGI2). The profile of spontaneous contractions as well as the influences of prostacyclin (PGI2) on the motility of human ovarian veins obtained during the estrogenic phase of the sex cycle were explored. The preparations exhibited a distinct phasic activity, which progressively decreased as isolation time progresses, dissapearing almost completely following more than two hours. PGI2 produced a biphasic influence on quiescent preparations. After the threshold is attained lower concentrations caused depression of tone whereas higher ones enhanced the basal tone and induced phasic contractile cycles. Phentolamine reduced markedly the stimulating influence of PGI2 but had no action on the inhibitory effects, whereas propranolol failed to alter either the excitatory of the depressive action. The results suggest a participation of alpha-adrenoceptive-mediated mechanisms in the stimulatory effect of PGI2. On the other hand, PGI2 may be of importance in the regulation of venous flow and the spontaneous or PGI2-induced contractions could play a role in the counter current mechanism between veins and arteries in the ovarian pedicle.


Pulmonary vascular response to prostacyclin in fetal lambs. Eighteen prostacyclin injections (19.4 +/- 1.5 micrograms/kg) were performed in five chronically instrumented, intact fetal lambs in order to study the effects on pulmonary blood flow. These resulted in a brief period of bradycardia followed by a more prolonged period of increased pulmonary blood flow. In this latter phase, pulmonary blood flow increased from a baseline value of 49 +/- 4 ml/(kg min) to 122 +/- 10 ml/(kg min). Systolic/diastolic pulmonary arterial pressure simultaneously fell from 73 +/- 2/48 +/- 1 to 68 +/- 2/42 +/- 1 mm Hg. Flow through the ductus arteriosus was unchanged and right ventricular output increased to account for the increased pulmonary blood flow. Thus, prostacyclin causes pulmonary vasodilation in intact fetal lambs and may participate in the control of fetal pulmonary blood flow and the circulatory adjustments to extra-uterine life.


Human red blood cells with normal or improved oxygen transport function prepared and frozen in the primary polyvinyl chloride plastic blood collection container. This is a report a a new system for freezing human red blood cells in the same polyvinyl chloride plastic container in which the blood is collected and separated into components. This polyvinyl chloride plastic collection bag with integrally attached transfer packs for blood collection, component separation, red blood cell biochemical modification, freezing, storage, and post-thaw dilution before washing, represents a major advancement in the freeze-preservation process. The label with the donor's blood type and identification number affixed to the bag at the time of collection remains in place throughout the freezing and thawing process. The transfused red blood cells are of superior quality, and the processing cost is less than with other methods of freeze-preservation. There is a lower risk of contamination with these red blood cells because manipulation of the product is kept at a minimum. "Rejuvenation", a bioengineering process by which outdated red blood cells can be salvaged, can be incorporated into the preservation process using one of the attached transfer packs of the primary collection bag. This process has been introduced as a possible means of alleviating the dramatic blood shortages which occur periodically. Red blood cells may also be "rejuvenated" after storage in the liquid state to increase their 2,3 DPG and ATP levels to 150 to 200% of normal, and these red blood cells with improved oxygen transport function have been administered to anemic patients with and without cardiopulmonary insufficiency, patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass and treatment with hypothermia during cardiac surgery, and in instances where nonhemolytic transfusion reactions might be expected.


[Temperature measurements in the pulp chamber during onlay and inlay preparation]. The effect of fast turning burrs and diamond points upon teeth during cavity preparation was tested in a model experiment under laboratory conditions, in order to establish possible damaging effects upon the pulp through an increase in temperature. The most effective protection comes from water cooling. Also successful was the technique of intermittent instead of continuous preparation. Only methods currently used in practice were tested thus making the test particularly valuable to daily practice. Thus it could be proved that the use of super-torque airotors as well as of the micromotor cannot cause thermic damage to the pulp if used circumspectively.


Preservation of ultrastructure after extended perfusion of mouse salivary glands with autonomic stimulating drugs. Using suitable procedures for tissue flushing and perfusion, it has been shown that perfusion stimulation of mouse salivary glands with autonomic drugs for at least 60 minutes still permits excellent preservation of tissues when perfusion fixation is used.


[Animal experiments on the persorption of Candida albicans and a possible resultant immune response (author's transl)]. The aim of this study was to find out whether the saprophytic presence of abnormally high quantities of C. albicans in the digestive tract leads to the development of a) positive serological reactions to this fungus and/or b) fungaemia via persorption. The following experiments were performed with rabbits: Administration of suspensions of living or inactivated yeast cells or of starch flour by gastric tube; intradermal immunization and administration of certain antibiotics in a separate comparative series; serological, histological and/or mycological investigations in blood, urine and tissue samples. The results gave a positive answer to both questions in that the ingestion of the yeast produced a titre of up to 1 : 320 to C. albicans and moreover showed persorption of fungal cells leading to fungaemia and, in some cases, to septicaemia. Persorption was observed histologically and found to be a completely passive procedure. The administration of doxycycline and gentamycin caused an additional increase in serological titres and in the percentage of cases of septicaemia.


[Mycosis fungoides bullosa--a case report (author's transl)]. An extremely rare variant of mycosis fungoides, presenting with bullous lesions, is reported. Histopathological examination of the skin revealed subepidermal blister formation, a diffuse mononuclear infiltrate in the uppermost parts of the dermis and the characteristic intraepithelial Pautrier microabscesses. Lutzner cells were found at the ultrastructural level. The mechanism of blister formation in mycosis fungoides is outlined.


[Antenatal assessment of fetal maturity--a comparison of ultrasound-cephalometry and radiology (author's transl)]. 334 ultrasound-cephalometries and 231 X-ray fetographies were performed for antenatal assessment of fetal maturity as well as for exact estimation of gestational age in women with unknown date of donfinement. The accurance of the predictions was compared. Ultrasound-cephalometry gave best results when performed until the 20th week of gestation. A correct prediction was obtained in 80.4% of cases. After the 20th week of gestation, the accuracy of prediction decreased. Radiology on the contrary gave optimal results at the end of pregnancy. A correct prediction of the date of confinement was obtained in 73.8% of cases, when the X-ray fetography was performed between the 37th and 40th week of gestation. At the end of gestation radiography should be performed, if there is a discrepancy between ultrasound and clinical estimation or if ultrasound-cephalometry was not carried out in early pregnancy--especially if induction of labour is necessary.


[Frequency of fungal infection in chronic bronchitis and bronchiectasis (author's transl)]. Among 1 161 patients with chronic bronchitis and 172 patients with bronchiectasis treated for a longer time with antibiotics or with antibiotics and corticosteroids and examined all for fungi in bronchial secretion, 34 = 0.9% showed a secondary infection with fungi (32 Candida, 2 Aspergillus fumigatus).


[Prolonged function time of xenogenic kidney transplants caused by the combined use of azathioprin and prednisolone]. The present publication reports about the delay of the rejection by unspecific medicamentous immuno suppression. This is the continuation of our earlier publication about the unaffected primary rejection of xenogenic kidney transplants in the closely related system fox - dog. The combined application of azathioprine and prednisolone leads to elongated function times of the kidney transplants and to the duplication of survival times of the recipients. Lymphocytotoxins, which are immuno-electrophoretic Ig G antibodies, appear two days later than in untreated recipients by hindrance of immunological reactivity. These obtain however then in consequence of the injured formation of antigen-antibody complexes a concentration increase which widely exceeds the increase of the control groups. The influence of azathioprin and prednisolone on the humoral respectively cellular immunity is talked about in the discussion. Morphological differences in the transplants are not observed in comparison with untreated recipients.


[The behavior of serum ammonia and urea under conditions of experimental liver transplantation in swine]. The investigation of the ammonia and urea metabolism beside a many of other parameters is used to demonstrate the biochemical relations under conditions of experimental liver transplantation and also during the postoperative course.


[Flow volume-velocity relationship in the circulation of acutely failing kidney transplants (experimental study)]. The volume velocity-relation of renal blood flow was examined in transplanted dog kidneys during the oliguanuric phase of the acute renal failure (ARF). Under these circumstances it is possible to separate the ARF in consequence of ischemia or hypoxia of the transplant or in consequence of rejection. A significant relation between the total blood flow and the mean flow correlation exists in the acute functional failure of ischemically injured autotransplants as in the case of autochthonous kidneys. This velocity is also kept in the acute insufficiency of autotransplants induced by shock although there exists a stronger redistribution of cortex circulation than after the ischemic insultus. Extreme low or high circulatory velocities without a relation to the blood flow originate from the deficiency of extensive vascular regions and the formation of arteriovenous shunts in acutely failing rejected homotransplants.


[Experimental microsurgery of blood vessels and nerves in laboratory animals and their importance for plastic surgery]. The authors give a survey of the suitability and use of different laboratory animals in the transplantation with microvascular and microneurovascular anastomoses of island flaps, muscles and composite grafts as musculo-cutaneous and osteo-musculo-cutaneous ones. This report includes the rat, rabbit, dog and pig. Preferable for learning and training suture techniques of microvessels and nerves are rats. Quite suitable in experimental research is the "epigastric" flap of rats and rabbits. Transplantations of muscles and composite grafts as musculo-cutaneous and osteo-musculo-cutaneous ones, with microvascular and microneurovascular anastomoses have been performed mostly in dogs. In order to find out suitable donor sites for microvascular and microneurovascular free flap transplantation the pig is used, showing a pattern of skin vessels most similar to that of man. But only few laboratories might be able to carry out experiments in pigs.


Evidence of three cell types in the islets of Langerhans in sand rats (Psammomys obesus). The islets of Langerhans of sand rats were examined light- and electron microscopically with respect to the presence of various cell types. Apart from A- and B-cells, already known in sand rats, the presence of the third type of cells was established in the islet organ. According to their topography, argyrophilia (Hellman and Hellerström technique) and electron microscopical appearance of their granules they should be considered as D-cells.


[Ischemia, hypothermia, length of death-perfusion and temperature related factors for preservation of organs]. In order to guarantee the comparability of the results of the various working teams and experimental conditions within the preservation of organs, above all of the preservation of kidneys, it is referred to the importance which belongs to the clear establishment of the used notions, such as time of hyperthermy (duration), time of ischaemia and dead time (warm and cold). For the practice of kidney taking simple time determinations between two steps of taking have made their way. The warm dead time is the duration between clamping of the renal vessels and the beginning of the flow with cold preservation solution.  This establishment is justified by the standardised conditions of taking. For reserach these pauschal temporary data are not sufficient and the exact establishment of the notion used is necessary.


[Kidney transplant center in Halle: report on the current status, the organization of cadaveric kidneys and the results of transplants]. After the historical description of transplantations in Europe since 1966 the essential new facts and constant data in donnor conditioning, transplantation and after-treatment are discussed on the basis of special literature. 63 own courses are evaluated with complications.


[Angiographic diagnosis in renal injuries]. Blunt abdominal traumas are frequently connected with renal injuries. Adequate clinical symptoms and changes demonstrated by secretion urography refer to a renal trauma. An exact statement concerning kind, localisation and size of the injury may preoperatively be got only by renovasography. In 37 patients in 17 cases unconspicuous angiographic findings were made. Here superficial ruptures of the parenchyma once escaped demonstration. 6 times up to now unknown preexisting renal diseases without proof of a sequel of traumas were the result. In 2 cases moderately severe and in 3 patients severe renal traumas appeared.


[Martin Kirschner on the occasion of his 100th birthday (author's transl)]. This paper is dedicated to Martin Kirschner one of the outstanding German surgeons of the first half of this century. Many of the inventions and improvements Kirschner made have stood the test of time till today. It was Kirschner who recommended to stretch the stomach for replacing the oesophagus. He practiced for the first time successfully an embolectomy out of the pulmonary artery (1924!). Kirschner improved the wire traction procedure decisevely. Of the same importance is his literary work.


[Perforated gastric and duodenal ulcer (635 cases) (author's transl)]. Perforation could be observed in 10.14% of all patients with gastroduodenal ulcer admitted to our clinic from 1946 to 1976. 23.16% of these patients were older than 61 years, whereas 15.9% were younger than 30 years. 91.18% had typical symptoms of perforation, symptomless were 6.93%. 1.81% arrived moribund in the hospital. During the last 30 years as a rule the perforation was only sutured, primary resection was being performed only in rare cases. Nowadays, in cases of perforated duodenal ulcer we add vagotomy plus pyloroplasty to the suture. The total mortality rate came up to 22%, with a significant decrease from 1946 to 1975.


[Reproduction following kidney transplantation (author's transl)]. Reported in this paper are the first two pregnancies and childbirths in the GDR following kidney transplantations. The point is made that pregnancy following kidney transplantation should remain to be a rare exception, though the courses were favourable in both cases described. Reference is made to most suitable forms of anticonception.


[Hormonal situation on parturition, early puerperium, and lactation (author's transl)]. Variations of the 17-beta oestradiol, progesterone, and prolactin levels in the serum were studied in the context of ten spontaneous parturitions. All cases were investigated within the first five puerperal days, but in five cases additional checks were undertaken over the first four weeks of the puerperium. Milk secretion was measured, as well. The oestradiol and progesterone titres were found to remain below the level common toward the end of pregnancy. They dropped rapidly after parturition and remained low throughout the puerperium. Prolactin underwent slight variation on parturition, but it actually stayed at the high level measurable at full term. Parturition was followed by brief temporary rise and, again, by decline, but values remained above those of non-pregnant women throughout puerperium. Milk production increased gradually over the first five days and remained similarly high throughout several weeks, accompanied by accordingly high prolactin levels. No absolute correlation was found to exist between the extent of lactation and the prolactin level. The presence of a relationship between oestradiol and progesterone levels, on the one hand, and lactation, on the other, cannot be assumed with probability.


[Bacteriaemia during parturition (author's transl)]. Bacteriological tests were made of 606 blood cultures which had been obtained from 64 women in labour. Positive findings were recorded from 8.1 per cent, whereas another positive percentage established before delivery amounted to 4.7 only. The percentage of bacteriaemia findings was not substantively increased following electronic monitoring of childbirth. Beta-haemolysing streptococci were found to grow in 7.8 per cent of vaginal smear cultures taken from women in labour and in six per cent of cultures taken from newborns. Amniotic fluid was also bacteriologically tested during labour.


Surgery of venous leg ulcers.

Surgery of venous leg ulcers. Numerical data are presented to prove the endemic nature and importance of the varicose and postthrombotic syndrome. The fact that even in the most fortunate cases conservative therapy can bring about only temporary improvement, has directed attention to surgical methods. The surgical methods of treatment of varicos (VS) and postthrombotic (PS) syndrome are reviewed. The surgical procedure considered adequate is described. It consists of the following steps. After phlebography, in the case of satisfactorily functioning deep veins, the superficial venous system is extirpated according to Trendelenburg, Madelung and Babcock, the insufficient perforants are exposed and ligated, the ulcer is excised deeply and broadly into the intact tissue. The effect is covered at a later date with a semi-thick skin graft. The importance of supplemental conservative methods (preparation and postoperative treatment) is stressed. This complex therapy was applied in 112 severe cases of venous failure; in 96% the result was excellent, in 3% adequate and in 1% poor. The guiding principles for the successful solution of chronic venous failure are a correct diagnosis and a correctly performed operation. Only proper care can guarantee good results.


[Role of bacterial endotoxins in the tourniquet shock in rats]. By means of the lead acetate endotoxin sensitising method it was possible to demonstrate the development of endotoxaemia in tourniquet ischaemia of rats. The lethality of shock was greatly reduced by retreatment with radio-detoxified endotoxin (Tolerin). Prelinary liquidation of the Gram-negative enceroflora caused a similar reduction of lethality. On the basis of the results endotoxaemia of intestinal origin triggered by the vasoactive substances liberated during ischaemia and reaching the circulation are considered of importance in the pathogenesis of tourniquet shock.


Analgesic properties of dezocine for relief of postoperative pain. In a population of 61 surgical patients, 10 and 15 mg dezocine were compared with meperidine 100 mg for relief of postoperative pain. Pain relief experienced by the patient and pain intensity evaluated by a nurse and a physician displayed similar characteristics: dezocine 10 mg was less effective than meperidine but dezocine 15 mg showed a rapid onset of analgesic effect with a longlasting analgesia superior to meperidine. Vital signs remained stable within satisfactory limits with no respiratory depression occurring. Blood-gas analysis showed a significant but comparable increase in PaCO2 with slight decrease of PaO2 in all patients treated with dezocine or meperidine. Side effects observed included an overt sedative effect of both analgesics, which for dezocine appeared to be dose-related.


Anesthesia and the leucocyte.

Anesthesia and the leucocyte. Effective inhibition of cell division by anesthetics occurs only when cells are exposed to concentrations more than twice those required for anesthesia. Neutropenia following prolonged inhalation of nitrous oxide seems to be caused by a different mechanism, in which the cobalt in B12 is oxidised to the trivalent form by chemical reaction with nitrous oxide. B12 is thereby inactivated and this interferes with folate metabolism and thymidine synthesis: the effect may be detected after only a few hours in vivo exposure of mammals to 50% nitrous oxide. Unlike lymphocytes, the random motility of human neutrophils is not decreased by in vitro exposure to concentrations of halothane required for anesthesia. Similarly there is no effect on chemotaxis to casein and phagocytosis with exposure up to 2% halothane.


Practical immunoevaluation in anesthesia. Postoperative infection and cancer metastasis suppose weakened immunological resistance. Immunoevaluation is difficult for technical reasons and for individual variability. Proposed tests are hematology, cytochemistry, immunoglobulin and complement assays, membrane and cytoplasmic fluorescence, rosettes, lymphocyte transformation tests, skin tests, tests for granulocyte and monocyte function. Material and methods should be well standardized. Frozen serum and lymphocytes are peremptory for cellular and humoral evaluation during the different phases of anesthesia.


Involvement of the partial reinforcement procedure in reward training: open address. The analysis of the course of reward training presented in early Konorski and Millers papers (1933, 1936) indicates that the appearance of active instrumental responses is related with the introduction of the partially reinforced, excitatory classically conditioned procedure. It is postulated that the mechanism underlying the effects of this procedure on the shaping of instrumental responses is similar to that proposed by Konorski (1967) for the effects of inhibitory classically conditioned stimuli on the performance of the instrumental response.


[Secondary effects of lithium on thyroid function. Mechanisms, diagnostic and treatment (author's transl)]. The authors reviewed the literature concerning the side effects of lithium on thyroid function. Two kinds of side effects are reported: the first ones are minor, temporary, without important modification of thyroid function and must not be treated; the second ones are major and followed by hypothyroidism. This situation is mostly in relation with the preexistence of an autoimmune thyroiditis or another thyroid abnormality. The authors describe the mechanisms responsible for lithium side effects, suggest different thyroid examinations that should be done in patients before and during lithium therapy and discuss the indications of thyroxine administration.


Effect of proteinases on EA (IgG)-binding receptors of rat macrophages. Pronase, trypsin and delta-chymotrypsin deplete rat alveolar peritoneal macrophages of EA (IgG)-binding activity. Trypsin and delta-chymotrypsin show an initially--under certain conditions and lasting--enhancement of receptor activity. Cycloheximide, an inhibitor of protein biosynthesis, accelerated the loss of Fc-receptors and inhibited their reappearance. There are differences between alveolar and peritoneal macrophages in the rate of loss as well as of regeneration of Fc-receptors.


Restoration of depressed antibody responses of leukemic splenocytes treated with LPS-induced factors. Lipopolysaccharide and a nontoxic derivative, PS, from Serratia marcescens were studied in terms of their effects on normal and Friend leukemia virus depressed splenocytes. These materials caused a marked increase in the number of antibody producing cells by both groups of splenocytes. MDP, a synthetic analogue of myobacterial cell walls, produced a similar adjuvant response by normal and leukemic splenocytes. Combinations of PS or LPS and BCG or MDP resulted in synergistic immunostimulatory responses. A soluble factor associated with these materials appeared to mediate the response, since cell-free supernatants from LPS stimulated splenocytes or serum from LPS treated mice resulted in similar immunostimulation.


Alveolar macrophage--induced suppression of the immune response. Alveolar macrophages were shown to suppress the in vitro immune response of rabbit lymphoid cells stimulated with heterologous erythrocytes. Suppression was associated with an adherent, phagocytic cell that was resistant to the effects of irradiation and treatment with anti-thymus serum. Suppression was mediated by a soluble factor whose production was independent of antigen and required an interaction of viable alveolar macrophages and lymphocytes. Suppression was associated with an early event in the induction of the PFC response and appeared to affect lymphocyte proliferation. Suppression could not attributed to cytotoxicity, sequestration of antigen, depletion of nutrients or release of prostaglandins, arginase or thymidine. These results, taken together, provide additional information regarding immunological function of alveolar macrophages and suggest that they play a regulatory role in the immune response.


Hemopoietic precursor cells in human peripheral blood. Human peripheral blood contains two types of stem cells that differentiate along the granulocytic pathway. They are separable by their ability to form colonies in agar in vitro (CFU-C) and in plasma clots in diffusion chambers in vivo (CFU-DG). Kinetic studies suggest that CFU-DG represents an intermediate between the still hypothetical human pluripotent stem cell and CFU-C.


[Development of parasitology in the GDR]. The development of parasitology in the GDR is described. In the GDR there are only 2 chairs of Parasitology in the Faculties of Animal Production and Veterinary Medicine at Humboldt University Berlin and Karl Marx University Leipzig. Parasitology as a teaching field in its own was not become realized in medicine. In the training of zoology parasitology had been recognized only temporarily. For the parasitological practice particular parasitological departments or laboratories developed in each district institute, which are leaded and coordinated by reference laboratories--a state that is an important improvement compared with the situation before the war. The publishing efforts of GDR's authors and publishing houses as well as the mobilizing role of the Parasitological Society of the GDR are especially stressed.


[Remarks on the pathogenicity of Eimeria species exemplified by cattle coccidiosis]. Development and pathogenicity of the coccidia of cattle are known up to this day only for some species. The criteria responsible for pathogenicity of the species of Eimeria, which are arranged in the complexes "Biological qualities of the species of coccidia", "Factors of environment and stress" and "Situation of reaction of the host" are discussed. Thereby it is emphasized that in coccidiosis of calves and young cattles, especially conditions of environment are important for the outbreak or not of this disease.


[Study of macrophages infiltrating rat cardiac allografts. 1.--Description of the technique of heterotopic cardiac transplantation in the rat and morphological analysis of the cells infiltrating the graft (author's transl)]. The technique of heterotopic cardiac transplantation in the rat is described in detail. A simple, nontraumatic method of obtaining cellular prints from the heart is proposed for the study of cells infiltrating the allograft. Analysis of the morphological aspect of the cellular infiltrate present at the time of rejection in a series of allografts revealed a very high proportion of cells belonging to the monocyte-macrophage series, thus suggesting an important role for these cells in the rejection process.


[Study of macrophages infiltrating rat cardiac allografts. II.--Cytoenzymatic analysis of cells infiltrating the grafts and of peritoneal macrophages in isograft and allograft recipients (author's transl)]. Cytoenzymatic analysis of cells infiltrating heart transplants in the rat confirms the high participation of monocytes and macrophages. However, when comparing iso and allografts, only slight differences are observed in the lysosomal enzyme specific colorations, whereas a striking difference in these colorations is found between heart infiltrates and peritoneal exsudates from these recipients. This could favour the hypothesis of a local macrophage activating process within the graft but seems more probably due to differences in cell maturation stages.


[Bacteriocinotyping of Klebsiella. A new scheme (author's transl)]. A new typing scheme of the genus Klebsiella for studying the production and different sensitivities towards some standard strains is here proposed. Owing to it, 120 Klebsiellae could be classified. The most frequently bacteriocinotypes found were 778 and 768. The overall amount obtained was of 57 different models of activity. As six clinical experiences have confirmed its efficacy, the practical use may now be faced.


[Anti-HBs antibody. A new immunoenzymatic detection. Preliminary results (author's transl)]. The detection of anti-HBs antibody has been carried out using a new technique where a system for the detection of HBs antigen in the solid phase is adopted to demonstrate the presence of anti HBs antibody by inhibition of the immunoenzymatic reaction. The sensitivity of the method has been compared: with that of passive haemagglutination and with that of radioimmunoassay in liquid phase, for human serum obtained from 10 chronic antibody carriers and also serum from 1 rabbit, with that of solid phase radioimmunoassay for 91 positives serums. The method appears: in the range of sensitivity of passive haemagglutination and radioimmunoassay in the liquid phase, less sensitive than that of solid phase radioimmunoassay, far superior to that of electrosyneresis.


[Utilization of a micromethod for the differentiation of Haemophilus biotypes. Relations with serotypes and antibiotypes (author's transl)]. A micromethod utilizing paper discs impregnated with different substrates (Minitek-system) permits differentiation of Haemophilus and their biotypes. Differentiation of biotypes presents an assured advantage: it is the only technic for an exact study of non typable H. influenzae strains and NAD-dependent Haemophilus strains. It is also a complement for study of capsulated H. influenzae. In an epidemiological aspect, this differentiation shows a evident predominance of biotypes I and II for H. influenzae and H. para-influenzae. Except that biotype I includes the larger number of serotypable strains, different serotypes are distributed in the five biotypes of H. influenzae. Likewise none relation has been found between biotypes and antibiotypes.


[Xanthomatosis and monoclonal myelomatous gammapathy. About a case also associated with systemic amyloidosis. Review of 42 cases of literature (author's transl)]. A case of diffuse plane xanthomatosis assoicated with systemic amyloidosis and multiple myeloma at its outset is reported. Plane xanthomatosis is certainly an autonomous entity in comparison with systemic amyloidosis, for there are no amyloid deposits in xanthoma. The patient had lambda type IgG paraproteinemia, with Bence-Jones proteinuria. Lipid tests were considered as normolipemic though some levels recall a type IV hyperlipoproteinaemia. A review of literature about the association "xanthomatosis-multiple myeloma" was made, after the important work of Bazex, Dupré and Mrs. Christol-Jalby. It allows us to distinguish two differnet descriptions: 1. When there is hyperlipoproteinemia, all clinical types of xanthomas may exist; multiple myeloma is generally typical (but sometimes not very progressive). 2. When there is normolipidemia, the main clinical type is diffuse plane xanthomatosis; multiple myeloma is atypical and often only a monoclonal gammapathy is found. 3. However in both cases, the outstanding clinical type is diffuse plane xanthomatosis: whether normo- or hyperlipemic, this therefore indicates a possible underlying disease, and above all a multiple myeloma.


The effect of gemfibrozil on serum lipids in diabetic patients. The effect of gemfibrozil, a new hypolipidaemic compound, on serum lipids, lipoproteins and ophthalmic signs was studied in 20 diabetics during a 28 week trial. Ten of the patients were taking oral hypoglycaemic agents and another ten insulin. Genfibrozil elevated the proportion of alpha-lipoproteins (HDL) (P less than 0.005) in patients on oral agents to the same level as in those using insulin, who experienced no change in HDL. The pre-beta-lipoprotein proportion (VLDL) decreased (P less than 0.001) along with the serum triglyceride level in patients on oral agents only. The proportion of beta-lipoproteins (LDL) remained unchanged in both groups. The serum cholesterol and total lipid levels decreased significantly whether the patients were on oral treatment or insulin. The gemfibrozil was well tolerated. A minor increase in diabetic therapy was made in 9 patients in order to control the blood sugar levels. The ophthalmic signs were generally unchanged.


Labetalol and pindolol in the treatment of hypertension: a comparative study. Labetalol, a new hypotensive drug with both alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor antagonist properties, was compared with pindolol in a double blind cross-over study lasting 15 weeks. Both drugs caused a significant drop on blood pressure in both the standing and the supine position. The effect was seen after only two weeks treatment. The effect on the pulse rate was moderate. Three patients on pindolol (but none on labetalol) had to withdraw from the trial for medical reasons. In general the side effects recorded for labetalol and pindolol were mild. No postural hypotension was noticed with the moderate doses used in the study. Labetalol seems to be at least as effective as pindolol in mild to moderate hypertension.


Evaluation of the Microstix-Candida system for the isolation of Candida. A study was carried out to compare the efficiency of the Microstix-Candida system with the standard method of isolating candida using Sabouraud medium. It was found that the Microstix-Candida system gave a 96.8% correlation with the standard method for vaginal specimens, and 91.8% correlation for other specimens. The Microstix-Candida system may be a useful laboratory procedure, in addition to direct microscopy, for the diagnosis and management of vaginal candidiasis in clinics with limited access to laboratory facilities.


Clinical evaluation of intravenous hexoprenaline in bronchial asthma. 5 ug of hexoprenaline given intravenously resulted in a significant relief of airway obstruction in 12 out of 16 patients with acute attack of bronchial asthma. It produced a 40% increase in peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) with a peak at 5 minutes and a 12% increase was still present at 2 hours. It produced only minimal cardiovascular side effects. As a bronchodilator, it was as effective as 0.5 mg of addrenaline given subcutaneously though the latter suffered from considerable cardiovascular side effects as shown by a 12% elevation of systolic blood pressure and a 16% reduction in the diastolic blood pressure.


Depression in childhood: a survey of the literature. Unlike adult depression, childhood depression is still a controversial concept in psychiatry. This paper explores and discusses the various issues involved in the controversy. Empirical evidence from epidemiological surveys and clinical studies is examined systematically. A brief survey of the literature over the last fifty years is given. The latest clinical study by Pearce (1974) is highlighted as it demonstrates how the condition can be systematically investigated. Despite conflicting findings, the available evidence, on balance, suggests that childhood depression does exist; it is rare in middle childhood, rarer still in the pre-school period of life but more common in adolescence. Although research findings have begun to give support to the diagnosis of childhood depression, its validity is far from being proven. Obviously, further research is needed.


[Immunofluorescence tests for the detection of antibodies against Corynebacterium pyogenes and streptococci in blood serum and vaginal mucus of cattle]. Bacteriological tests were applied to cattle with endometritis and vaginitis. Included were cervical mucus samples and immunofluorescence tests to detect in that mucus as well as in blood serum antibody to Corynebacterium pyogenes and Streptococcus haemolyticus. The results pointed at intensive contact of the animals with the above pathogens and to their frequent occurrence in cervical mucus of cattle afflicted with endometritis and vaginitis. They also supported the assumption of localised antibody formation in the sexual organs or female cattle.


[Restoration of mixed and severe immunologic deficiency, by fetal liver and thymus graft]. A male infant with severe combined immunodeficiency but normal adenosine deaminase activity for whom no suitable bone marrow donor was available was given two separate grafts of both hepatic and thymic cells, the cells for each graft being taken from the same fetus aged 13 and 10 weeks respectively. Cell mediated and partial humoral immunity was restored 330 and 400 days respectively after the second transplant. No graft-versus-host reaction was observed and both red blood cell and lymphoid chimaerism could be demonstrated. The child was kept in strict bacterial isolation from the 3rd to the 537th day of life. Thirty months after the graft, the infant is in good health but has a defect of neutrophil chemotaxis and phagocytosis which requires prophylactic benzathine penicillin in addition to gammaglobulins. Fetal tissue transplantation may provide an alternative treatment for patients with severe combined immunodeficiency who do not have a histocompatible donor.


Antibodies to native DNA in connective tissue disease. A comparison of radioimmunoassay, counterimmunoelectrophoresis and indirect immunofluorescence on Crithidia luciliae substrate. Sera of patients with symptoms of connective tissue diseases were investigated for the presence of antinuclear antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence on rat liver substrate. In positive cases antibodies to native DNA were determined by radioimmunoassay and by counterimmunoelectrophoresis. Twenty seven selected sera were also tested by indirect immunofluorescence on Crithidia luciliae substrate to test the sensitivity and specificity of this method. Immunofluorescent antinuclear antibodies could be found in all groups of connective tissue diseases while anti-native DNA antibody was demonstrated in higher amount only in the cases of systemic lupus erythematosus and therefore determination of anti-native DNA antibody may be helpful in the diagnosis of oligosymptomatic SLE. Counterimmunoelectrophoresis and immunofluorescence on Crithidia smears may serve as screening methods for anti-native DNA while radioimmunoassay provides a quantitative determination, although there are minor differences in the sensitivity and the specificity of these three methods.


[Development and current status of heart surgery]. The history of development of Cardiac Surgery is made, analizing the factors influencing this evolution, such as the anatomic and physiological factors of cardiopathies as the fundamental factor of the fast development of this discipline. Reference is made over the influences exerted by Cardiac Surgery on the development on other medical disciplines such as the Intensive Care Units, Pacemakers, the Fundamentals of Congenital Heart Diseases and the studies over shock etc., etc., etc. The present status of Cardiac Surgery is exposed first by analysis of the global Surgical Results of the Instituto Nacional de Cardiología since 1945 up to date and finally the present results since 1971 to 1979 are shown.


Comparison of some Shigella flexneri (Escherichia coli) hybrids in cross agglutination and agglutinin absorption tests. Antigenic structure of Lac+ hybrids selected from Escherichia coli x Shigella flexneri crosses was compared in the cross agglutination and absorption tests. Identity of the hybrids from the recipients of serotype 2a and variant Y was proved, as well as from serotypes 1b and 4b. The latter hybrids were coupled with Shigella flexneri strains 3a, 3b and 3c. The hybrids appeared almost identical with serotype 3c.


Study on the immunological heterogeneity of Clostridium botulinum B type toxin. The toxins prepared by dialysis-culture method from proteolytic (P) and nonproteolytic (NP) strains of C. botulinum were different. NP toxins from 3 strains (American, Japanese and Polish) showed a higher activation ratio, lower protein nitrogen content, and lower neutralization rate compared with P toxins. Antitoxic titers of rabbit anti-P and especially anti-NP sera were always higher when titrated with NP than with P toxins. The values of the regression coefficients in neutralization experiments were not dependent on the sera preparations, but only on the toxins. The difference between the common slope b for several sera tested against P and NP toxins was statistically significant. A difference between the passive protection of mice against P and NP toxins was observed only at very low levels of unitage. These results suggested immunological heterogeneity of B type botulinum toxin. However, for practical purposes, it is not necessary to supplement therapeutic antitoxin with a factor which neutralizes NP toxin.


Chondrosarcoma of the first metatarsal--primary or secondary to enchondroma? Enchondromas are said to be extremely rare precursors of secondary chondrosarcomas. Peripheral enchondromas of the hand and foot may be considered as benign, even when the histomorphological study reveals pleomorphic features with atypical nuclei. Our case deals with a 56 year old woman who had an enchondroma of the first metatarsal. Its distinct histopathological signs of focal malignant transformation were only seen in later review. Nine months after curettage and autologous bone-grafting a chondrosarcoma was diagnosed. The enbloc-resection of the medial foot provided adequate surgical treatment of the chondrosarcoma.


Hemodialysis in schizophrenia. Results in three chronic cases. Therapeutic trials with hemodialysis have been performed in three cases of chronic schizophrenia. The severely ill patients had been hospitalized for more than ten years and had not responded to different types of conventional somatic treatment. Psychopathology was evaluated by use of the IMPS, BPRS, and NOSIE scales. No improvement could be observed as a consequence of 12 (11 in one case) hemodialysis treatments. Rather, some deterioration occurred in two of the patients. This result is not in accord with the markedly positive findings of Wagemaker and Cade (1977). However, further studies appear necessary to render final conclusions.


[Transplantation of the kidney in the rat. I. Problems of surgical technic]. Is described a technique for transplanting rat kidneys. The technique involves suture of vessels of less than 1 mm in diameter with microsurgical techniques. Were used adult male rats of wistar strain. The kidney is perfused with 250 cc of ringer lactate, heparin 10.000 U.I., solumedrol 1 g novocain 150 mg. The results were very good.


[Respiratory effects of PGI-2 in the pig]. In anaesthetised pig the intravenous perfusion of 2 micrograms/Kg/min/4 min of PGI2 induces within 30'' respiratory changes that spontaneously disappear after perfusion. The PGI2 induces a decrease of respiratory frequency while total pulmonary resistance increases significantly. This changes of pattern of breathing are correlated to tonus of vagus nerve and after vagosimpathectomy are not present. The relationship of tidal volume/frequency has been evaluated according to the blood pressure variation.


Histoautoradiographic investigation of the invasive dissemination of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells through the organs of the mouse. In this paper the attempt has been pursued to quantify by a well planned experimental technique the ability of the neoplastic cells to spread around in vivo through various organs of laboratory animals. By making use of the histoautoradiographic techniques the incorporation of 3H thymidine either by the normal and by the neoplastic cells has been investigated at many different anatomical sites in Ehrlich ascites tumor-bearing mice. The method has been shown to be well suited also for the quantitative characterization of the spreading dynamics of the cancer cell population.


[Histochemical localization of alcohol dehydrogenase during the aging of seeds]. Alcohol dehydrogenase activity has been demonstrated in section of fresh and aged pea seeds, both air-dried and during germination. The activity in the various tissues has been observed using nitro-blue tetrazolium. From the comparison a general decrease appear in aged pea seeds and a tendency to a shift in the peaks of alcohol deydrogenase activity in the considered tissues (epidermis upper and lower, hypodermis, storage parenchyma and vascular system). The procambial zone forms the tracheary elements during germination, but in aged seeds this occur only rarely. The experiments here reported confirm the hypothesis that seed ageing includes changes in enzyme activity and in morphogenetic pathways.


On alcohol dehydrogenase activity in aged pea seeds. Inhibitory substances (or substance) of alcohol: NAD oxidoreductase activity are present in petroleumbenzin extracts of both less than 1-year-old and 8-year-old pea seeds. The inhibitory effect is very strong when petroleumbenzin extracts of "old" pea seeds are used, only mild in the case of "young" pea seeds. These results suggest a relatioship between the inhibitory substances and ageing of the seeds.


Limitations of the infant mouse test for Escherichia coli heat stable enterotoxin. A study was undertaken to evaluate the response of different test systems to preparations of heat-stable enterotoxin (ST) derived from Eschericihia coli strains recovered from diarrheal disease of humans, pigs and calves. Sterile broth culture supernatants of enterotoxigenic strains of E. coli were heated at 65 degrees C for 30 minutes and tested for the presence of heat-stable enterotoxin. Three test systems, namely, ligated intestine of weaned pigs, ligated intestine of rabbits and the infant mouse test were used in attempts to detect ST in the culture supernatants. Two patterns of reaction were observed in response to ST-containing preparations: either the preparation elicited a response in the three tests or the preparation elicited a reaction only in the ligated pig intestine. A response in all three tests were observed for 5/5 human ST-producing E. coli, 5/5 bovine enterotoxigenic E. coli, 5/5 "atypical" porcine enterotoxigenic E. coli, 3/3 St(+)LT(-) porcine E. coli of serogroup O138:K81 and 4/24 LT(+)ST(+) porcine E. coli. A response only in the ligated pig intestine was obtained with 5/5 ST(+)LT(-) porcine E. coli belonging to serogroups other than O138:K81 and to 20/24 ST(+)LT(+)E. coli from pigs. The results are consistent with the view that there are two kinds of ST, one of which (ST1) reacts in all three tests and the other (ST2) which reacts only in the ligated pig intestine. The findings underscore the limitations of the infant mouse test as a means of detecting ST in porcine isolates of E. coli, since the test fails to detect ST produced by a large number of these E. coli strains. There appeared to be a relationship between kind(s) of ST produced and the animal species from which the producing organism was recovered.


The incidence of Mycoplasma dispar, Ureaplasma and conventional Mycoplasma in the pneumonic calf lung. This report describes the incidence of Mycoplasma dispar, ureaplasma and conventional (large colony) mycoplasma isolated from the pneumonic lungs of groups of young calves and the identification to species level of mycoplasmas in mixed populations with the aid of the indirect fluorescent antibody test. Pneumonic lung tissue yielded one or more mycoplasma species from 88% of the 153 calves cultured. The mycoplasmas identified and percent of the calves with lungs positive for each species were: M. dispar (56%), ureaplasma (44%), Mycoplasma bovis (37%), Mycoplasma arginini (33%) and Mycoplasma bovirhinis (23%). Conventional mycoplasmas isolated from two calves (1%) could not be identified using the antisera available.


[Congenital cystic dilatation of the common bile duct and acute pancreatitis in children (author's transl)]. Two cases of cystic dilatation of the common bile duct associated which acute pancreatitis are presented. The correct diagnosis is not made often, because the triad of symptoms is incomplete or the recurrent abdominal pain is not attributed to pancreas, in absence of determination of serum amylase. Frequently, has been noted an anomalous formation of the pancreaticobilary ducts and always a reflux in the duct of Wirsung. Also, it is suggested, whatever the procedure of anastomosis may be, to close the inferior part of common bile duct.


[Congenital anorectal stenosis (8 cases) (author's transl)]. The authors present a series of 8 cases of congenital anorectal stenosis treated recently, with a follow up of 1 to 7 years. The finding of 3 poor results from the standpoint of anal continence leads to a discussion of the general prognosis of this malformation classically considered as being benign.


[Polyp of the posterior urethra in boys (author's transl)]. A rare case of posterior urethral polyp associated with acute urinary retention in a boy 22 mo. old is presented. The symptomatology, diagnosis and treatment are discussed and the literature is reviewed. Micturating cystogram is considered to be of definitive aid in the diagnosis as endoscopy alone may be misleading.


[One case of complete reduplication of the bladder (author's transl)]. We report one case of complete reduplication of lower urinary tract associated with bilateral vesico-urethral reflux, hip dislocation, incomplete sacral agenesis and neck malformation. The two bladders are physiologically functional and we only operated the bilateral reflux by Leadbetter-Politano procedure. A review is presented of the twenty-two published cases, with the classification.


[Suture of the submucosa in large intestine anastomosis]. A comparison of three different suture techniques on the large bowel of the same experimental animal demonstrated that careful suture alone is adequate to produce a sufficient anastomosis. The advantages of this suture technique are to provide strength to the intestinal anastomosis, less scar tissue, and fewer peritoneal adhesions. The experimental results suggest that suturing of the submucosa can be used on other intestinal areas, too.


Challenges from the philosophers to the neuroscientists. A practical science of the brain scarcely existed before the 17th century except in terms of gross anatomy. In all countries vitalistic concepts held sway, yielding only slowly to more materialistic views. These developed at a different pace in different countries, due, in each case, to the dominant philosophies of the time: the English empiricists; the French Enlightenment; the Italian and German schools of experimental neurophysiology. The last to accept the materialists' viewpoints was Russia, whose scientists imported them from their training in Western Europe in the 19th century. A brief outline is given of how the history of brain science parallels the history of ideas in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.


Some immunological effects of lead, cadmium and methylmercury. Environmental contaminants may alter one specific or several segments of the immune response. It is often necessary to examine each parameter (humoral, cell-mediated and macrophage) to assess the extent that each is involved. Lead and cadmium exposure results in suppression of many aspects of the immune response of animals. This suppression often occurs at very low subclinical dosages and therefore is detrimental to the health of animals and perhaps man by methods other than the typical well-documented toxicity which results at larger dosages. Methylmercury has been shown to inhibit the primary, secondary and memory immune response but few studies have described possible effects on T lymphocytes and macrophages. The effect that methylmercury imposes on the immune system needs further investigation.


[Relationship between clasp force and retention]. The relationship between the effect of retention, the clasp force, and the intersecting angle were studied experimentally under ideal conditions on phantom prostheses. The measured retention values are distinctly higher than the computed values. The reason for this discrepancy was explained. Clasp retention can be optimized if the functional formation of constructed crowns for clasp teeth is adequate.


[Movement pattern of the orofacial soft tissues during mastication]. On the basis of video tapes and the subsequent evaluation of each recording, it was determined that the orofacial soft tissue of each subject has a characteristic movement pattern. Four different basic patterns of masticatory movements were established. The average vertical movement of the lips was 7.6 mm; the width was reduced by the opening movements at the beginning of the masticatory cycle approximately 13% and only 8.5% at the end of the cycle.


[Correction of the inclination of the condylar guidance by changing the Bennett angle on the Dentatus articulator]. Since there is an interrelationship between construction-related inclination of condylar guidance and the Bennett angle with the Dentatus articulator, Lauritzen suggested that the inclination of condylar guidance be adjusted 1 degree in the opposing direction for every 5 degrees alteration in the Bennett angle. This method was rejected because calculations of the interdependence of condylar guidance and Bennett angle showed the results, in some cases, to be worse than when the angle was not adjusted. An exact correction procedure was described.