Vascular anatomy of the inner ear of the guinea pig--a sem study of the corrosion cast--. This paper shows a casting method of the vascular system of the inner ear of the guinea pig with the use of fluid resin injected intravascularly and the observation of those specimens by means of the scanning electron microscopy. First, fluid resin was injected into the blood vessels of a live or just sacrificed guinea pig. After taking the temporal bone out of the animal, it was decalcified and macerated completely. Then, a cast of the inner ear vessels was taken and observed with a scanning electron microscope. A pair of photos differing in teh view angle by seven degrees were taken simultaneously, and observed with a stereoviewer. This technique brought photographs of well magnified three-dimensional construction of the inner ear blood vessels.


Abrupt (sharp cut) type sensorineural hearing loss--a human temporal bone study--. Histopathology of a case of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss of abrupt (sharp cut) type is reported. While there was a 45 dB gap in threshold between 1,000 Hz and 2,000 Hz bilaterally, the patient had a good hearing at 1,000 Hz and lower frequencies. The patient was suffering from Takayasu's arteritis. Major histopathological findings were as follows: Almost complete loss of the outer hair cells from the basal end to 12 mm area in the left cochlea (length: 30.5 mm) and 13 mm in the right (length: 31.5 mm). The inner hair cell of the same region was also missing in the left cochlea, and to a lesser degree in the right. There was a clear separation between the normal and the pathological organ of Corti. Marked loss of the cochlear neuron was noted in the same region. Blood vessels within the cochlea and the internal auditory meatus were normal. Bilateral abrupt (sharp cut) type sensorineural hearing loss with unknown etiology is a group of inner ear disease due to abiotrophy of the organ of Corti and cochlear neuron. Disposition or hereditary factor possibly plays an important role in the development of hearing loss.


Pores of the palatine tonsillar crypt and pharyngeal tonsillar recess--a scanning electron microscopic study--. The crypt of the palatine tonsil and the recess of the human pharyngeal tonsil were studied using a scanning electron microscope. Many pores, ranging in diameter from 10 to 100 microns, were observed on the luminal surface of the crypts. All of the crypt surface except at the sites of pores was covered by epithelial cells. Non-epithelial round cells, mostly lymphocytes, were exposed directly to the crypt lumen through these pores. In the lumen of palatine tonsillar crypts, numerous round cells were present which evidently pass through these pores from the parenchyma. This finding indicates that the tonsillar parenchyma is directly open to the crypt. Similar findings were obtained in the recess of the pharyngeal tonsil.


[Electronmicroscopic observation on acinic cell tumors of the parotid gland]. Under the electronmicroscope we observed a case of an acinic cell tumor of the left parotid gland. The patient was a 63-year-old woman who has suffered three times from local recurrences. The cytoplasma of the tumor cells showed the well-organized mitochondria, rouch endoplasmic reticula, Golgi's complexes and other organellas. Especially the cytoplasmas of the tumor cells, which formed acinus-like lumens, contained various-shaped secretory granules in great numbers. In addition, pycnotic-nucleated oncocytes with secretory granules could be observed.


[Silymarin in pregnancy and during hormonal contraceptive treatment. Blood chemistry and ultrastructural findings in the experimental model]. Further systematic study of the relation between drugs and the ultrastructure of the liver is reported with regard to the experimental administration of silimarin to pregnant women and others on the pill. Marked signs of ultrastructural alteration of the REL and biliary cell pole were noted, matched, by evidence of throbophilia and changes in protein activity and lipid synthesis, are noted in these situations, but not when suitable doses of silimarine are taken with the pill. It is suggested that silimarin may prevent and correct liver damage during pregnancy and the administration of oestroprogestins.


Relation between voice sound pressure and subglottal pressure as a diagnostic cue. Voice sound pressure and esophageal pressure amplitudes are measured for 120 subjects with and without laryngeal status. The esophageal pressure amplitudes are taken as a approximation of the subglottal pressure. The dependency of sound pressure on subglottal pressure is approximated by a nonlinear function. The slope of the function represents the pressure transformation from subglottal pressure to sound pressure at fixed vocal tract configuration. Therefore, the slope is taken as a characterization of the efficiency of the voice organ. This quantity allows rough statement about the efficiency of the voice organ (differentiation of normal, trained normal, and pathologic larynx) but does not separates voice disorders.


[Influence of environmental temperature on absorption of xylose in fasting animals]. The A. have studied 28 pairs of rats; 17 pairs received 1,1 g of soya oil; 7 pairs were starved. The partners were kept; one at the environmental temperature of 6 degrees C, the other at 30 degrees C. After a night, all rats were tested for xylose absorption. Xylose intestinal absorption in the rats kept at the environmental temperature of 30 degrees C after soya oil decreased of 42,88 +/- 8,14 of the value found at 6 degrees C; it decreased of 15,59 +/- 3,20% after a night of fast. Both decreases were significant (P less 0.01).


Nystagmic responses of hippocampal origin in normal rabbits. Nystagmic responses in intact, healthy rabbits given hippocampal stimulation were studied and the following results were obtained. Two types of mystagmic responses were derived from the hippocampus. 1) One was a horizontal nystagmic response with a middle amplitude and was directed to the right and the left. This type of nystagmic response was first induced in the 'pre- and post-stimulus' phase after repeated electric stimulation of the hippocampus and was found in almost every rabbit examined. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between the development of nystagmic response and repetition of the stimulation. 2) The other was a horizontal nystagmic response with a small amplitude directed toward the side of the stimulation. This type of nystagmic response was induced in the 'during-stimulus' phase and was found in two rabbits. There was no positive correlation between development of nystagmic response of this type and repetition of the stimulation.


Lymphocyte and granulocyte cytotoxic antibodies in cancer patients. Sera from cancer patients showed lymphocyte and granulocyte cytotoxic antibodies. While lymphocytotoxic antibodies correlated with the HLA system, it was not possible to demonstrate any correlation between the granulocytotoxicity and the HLA antigens. The experiments with 2 ME reduction were consistent with the presence of IgM antibodies in the majority of positive sera tested by the lymphocytotoxic method. The discussion concerning the mechanism of formation of these antibodies was only speculative. Some relationships between tumor neoantigens and the MHC were referred, but the role played by cytotoxins in the host-defence mechanism need further clarification.


The parasite-host relationship: an immunological game. In the present paper we have analyzed the host-parasite relationship and the influence of parasite infections on the immune system. In all cases aberrations in either humoral or cellular immune response are observed. Moreover the constant feature of parasite infections is the stimulation of the reticular endothelial system that induce an increased aspecific resistance toward various antigens.


[Isolation of Salmonella in the Piedmont from 1975 to 1978, with designation of rare strains and evaluation of the frequency of the serotypes]. In the present study the data concerning the isolation of Salmonella strains in Regione Piemonte during the years 1975-1978 are reported. During this period, using serological methods 2934 Salmonella strains have been typed which resulted to belong to 69 different serotypes. We have also compared the frequency of the different serotypes in the years 1975, 1976, 1977-'78.


[Study of the mechanism of action of phytostimulines]. Cell culture of mouse fibroblasts and lymphocytes show an increase of mRNA and DNA synthesis after treatment with "Fitostimoline". In this activity may consist the mechanism of action of these substances, which stimulate regenerating tissues.


Antimicrobial and toxicological studies on an antiseptic based on hexachlorophene and destructive distillate of castor oil. Bactericidal, bacteriostatic, fungistatic and toxicological evaluaton of an emulsion containing 0.25% hexachlorophene (W/V), 9.5% terpineol (V/V), 1.5% oil of terpentine (V/V), 13% ethanol (V/V), 6% castor oil distillate 1201275 degrees C (V/V) and 6% sodium salt of the residue (W/V) in aqueous medium was performed. The bactericidal concentration for Salmonella typhi was found to be 1:400 which increased to 1:350 in the presence of 5% horse serum. The bacteriostatic concentration of the emulsion varied from organism to organism. A 4% solution of the emulsione was found to be most effective against Microsporum vanbreuseghemii showing an inhibition zone of 7.2 cm and was least effective on Aspergillus niger. 1 to 8% solution of the emulsion given orally or instilled into conjunctival sacs of albino mice indicated lethal and insignificant toxic manifestations respectively but a dose equivalent to 50 mg/Kg given subcutaneously was found to produce a subacute lethal effect in guinea pigs.


Progressive muscular dystrophy type Duchenne. II. Viscosity and resistence to erythrolytic compounds of erythrocyte membranes. The transition temperature of erythrocyte ghosts of normal subjects is about 18-20 degrees C. We have studied the viscosity of erythrocyte ghosts of dystrophic children, showing that the transition shifts to lower temperatures (17-18 degrees C). After treatment with erythrocytic compounds like L-Lyso phosphatidyl-Choline dystrophic erythrocytes hemolize at lower Lysophosphatidyl-Choline concentration and at a greater extents than these of normal and carriers subjects.


[Paper chromatography of the urinary carbohydrates in normal subjects: the aldoses]. The authors describe a method that utilizes paper chromatography for the separation and identification of urinary carbohydrates, especially the Aldoses. Using 5 ml. of urinary extract, it is possible to separate Lactose, Maltose, Galactose, Glucose, Fructose, Mannose + Arabinose, Xilose + Ribose, Glucuronolactone and other unidentified compounds.


[Some data on cholinesterases in the cerebrospinal fluid of the dog]. In the present study we have determined the activity of AChE and BuchE in the CSF, blood plasma and brain tissue outlined the pattern of the molecular forms of both enzymes. The present observations on the molecular forms of AChE protide evidence in favor of secretion of the enzyme from nervous tissue in the CSF.


[Simple electrostimulator for clinical gustometry]. The authors illustrate the technical characteristics of a low cost, pocket electrogustometer, which works on batteries and offers complete safety both for the patient and for the examiner; this model is able to carry out, both in normal and selected patients, the same functions as can be carried out with more sophisticated and costly equipment, currently available.


[Further observations on the "primary" somesthetic response in man. Preliminary results]. In six normal subjects cerebral somatosensory potentials evoked by median nerve stimulation at the wrist have been recorded in order to assess whether N20 and P25 components can be related to a single generator dipole. It was found that, at variance with the current literature, such components are due to separate generator dipoles, possibly related to the activity of different cortical structures. Moreover an additional component, chronologically occurring between N20 and P25, was consistently observed.


[Further research on the functional asymmetry between the superior and inferior visual hemifields: analysis of the reaction time to simultaneous stimulation of the two hemi-fields]. It has been previously reported that presentation of square-wave gratings to either side of the horizontal meridian of the visual field gives rise to different Simple Reaction Times (RTs), depending upon the spatial frequency of the stimuli. Specifically, for 1 c/deg stimulus RT is faster in the lower hemefield, whereas the reverse is true for 3 c/deg pattern, RT being faster in the upper visual field. In the reported experiment, RT to simultaneous presentation of either the same (alternatively 1 c/deg or 3 c/deg) or different (i.e. 1 c/deg and 3 c/deg combined) spatial frequencies to both hemifields was analyzed. The data show that whenever the two half components correspond to different RTs, the resulting RT equates that of the faster component. Conversely, when the two components give rise to identical RTs, the resulting RT does not differ from the value obtained with each half stimulus. Implications of this result for the functional organization of the visual system are discussed.


[Changes induced with varying solutions of normal plasma on granulocyte capillary tube migration]. In the present work we have evaluated the effect of decreasing concentrations of normal plasma in TC 199 on leukocyte capillary migration. From the 1st to the 4th hour of migration, normal plasma at 100%-80%-60%-40% concentration, significantly inhibits leukocyte migration. The inhibitory effect is lost, only by a few plasmas, at 60% and 40% concentration, during the following migration hours. Normal plasma at 20% and 10% concentration doesn't show any inhibitory effect on leukocyte capillary migration. Therefore, for clinical studies on pathological plasmas we recommend the use o plasma at 20% or 10% concentration to avoid aspecific inhibition.


[Standardization of the method of granulocyte capillary tube migration]. In the present work a method is described to standardize each step of leukocyte capillary tube migration assay. The conclusions of our study are: natrium heparin can be used as anticoagulant; the use of calibrated microcapillaries is recommended; migration chambers must lay on a horizontal surface; results can be evaluated by a ocular for radial immunodiffusion from the 16th to 20th hour of migration.