Bone marrow acid phosphatase in prostate cancer: an assessment by immunoassay and biochemical methods. Comparisons of the bone marrow and serum acid phosphatase values obtained by counterimmunoelectrophoresis and the Roy biochemical test were made in 72 patients with and in 13 patients without prostatic cancer. The counter-immunoelectrophoresis test, when positive at more than 1 international unit per liter, showed only 4.4% falsely positive results. The Roy biochemical test, which uses sodium thymolphthalein monophosphate as the substrate, had 65% falsely positive bone marrow acid phosphatase levels. Conflicting reports regarding the value of bone marrow acid phosphatase determinations in patients with prostatic cancer result from the use of non-specific substrates in biochemical methods for measurement and from the trauma incidental to bone marrow aspiration, which releases many non-prostatic acid phosphatase enzymes. The use of immunoassay such as counter-immunoelectrophoresis minimizes this source of error.


The management of some special problems with renal neoplasm. Simultaneous bilateral renal cell carcinoma has been treated in 5 patients at our hospital during the last 6 years. Improvements in radiologic diagnostic techniques are responsible for the increased detection of these lesions. Results of surgical management are reported. Angiographic embolization of renal cell carcinoma has proved to be a useful method to manage patients with solitary kidneys or those with severe medical problems contraindicating an operation, and our results with this approach are described.


Analysis of the feasibility of storing human semen for future artificial insemination. Patients about to undergo vasectomy, retroperitoneal lymph node dissection, pelvic radiotherapy or chemotherapy frequently wish to store semen for future artificial insemination. The probability that this will result in a pregnancy is approximately 33% and the logistics are complicated. These problems are discussed and a cost analysis is presented. A list of semen banks presently storing homologous human semen and registered with the American Association of Tissue Banks also is presented.


The varicocele: a critical analysis of experimental and clinical data. A number of reports have shown that serotonin has a detrimental effect on spermatogenesis and androgen synthesis. Serotonin has 2 mechanisms of action on the testicle: 1) vasoconstrictive changes and 2) direct alterations of testicular metabolism and endocrine activity. The data in animals with the experimental varicocele clearly mimic the human situation. All of the seminal parameters except volume are decreased after creating the varicocele. In many infertile patients with a varicocele serotonin may be the inciting factor that results in subfertile semen parameters. This is corroborated by the presence of elevated serotonin levels in spermatic vein plasma of certain patients with a varicocele. More data comparing the relationship between spermatic vein and peripheral blood serotonin levels in patients with and without a varicocele are needed. This investigation also is being pursued in patients undergoing inguinal operations for lesions other than a varicocele.


Cystolysis: a procedure for the selective denervation of the bladder. Cystolysis, a procedure for the selective supratrigonal denervation of the bladder, was used in 6 patients with intractable interstitial cystitis and in 4 patients with an uninhibited neurogenic bladder. Good results were obtained in both groups of patients.


Intracavitary mitomycin-C in the treatment of superficial urothelial tumors: a preliminary report. Nine patients with a variety of surface transitional cell neoplastic lesions received topical mitomycin-C. The results of treatment were encouraging, all patients responding completely or partially. Based on this experience the authors are participating in a study to compare the efficacy of mitomycin-C with that of thio-tepa.


Long-term treatment of hypercalciuria with thiazides, sodium or potassium cellulose phosphate, separately or in combination. Urinary supersaturation in respect to brushite or calcium oxalate represents the main pathogenic factor in stone formation. Of the patients with calcium oxalate stones 30 to 40% present with hypercalciuria. Herein we determine and compare the effects and side effects in the treatment of hypercalciuria with sodium cellulose phosphate or Campanyl, a potassium versus calcium ion exchanger, and thiazides alone or in combination with an ion exchanger.


Genitourinary schistosomiasis.

Genitourinary schistosomiasis. Schistosomiasis is a chronic granulomatous disease endemic in the Middle East and Africa, which undermines the function of the genitourinary tract to a serious degree. It is amenable to medical treatment in the early stages but therapy usually is negated by frequent reinfestations. Patients who have complications in the chronic stage of the disease require the level of judicious handling that always taxes the ingenuity and skill of the urologic surgeon.


Management of the papillae during intrarenal surgery. The papillae are involved in renal disease and, hence, are an inextricable consideration in intrarenal surgical procedures. Guide lines for their management are newly emergent and, consequently, tentative. If divided along intra-arterial planes they appear to heal with little functional impairment. Resections of papillae, which are limited to the intracaliceal portions, involve no medullary structures and heal without apparent dysfunction.


The effect of platinum analogues and combination chemotherapy on murine bladder cancer. Cis-diamminedichloroplatinum II currently is the most effective chemotherapeutic agent in advanced bladder cancer. However, most of the objective responses are partial and/or of limited duration (average 6 months). In an effort to identify a more effective compound with less toxicity platinum analogues have been synthesized. Since results in the carcinogen-induced murine bladder cancer model have correlated with activity of drugs in man this model was used to evaluate 4 of these analogues. Although not as effective as the parent compound, cis-diamminedichloroplatinum, they exhibited significant antitumor activity in the poorly differentiated transplanted tumor. However, they were not able to reduce the incidence or size of primary tumors. Another approach to enhance tumor cell kill is combination chemotherapy. The addition of cyclophosphamide or cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin hydrochloride to cis-diamminedichloroplatinum produced a greater tumor inhibition than cis-diamminedichloroplatinum alone in experiments with the transplanted and the primary tumor models. It is hoped that these studies will continue to provide background information for the design of disease oriented phase I and II clinical trials.


Saralasin test as a diagnostic and prognostic aid in renovascular hypertensive patients subjected to renal operation. A positive saralasin test in patients with angiographic evidence of renovascular disease and other positive functional tests gives further assurance that these patients will achieve normal or substantially reduced blood pressure postoperatively. In our experience with proved renovascular hypertension there was a 19% incidence of falsely negative saralasin tests. Therefore, saralasin should not be used as the sole screening test in hypertensive patients suspected of having surgically correctable lesions. There is a direct correlation between elevated renin activity and a positive saralasin test. In some patients saralasin may be more sensitive than any other currently used test to detect overactivity of the renin-angiotensin system. This would determine those patients with technical errors in renin sampling and assays. Of the 16 patients (all normotensive) who had 6-month followup tests 5 had elevated peripheral renin activity, probably owing to furosemide stimulation. Of these 5 patients 2 had a positive postoperative saralasin test, raising the question of potential falsely positive responses in cases of essential hypertension and coincidental non-functional renal artery stenosis. Patients with high renin essential hypertension may respond to saralasin, even in the absence of renal artery lesions. A saralasin test should be done in a hospital where all specific conditions can be met and potential complications handled promptly.


Premature cataracts associated with generalized lentigo. Generalized lentigo (leopard syndrome) is an autosomal dominant trait characterized by lentigo, sensorineural deafness, retarded growth (below 25%), ocular hypertelorism, mandibular prognathism, pectus carinatum or excavatum, dorsal kyphosis, winging of the scapulae, valvular pulmonary artery stenosis, electrocardiographic conduction defects, and genitourinary defects. Ocular evaluations of patients with generalized lentigo have revealed the appearance of multiple small white punctate and comma-shaped opacities in the cortex and nuclci of the lenses of affected patients. On the basis of age of the patients examined, it would seem that the corneal opacities first appear in the third decade. Although the opacities may be extensive, the lens opacities do not appear to impair visual function until approximately twenty years after they first appear.


Prognosis for life in patients with diabetes: relation to severity of retinopathy. In a group of 709 individuals with diabetes diagnosed prior to age 50 and followed for five to thirteen years a strong inverse relationship was demonstrated between the severity of the retinopathy at the initial visit and survival. Survival in patients with no retinopathy or with microaneurysms only was little different from that of the general population (five-year rate .99, SE .01). The five-year survival rate for patients with more severe nonproliferative retinopathy, characterized by the presence of hemorrhages and/or exudates, but without new vessels or vitreous hemorrhage (B2), was .81 (SE .04), and that for patients with proliferative retinopathy (PDR) was .56 (SE .03). After adjustment for age at diagnosis of diabetes, duration of diabetes and sex, the differences in survival between these three groups were highly statistically significant. Impairment of visual acuity was also shown to be inversely related to survival. The five-year survival rate for patients  with visual acuity of 20/200 or worse in each eye was .42 (SE .05). In patients with B2 retinopathy there was a weak but statistically significant trend towards decreasing survival with increasing duration of diabetes. In patients with PDR survival decreased with increasing duration up to 20 years, but then improved for patients with 20 years or more of diabetes.


Treatment of intraocular proliferations with intravitreal steroids. Autotransplantation of 250,000 tissue cultured fibroblasts from rabbit rump skin into the vitreous cavity results in intravitreal strand formation and traction retinal detachment (27 of 47 eyes, 57%). A single intravitreal injection of 1 mg of dexamethasone alcohol inhibits fibroblast growth as judged by the significantly reduced number of retinal detachments (11 of 46 eyes, 24%).


A new optical modality to overcome diplopia. The author has presented a new method to correct vertical diplopia using a prism contact lens. To the present time, its application has been limited to contact lenses correcting refractive errors of less than 3D and to ground-in prisms of not more than 6 delta. The field is new. Technical, mathematical, and clinical advances should eventually allow the use of stronger prisms over a wider range of refractive corrections.


Dexterity testing and residents' surgical performance. 1. With some exceptions, those who choose ophthalmology as a career may approximate the general population in innate manual dexterity. 2. Many factors other than manual dexterity influence the development of surgical skills by residents. 3. If dexterity testing is to be used, the addition or inclusion of tests for spatial aptitudes may be more helpful than simple dexterity tests alone. The predictive value of such tests for surgical performance would need vertification. 4. The development of a special test directly related to handling surgical instruments, to cutting, and to sewing (the criteria) may be more practical than the ones used in this study.


Enhancement of the sensitivity of the peripheral visual field of aphakic eyes by a soft contact lens correction. Goldman perimetric field examination was done on 42 glaucomatous eyes, with aphakic spectacles and a soft lens correction. There was a 79% +/- 20% SD overall average enhancement of field size with the soft lens, but the difference varied linearly as a direct function of the initial spectacle field size. There appears to be a significant advantage to the patient in the use of soft lens correction for serial peripheral field measurements.


Anterior vitrectomy for complications of cataract extraction. Our results of anterior vitrectomy in 12 patients with vitreo-corneal touch following cataract extraction, and in three patients with ghost-cell glaucoma due to vitreous hemorrhage were reported. The Machemer vitreous infusion suction cutter was used for pars plana and trans-corneal approaches. Anterior vitrectomy was effective in treating both disorders.


The intracapsular versus the extracapsular cataract technique in relationship to retinal problems. Five hundred and sixty-four consecutive eyes after cataract surgery with intraocular lens implantation were studied in relationship to the incidence of retinal detachment and cystoid macular edema in the intra vs the extracapsular extraction technique. In 124 eyes undergoing intracapsular cataract extraction, three (2.4%) developed retinal detachment. In 440 eyes undergoing extracapsular cataract extraction two (0.45%) developed retinal detachment. In 87 eyes undergoing intracapsular cataract extraction 7 (8%) developed cystoid macular edema. In 327 eyes undergoing extracapsular cataract extraction 4 (1.2%) developed cystoid macular edema. This study cannot  be compared with other series in the literature because high risk cases and those with vitreous loss were excluded.


Extended wear of hydrophilic contact lenses in aphakia - an alternative to intraocular lens implantation. Since not every patient will be a candidate for an intraocular lens, there will always be a portion of aphakic patients who are candidates for extended wear hydrophilic lenses. Aphakic patients to be fitted successfully with extended wear contacts must be motivated, aware of the risks, and require frequent lens cleaning and replacement on an individual basis. While future improvement of hydrophilic lenses is to be expected and anticipated, the extent of these improvements is still uncertain. However, preliminary reports are encouraging. Extended wear contact lenses are not the only answer to aphakia. They are but one alternative available to the ophthalmologist for maximizing the visual rehabilitation of the aphakic patient. Even with the increasing use and acceptance of intraocular lenses, the use of extended soft lens wear has a place in this rehabilitation.


Continuous wave argon laser iridectomy in angle-closure glaucoma. Utilizing a continuous wave argon laser in a multiburn fashion, successful iridectomies were achieved in 42 of 45 phakic eyes with either acute or chronic angle-closure glaucoma. Five of the successful procedures required multiple sittings on different days or abandonment of the primary treatment site in favor of an alternate site to attain patency. Within the immediate postoperative period, ten eyes needed further treatment to eliminate moderate pigment proliferation at the perforation site. The procedure was performed on an outpatient basis under topical anesthesia, usually required less than one-half hour for completion, and resulted in only minimal complications. Therefore, CWAL iridectomy appears to present an alternative to surgical iridectomy for the definitive treatment of angle-closure glaucoma, although long-term evaluation of this modality of therapy is presently unavailable.


The association of viruses with urveal melanoma. Electron microscopic examination of 57 ocular melanomas (54 human, two feline and one canine) revealed the presence of viral particles in six specimens. Herpesviruses particles were observed in one human specimen and were passed in human fibroblasts (WI-38), where they gave rise to intranuclear inclusions. A-type oncornavirus particles (oncogenic RNA virus) were observed in a second case, both in cells of tumor directly removed from an enucleated eye as well as in cells grown in tissue culture. In three human specimens and one feline specimen, togavirus particles were observed. Rubella is a member of this group, and the possibility that the presence of togavirus in these tumors is the result of latent ocular infection by rubella virus is raised. Herpes virus and RNA tumor viruses are widely considered as having a possible etiologic role for certain human cancers. The observation of togavirus is unexpected, as this virus has not been previously implicated in human or animal tumors. Injection of an RNA tumor virus (Gardner strain feline sarcoma virus) into the anterior chamber of newborn kittens resulted in the development of iris and ciliary body melanomas, many of which showed invasion and, in one instance, metastasis. This is the first animal model of a viral-induced uveal melanoma, and the histology and ultrastructure are described. These results emphasize the need for the continued investigation of the role of these viruses in uveal melanoma.


[Superinfection in heterakiasis].

[Superinfection in heterakiasis]. Experiments including single, two-fold and triple superinvasions with 100 invasive heterakidic eggs each on 2 day- and 4 month-old chickens were carried out (beginning of the experiment). Single superinvasions were effected on the 12th, 18th and 30th day, two-fold superinvasions -- on the 12th and 18th, 12th and 30th, 18th and 30th day, while triple superinvasions took place on the 12th, 18th and 30th day. It was established that the superinvasions of 20 day-old chickens reduce 3.6 times the survival of heterakids. The reduction was most pronounced in chickens superinvaded on the 18th day. A certain areactivity was observed in 4 month-old superinvaded chickens: the number of surviving heterakids was 1.4 times greater in superinvaded chickens than in the control. A significant shortening of heterakid length was established in younger experimental chickens as compared to the control, as well as an enhanced pathogenic effect of the helminths. Deviations of this kind were not evident in older chickens.


[Distribution and retention of nitroxinil in the tissues and fluids of large and small ruminants treated with fasciolide]. Nitroxynil distribution and the period of its retention in the organism of sheep and calves subcutaneously treated with therapeutical doses of the Bulgarian patent medicine fasciolid which contains N-methylglucaminic-nitro-xynil salt were followed. Comparative studies were carried out using the patent medicine dovenix "Specia". The polarographic method, based on nitro-group reduction over a dripping mercury electrod was applied for nitroxynil determination. It was established that fasciolid and dovenix applied to sheep and cattle in a prophylactic-therapeutic dose did not differ significantly in their distribution and retention in the organism.


[Changes in the vitamin D content in cow's milk irradiated in vitro with ultraviolet rays and in the blood serum of calves fed the irradiated milk]. Comparative investigations aiming to determine the most favourable dose for in vitro ultraviolet irradiation of cow milk which can ensure highest vitamin D content in it and best effect on vitamin D level in calf blood serum were carried out. It was established that under the applied technique of ultraviolet irradiation a 4 min treatment is most suitable and vitamin D content in milk rises several times (up to 8 times). Feeding of calves up to the age of 60 days with irradiated milk ensures a 4- to 5-fold increase of vitamin D in the blood serum as compared to its initial level before the experiment started and 2--3 fold as compared to that in control group calves.


[Atypical course of cholera in poultry]. Atypically developing chicken septicemia was studied at 3 farms in Bulgaria. In one of the observed centers of chicken septicemia infection no pathologic anatomical changes were evident while in the other two centers of infection serofibrinose and serofibrinose vitelline peritonitis, as well as pleurisy were present. In the bacteriological investigation carried out on 2969 samples 233 strains of chicken septicemia were isolated. Identification of 84 of them by the aid of the specific bacteriophage P. multocida 115 and of sugar and alcohol fermantation revealed that they can be classified as P. multocida. They are lyzated by a phage but do not reproduce it. Chicken septicemia cultures are virulent for white mice. In intramuscular injections of pullets these cultures prove not virulent, but their intravenous application kills the pullets in 5--10 days and the initial strain is isolated from all inner organs. The biological test on pullets is suitable for determining chicken septicemia culture virulence.


[Preparation and comparative testing of antigens for the immunodiagnosis of anaplasmosis in cattle]. Three antigen types were produced by ultra-sound treatment of the initial material (Anaplasma marginale Theiler infected blood) and its subsequent sedimentional centrifugation from 10 000 to 100 000 G. Their specificity and susceptibility to the Reaction Complement Binding (RCB) and to the capillary agglutination (CA) serological tests was comparatively checked up. Antigens A and B were very active in RCB, while antigen B--in the CA reaction. By these qualities they meet the requirements and are suitable for the practical need of discovering animals-carriers of anaplasmosis.


[Determination of benzoic acid and its salts in food products of animal origin]. A modification of the method for determining benzoic acid and its salts by water-vapour distillation and extraction of the biological material conservant and its titrimetrical determination is proposed. The thin layer chromatography method (TLC) is used parallelly for the identification of the conservant. The advantage of the proposed method consists in that the same distiller is used for quantitative titrimetrical determination and for TLC assessment. The method possesses high sensitivity 1 gamma in TLC scoring and 0.1 mg in titrimetric determination. It is applied for the determination of conservants in various fish assortments, canned fish and roe.


[Chemotherapeutic activity of Albendazole in experimental trichinelliasis in guinea pigs]. The chemico-therapeutical activity of albendasol was studied on 45 guinea-pigs experimentally invaded by 500 muscle trichinellae. The experimental animals were treated with the preparation on the 30th, 60th and 90th day post invasion. At the 10 mg/kg dose a 96.4% effectiveness against 30 day muscle trichinellae, 95.2% against the 60 day, and 81.2% against the 90 day trichinellae was scored, while at 20 mg/kg dose the effectiveness of the treatment was respectively 97.1, 96.3 and 88.6%. Pathomorphological and enzyme (alkaline and acid phosphatase) changes indicate that albendasol probably inactivates the inflammatory protective mechanism of the microorganism and directly participates in the parasite's cell metabolism.


[Radiotelemetric studies on uterine motility in cows during the 3d period of labor and the early puerperal period]. The outside appearance of a one-channel radiotelemetric system is presented and a short description of supplementary devices for the study of uterine motility in cows is given. The radiotube consisting of an inductive converter and a two-transistor sound generator is described in short. The tube is placed directly in the uterine cavity through the cervical canal. The numerical values of contractile uterine activity in hours post delivery up to the 120 hour are presented in one table and a graph. Original registering of normal uterine activity and of reflectory inhibition of the same are shown as well as registerings of other functions of the organism through the uterus such as urination, defecation, lowing and belching. The contractile activity of the uterus during a normal course of the third stage of labour and the early puerperium is most strongly expressed during the first day post calving. The duration of this activity in the following days is directly dependent on the individual characteristics of the organism.


[Effect of supplementary artificial illumination with visible rays on biochemical indices in the blood serum, milk yields and fertilization during lactation]. Comparative investigations were made with two groups of cows (a control) and an experimental one) aiming to establish the effect of prolonged day length during the autumn-winter and the early spring periods on the physiological state of the cows, the yield of milk and fertilization during the lactation period. Results obtained indicate that supplementary illumination with visible rays at a rate of 5 w/m2 from the floor and a 16 h day length including the natural day period, enhances the content of Ca, inorganic P and vitamin D and A of the blood serum, stabilizes at a constant level the quantity of total protein and rises the content of albumins and gamma-globulins. As a result of these and probably of some other changes in the organism, the physiological state of the cows is either maintained normal or is improved, a fact leading to 13% higher milk yield on the average for the lactation period, service period shortened to 87 days and increased number of pregnant cows following the first insemination.


[Morphometric studies of the changes in reproductive activity of the rat ovaries in regimens of immobilization and motor activity]. White female rats from the Wistar strain were divided into three groups: the first--subjected to heavy motion exercises, the second--used as control, and the third--immobilized. Motion stress was accomplished by use of a tretbahn, while immobilization was effected by the use of a method for physiological immobilization invented by the authors. A considerable reduction in corpus luteum number (number of ovulations) was observed in the immobilized animals. In most cases cystic degeneration, ovarian hypoplasia, obliteration and obturation as well as salpingitis were observed in these animals also. In pregnant immobilized rats only a small number of embryos was found, high percent of embryo mortality, fetal growth retardation and a considerable thickening and folding of the endometrium with numerous blood cells mainly histocytes and lymphocytes under the epithelium. No visible deviations from the normal condition and function of the gonads were observed in the control animals while in those under motion stress data indicating a certain improvement in the reproductive activity were obtained.


[Effect of varying amounts of methionine on chickens]. The effect of high methionine quantities on chickens was studied. The experiment was carried out with hundred 20-day old chicken-broilers, divided in four groups. A positive effect of 0.5% methionine added to the main ration was recorded. It resulted in 1109 g gain in weight as compared to 819,1 g for the control group. Two and three percent of methionine reduced the gain with 52.49 and 44.13% respectively. Toxic reactions were observed in II and III groups. Lethality in these groups reached 30 and 60% respectively. Haemoglobin content was considerably reduced, while blood sugar, carotene and vitamin A contents increased proportionally to the methionin quantities introduced in the ration. No significant changes in the values of serum calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and SGOT, SGPT activity before and after the experiment were established.


[Effect of high doses of the toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis strains on mice and sheep]. The investigation on Bac. thuringiensis toxines applied orally and subcutaneously on experimental white mice and on sheep proved that high doses of the dipel endotoxin are most toxic for mice of all strains (No. 862, 2E, 171) and spores and crystals of strain ND-1 used in dipel injection. The endotoxin of strain 862 applied orally to sheep at a dose of 10 cm3/kg body weight caused slight changes only to some paraclinical indices, namely: total protein, carotene, etc. Exotoxin had none or only slight toxic effect. The remaining strains applied to high doses proved almost harmless to mice.


[Microfloral study of bull seminal fluid stored at low temperatures]. Hundred twenty three samples of bull semen fluid frozen at 196 degrees C including 83 plastic ampules, 20 granules and 20 plastic straws obtained from the containers of the insemination stations of 10 farms from the Sofia district were investigated. Two hundred twelve strains were isolated and identified as: Escherichia coli--25 strains, Hafnia--16 strains, Citrobacter, Enterobacter and Proteus mirabilis--9 strains of each. The remaining Gram-negative genera and species were more rarely encountered. Gram positive bacteria: Micrococcus--19 strains, Staphylococcus aureus--17 strains, Staph. epidermidis--15 strains, Bacillus cereus--15 strains, B. subtilis--12 strains. Other representatives of Gram-positive bacteria were also found but in lower percentages. Least bacteria were observed in semen fluid frozen in plastic straws and most--in plastic ampules which were mainly used until recently for cow insemination. It was established that the same bacteria isolated by other authors from fresh sperm were encountered in semen fluid stored at minus temperatures. The conclusion is made that semen fluid stored at low temperature is contaminated with bacteria. It is only natural that these bacteria are introduced in cow genitals by insemination.


[Distribution and forms of latent mastitis in cows]. A study on the distribution of symptomless mastitis in cows on its forms and onthe percentage involvement of the individual microorganisms isolated in the positively reacting cases was carried out including clinical, cytological and microbiological investigations. The study covered 8 cow farms with a total number of 2377 cows. It was established that 68.42% of the cows suffer from symptomless mastitis and 24.09% of the udder quarters. In 32.39% of the latter cases non-specific mastitis or the so called secretory disturbance was observed, while in 67.61%--bacterial mastitis, which in 50.75% had a subclinical course, while in 17.36--as latent infection. In the samples with pathogenic microorganisms 72.35% had staphylococci, 14.32%--micrococci, 8.39%--streptococci and the remaining 4.94%--other kinds of bacteria. The appearance and distribution of symptomless mastitis in cows is the result of bad management of cow rearing and use.


[Toxicological studies of the technical phosphate of Pharmachem tylosin]. Studies on the acute, subchronic and chronic toxicity of technical tylosine phosphate (TTP) with 50 UI/mg activity, produced by Pharmachim were carried out. It was established that TTP does not cause lethality in white rats following application of 20, in white mice--of 40, in chickens--of 30 and in pigs--of 2 g/kg body weight. Long term application to the rations--of chickens for 40 days, in doses of 20, 40 and 60 g/kg fodder (=1.3 and 5 ED100) and of pigs for 32 days in doses of 2.6 and 10 g/kg fodder (=1.3 and 5 ED100) stimulates gain in weight of both species by 2-11.5% and improves the utilization of nutrition by 4.5-12.5% without any unfavourable effect on the clinical-biochemical composition of the blood and the structure and development of inner organs.


[Nephropathy in swine of uncertain etiology]. Pathological, anatomical and patho-histological studies on cases of nephropathia with uncertain etiology in swine were performed in an industrial swine complex. Pathological, anatomical and patho-histological changes in the kidneys and in the regional lymph nodes were described. In accordance with the character and extent of the changes observed the kidneys were provisionally divided into four main groups. On the basis of the patho-histological findings the assumption is forwarded that agents of unknown toxic nature play an etiological role.


[Enzootic erysipeloid in pheasants].

[Enzootic erysipeloid in pheasants]. Epizootological, clinical, bacteriological and pathomorhological studies on enzooty of erysipelas in a flock of 11 000 pheasants were made. The clinical symptoms of sick pheasants and the pathologoanatomical and patho-histogical changes observed in dead pheasants are described. The pathogen of erysipelas was isolated and differentiated. The disease was reproduced experimentally in 15 pheasants from another fram where no cases of the disease were encountered. The source of infection remained unknown. It was established that, as is the case in other animals and birds, erysepelas in pheasants is characterized clinically and morphologically by the symptoms of septicaemia.


[Contamination of Bulgarian yogurt with yeasts and molds and the dynamics of their development in the product]. Twenty one complex production experiments aiming to establish the sources of Bulgarian yoghourt contamination with yeasts and moulds were carried out. It was established that they enter the product by way of unclean production lines and implements, by the fermenting agent, by the air in the fermentation premises. Their number in the ready product increases during storage. The extent of their increase is in relation with their initial number and with the type of yoghourt cooling and storage. At temperature 8-10 degrees C yeast numbers increase after 6-day storage from 1 500 to 4 000 times, while at temperature 18-25 degrees C even on the 3d day their number surpasses 1-15 millions per g. Moulds appear after 2-4 days of storage at 18-25 degrees C in quantities of 2000-13 000/g, while at 8-10 degrees C--after the 5th day and their number varies from 100 to 2 000/g. Defects in the organoleptic indices of yoghourt (acid-tart yeast taste and "rising") appear in case of accumulation of more than 500 000-1 million yeasts per g. In 3.5% of the 201 lots of yoghourt presented for sale on the market and investigated the presence of yeasts was established, while only one lot had moulds. Standards concerning the permissible yeast and mould content are presented, which guarantee longer periods of preservation time for Bulgarian yoghourt.


[Changes in the biochemical indices of reactivity in calves with subacute bronchopneumonia treated with hyperimmune serum]. Changes in some biochemical indices characterizing the reactivity of calves suffering from bronchopneumonia following treatment with hiperimmune anti-bovine rabbit serum were investigated. It was established that beta-lipoproteins, sialic acid and amilase activity of blood serum were positively affected and the calves recovered following treatment with hiperimmune serum. Results obtained substantiate the conclusion that hiperimmune anti-bovine rabbit serum should be used in combination with chemicotherapeutical means for medical treatment of calf bronchopneumonia.


The clinical physiology of water metabolism. Part II: Renal mechanisms for urinary concentration; diabetes insipidus. The renal reabsorption of water independent of solute is the result of the coordinated function of the collecting duct and the ascending limb of the loop of Henle. The unique juxtaposition of the ascending and descending portions of the loop of Henle and of the vasa recta permits the function of a counter-current multiplier system in which water is removed from the tubular lumen and reabsorbed into the circulation. The driving force for reabsorption is the osmotic gradient in the renal medulla which is dependent, in part, on chloride (followed by sodium) pumping from the thick ascending loop of Henle. Urea trapping is also thought to play an important role in the generation of a hypertonic medullary interstitium. Arginine vasopressin (AVP) acts by binding to receptors on the cell membrane and activating adenylate cyclase. This, inturn, results in the intracellular accumulation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (AMP) which in some fashion abruptly increases the water permeability of the luminal membrane of cells in the collecting duct. As a consequence, water flows along an osmotic gradient out of the tubular lumen into the medullary interstitium. Diabetes insipidus is the clinical condition associated with either a deficiency of or a resistance to AVP. Central diabetes insipidus is due to diminished release of AVP following damage to either the neurosecretory nuclei or the pituitary stalk. Possible causes include idiopathic, familial, trauma, tumor, infection or vascular lesions. Patients present with polyuria, usually beginning over a period of a few days. The diagnosis is made by showing that urinary concentration is impaired after water restriction but that there is a good response to exogenous vasopressin therapy. Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus can be identified by a patient's lack of response to AVP. Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus is caused by a familial defect, although milder forms can be acquired as a result of various forms of renal disease. Central diabetes insipidus is eminently responsive to replacement therapy, particularly with dDAVP, a long lasting analogue of AVP. Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus is best treated with a combination of thiazide diuretics as well as a diet low in sodium and protein.


Distribution functions of variables characterizing the mycelial morphology of Streptomyces hygroscopicus grown in glucose-limited chemostat cultures. The distribution of variables characterizing the morphology of the mycelium of Streptomyces hygroscopicus grown in glucose-limited chemostat cultures at different specific growth rates were investigated statistically. The values of the hyphal growth unit (L/N) and the values of the distance from the apex to the first branch (Lp) are normally distributed, but the values of the distance between neighbouring branches are logarithmically normal distributed. The distribution functions are discussed from the biological point of view.


Effect of temperature on the transcription by bacteriophage T3-induced RNA polymerase. Bacteriophage T3-induced RNA polymerase is rapidly inactivated at 42 degrees C. Addition of T3 DNA delays this process for 30 s and reduces the rate with which the enzyme activity is lost indicating that a labile binary complex between T3 DNA and polymerase must have been formed. The ternary complex between T3-specific RNA polymerase, T3 DNA, and nascent RNA chains obtained when the enzyme is incubated with T3 DNA, GTP, ATP, and UTP is stable to heat (42 degrees C) and only slowly inactivated by polyvinyl sulfate. The optimal temperature for the formation of polyanionresistant ternary complexes is 30 degrees C while the elongation of T3 RNA chains proceeds fastest at 38 degrees C.


Ultrastructural observations on the submucous plexus of the large intestine of the rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri, Rich.). Ultrastructural studies on the large intestine of the Rainbow trout revealed the hitherto unreported presence of neurons within the submucous plexus. The neurons were closely associated with axons which expanded intermittently along their length to form varicosities. According to the type and proportion of vesicles within the varicosities, three groups were distinguished. Group I varicosities contained a predominant population of small electronlucent vesicles measuring 30 nm in diameter. Group II varicosities contained a few medium-sized granular vesicles measuring 60 nm in diameter mixed with large numbers of small electronlucent vesicles. Most of the Group III varicosities contained large numbers of large granular vesicles, 90 nm in diameter. Varicosities of all groups formed axosomatic synapses. The significance of the presence of neurons in the submucous plexus of the trout large intestine is discussed. Group I and II varicosity profiles were interpreted as representing cholinergic and adrenergic innervation respectively. The identification of the transmitter substance in Group III varicosities, however, has still to be resolved.


[An experimental study on the function of fibrocytes]. By means of different types of fibrocytes (amnion connecting cells, fibrocytes of the substantia propria of the cornea, fibrocytes of the tendon, fibrocytes of the loose connecting tissues and fibrocytes of the ovary a varying disposition could be demonstrated for the accumulation of vital dies. The tests indicate that the transformation of fibrocytes into histiocytes (macrophagia) can be shown with certainty only in the less differentiated connected tissue cells of the amnion.


[Histologic study of the teleost liver. I. The structure of the liver parenchyma]. The liver parenchyma of the teleosts investigated in this study does not show a true lobular pattern. The finer arrangement of the hepatocytes corresponds to the classical conception that the structure of the liver parenchyma is tubular. On the other hand the laminar structure of parenchyma (ELIAS), as it is often described in the more recent literature, must be regarded as a predominantly descriptive perspective. Remnants of a tubular structure also appear in the liver of the cyprinids investigated here, which have no real liver tubules owing to the special feature of the canalicular region (unicellular or "intracellular" bile canaliculi). Compared to the liver of higher vertebrates eight of the nine teleost species investigated here possess a liver poor in connective tissue. The liver of Haplochromis burtoni also lacks a continuous tissue layer beneath the peritoneal mesothelium. In contrast the liver of Tetraodon leiurus is characterized by an abundance of connective tissue. This phenomenon can be attributed to the high proportion of sinusoids in the parenchyma, which confers a structure similar to that of mammalian liver. The resulting loss of mechanical stability is obviously compensated for by the enlarged contribution of the connective tissue to the structure of the parenchyma.


[Histologic study of the teleost liver. II. The blood vessel system]. In the liver of the teleosts investigated in the present study the sinusoidal region shows a space of DISSE, which contains numerous microvilli originating from the hepatocytes. In some species, especially in Tetraodon leiurus, there are also bundles of collagenous fibrils. In the DISSE's space of larger sinusoids (transition sinusoids) sections of filament-rich cells are found. These are sometimes interconnected by desmosomes and can be interpreted as processes of smooth muscle cells from the region of the venae hepaticae. The endothelium of smaller sinusoids is fenestrated and shows micropinocytotic activity. The endothelia of the transition sinusoids and of the venae hepaticae are endowed with structures, which can be interpreted as macrovesicles. In the sinusoidal region true KUPFFER-cells and ITO-cells could not be observed. Nevertheless, the close location of granulocytes to the sinusoidal endothelium suggests that phagocytotic processes cannot be excluded for the sinusoidal region. Exceptionally, in Hemihaplochromis multicolor there were also signs of possible phagocytosis by sinusoidal endothelial cells. The chemomorphology of the sinusoidal region, above all the evidence of alkaline phosphatase, shows great differences between species. The examination of the larger blood-vessels in the liver of Haplochromis burtoni reveals venae portae with very thin walls and venae hepaticae with thick walls, which contain smooth muscle cells. Granulocytes and melanocytes are abundant in the wall of the venae hepaticae. This phenomenon indicates that the defence-functions, which in the liver of higher vertebrates are carried out by the sinusoids (KUPFFER-cells), are undertaken by the region of the venae hepaticae in the liver of Haplochromis burtoni, which is free of KUPFFER-cells. On their extrahepatic course the venae portae are surrounded by a sleeve of exocrine pancreatic tissue, which accompanies the vessels deep into the liver. The pancreatic cells bordering the thin-walled venae portae have sparse microvilli indicating a transfer of substances between venous blood and pancreas similar to the sinusoidal region of the liver. Furthermore, the investigation resulted in a clue to the innervation of the exocrine pancreas.


[Innervation of the mucosa of the small intestine of laboratory animals. I. Architecture, light microscopic structure and histochemical differentiation]. 1. The small intestine mucosa has a dense and differentiated innervation. The most dense nerve plexuses are contained in the villi. Each tubular gland is surrounded by a rope-ladder-like plexus, mostly developed in the lower and upper third. 2. According to our observations most of the axons in the mucosa are cholinergic. Cholinergic and adrenergic axons take part in the innervation of the glands. Moreover enterochromaffine cells can be innervated for instance sympathetically. Intraepithelial axons could not be found.


[Comparative and quantitative ultrastructural study of the olfactory organs of four strains of domestic pigeons]. 1. By counting the axons per micron 2 on electronmicrographs of cross-sectioned olfactory nerves and multiplying this number by the area of the cross-sectioned nerves, the number of olfactory receptors was determined in 4 breeds of domestic pigeons including homing pigeons. 2. The total number of olfactory receptors varied between 3.0 and 7.4 . 10(6). It significantly depended on the body size of the pigeons. There was no evidence for differences in the number of olfactory receptors between the breeds independent of body size. 3. No differences in the relative size of the olfactory bulbs could be detected between the breeds. 4. The ultrastructure of the olfactory epithelium was basically similar to that of other birds. The covering mucus layer was revealed to be a secretion product of both the olfactory glands of Bowman and the olfactory supporting cells. No differences were observed in the ultrastructure of the olfactory region between the four breeds investigated.


Postembryonic changes in the optic primordia and optic bud in the flesh fly Sarcophaga ruficornis fabr. (Diptera: Sarcophagidae). Differentiation of the optic lobe anlagen begin in the brain of second instar. Each is an elongated disc of cortical cells placed on the dorsolateral border of each protocerebrum. In the late second instar the disc elongates and its two ends bend inwards which gradually separate from the central region, thus giving three imaginal discs. The protocerebral neuropile extends into these discs and medulla interna and externa are formed. The rudiments of compound eyes (cephalic complex) appear in the early laid larva. These are attached with the brain and pharyngeal wall separately. The posterior portion of cephalic complex (optic bud), after establishing a nervous association with the central optic lobe anlage (lamina ganglionaris), forms the compound eye. Ech optic bud is attached to the brain by a non-nervous stalk. The epiblast cells of the optic bud do not migrate into the brain and the lamina is formed by the proliferation of the central imaginal disc. The reorientation of the optic lobe anlagen starts in the late third instar and the medulla interna divides into two unequal lobes. In 2 day pupa the nerve fibres from the lamina travel into the optic stalk and the optic nerve is formed. The epiblast cells of the optic bud differentiate to form a peripheral epithelial layer which becomes pigmented and gets apposed to the lateral boundary of the brain. The central epiblast cells of the optic bud form several ommatidia. The optic nerve degenerates gradually and various components of the compound eye are formed by the epiblast cells. Chiasm internum is present but chiasm externum is absent.


[The occurrence of "skein bones" in the enchondral layer of the bony labyrinth capsule]. Skein bone which is typical in enchondral layer of human bony otic capsule also is found in pig, rabbit, guinea pig, rat, mouse and golden hamster. This structural principle of enchondral layer of bony otic capsule is discussed.


[Differentiation of neurons of the cingulate region in explant culture]. The structural changes in explant-cultures of the cingulate region from the brains of 18 day old rat embryos were investigated during several cultivation periods by neurohistological light microscopical methods. The differentiation and the growth of neurons were observed in cultures stained by the method of Klüver-Barrera, and cut perpendicular to the coverslips during the period from the 1st up to the 20th day in vitro. As parameters for the growth of the cells the density of neurons and glial cells per culture area were estimated and the diameters of nuclei and pericarya were measured at different stages of culture. The following results could be obtained. 1. The immature cells differentiated up to the 20th day in vitro to neurons that could be devided into three groups due to histological characteristics: pyramidal cells, multiform neurons and a group of small cells with few cytoplasm. 2. From the 1st to the 20th day in vitro the density of neurons and glial cells markedly decreased. The number of neurons per unit area decreased to 59.7% during this period. However, the most rapid decrease in the number of neurons occurred from the 10th to the 20th day in vitro. 3. The measurements of the diameters showed an increase in both the diameters of nucleus and pericarya from the 1st to the 20th day in vitro. The enlargement of the diameters is especially striking from the 1st up to the 10th day in vitro. The results are discussed in comparison results of ontogenetic investigations in vivo.


Nuclear bodies in the rat adrenal glomerular zone in normal and experimental conditions. The presence of nuclear bodies in the glomerular zone of the rat adrenal cortex has been shown both in normal conditions and after the stimulus of low sodium diets causing an increase in their number. These results indicate that these organelles are a normal nuclear component of the cells of this zone, and that they can experience significant increases in quantity and complexity due to various functional stimuli.


The ultrastructure of corpus allatum of the earwig Euborellia annulipes lucas (Dermaptera: Labiduridae). The ultrastructure of corpus allatum of the earwig, Euborellia annulipes has been described. The corpus allatum (CA) is an oval body. The gland is covered by a thin stromal sheath which is wavey and acellular in composition. The gland consists of either parenchymal cells with distinct, double-layered, smooth or slightly undulated plasma-membranes. Golgi bodies and endoplasmic reticulum are poorly developed. The mitochondria are found in abundance and are oval, spherical, elongate, and Y-shaped, with oblique and longitudinal cristae. The gland is innervated by neurosecretory and non-neurosecretory axons. The neurosecretory axons are of two types. The type NS-II, contain electron dense granules of 40...120 nm in diameter and the type NS-I, small less electron dense granules (of mixed nature) 40...90 nm in diameter. Branches of tracheoles also occur that penetrate the gland. The large electron dense granules 100...220 nm in diameter occuring abundantly in aorta, and representing the secretions of the medial A-cells are absent in the CA.


The morphology and ultrastructure of the female reproductive ducts in the metacercaria and adult of Cryptocotyle lingua (Creplin) (Digenea:Heterophyida). Encysted metacercariae of C. lingua require 38 days in the fish second intermediate host before they are infective to the bird definitive host. Morphogenesis of the metacercaria is arrested shortly after 38 days. The ovary and testes are recognizable at 10 days. By 38 days the lumen of the oviduct is apparent and cilia form on the epithelial lining. The receptaculum seminis remains rudimentary. The cells of the uterine primordium are vacuolated but no lumen is present. Laurer's canal, vitelline glands, and Mehlis's glands are not recognizable. Morphogenesis is resumed in the bird intestine. During day 1 the oviduct and receptaculum seminis complete their development; Laurer's canal and the uterine lumen are formed. During day 2 the cilia in the female ducts become motile and the vitelline and Mehlis's glands are present. Fertilization occurs on day 2 to day 3 and eggs arrive in the uterus on day 3.


Further observations on ultrastructural changes in hepatocytes of mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni. The effect of hepatic granulomas initiated by eggs of Schistosoma mansoni on the ultrastructure of hepatocytes of murine hosts was studied. Specimens of infected livers were collected at half week intervals, starting at week 7 postinfection and terminating at week 9 postinfection. Only the hepatocytes adjacent to granulomas showed any alteration in structure. The most obvious change was the proliferation of smooth-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum, especially striking in samples collected 8 1/2 and 9 weeks postinfection. The hypothesis was presented that the material secreted by the egg of the organism might be responsible for what appeared to be a morphologic detoxification response by the hepatocytes. Other alterations evident in the hepatocytes were an increase in the lysosomal population, mitochondrial changes and a slight hypertrophy of the Golgi complexes. Previous related studies by other investigators were explored and the findings compared with the results of this study.


Occurrence of certain physiological groups of soil micro-organisms in the rhizosphere and rhizoplane of watermelon, cucumber, and cowpea. A field experiment was run for studying the occurrence of ammonifiers, Azotobacter, aerobic cellulose-decomposers, and nitrifiers in rhizosphere soils as well as in rhizoplane samples of watermelon, cucumber, or cowpea at different stages of growth. In unamended soil, all the heterotrophs were generally stimulated in the rhizosphere of each plant, especially the leguminous one, resulting in positive rhizosphere effects. In amended soil, on the other hand, both negative and positive (but lower than in unamended soil) rhizosphere effects were recorded for the heterotrophs. The rhizosphere effects differed according to the type of plant, to the growth phase of each single plant, and to physiological properties of micro-organisms under study. A modified method for removing and treating the rhizoplane samples is suggested. The presence of high number of the heterotrophs and the absence of the autotrophs may support the evidence that roots of the studied plants are colonized with ammonifiers, Azotobacter, and cellulose-decomposers, but not with nitrifiers.


A study of the tumorogenesis of Agrobacterium tumefaciens Conn. on some plant species of Iran. This paper is a survey and comparative type of study on the tumorogenetic effect of Agrobacterium tumefaciens on some plant species of Iran. The results obtained indicate that the tumor-inducing property of this micro-organism is not common to all plant species studied; moreover no tumor was initiated on the mature leaves by the bacteria. The results obtained with the local varieties of the susceptible plants show some qualitative and quantitative differences as compared with the works of other investigators, especially with regard to the formation of secondary tumors. The enhancing effect of indolyl-3-acetic-acid (IAA) on initiation, size, and number of primary and secondary tumors, induced by Agrobacterium, was also investigated and the results, to a certain degree, confirm those obtained by other workers. Viability of the bacteria in the tumors was also measured and the results obtained confirm the view that a continuous and active presence of the bacteria is essential for growth and development of the tumors.


[Microbial settlement of paint- and building-materials in the sphere of drinking-water. 4. Communication: Examination of tightening compounds under working conditions (author's transl)]. Tightening compounds which were used in the sphere of drinking-water led to a microbial settlement that differs in points of quantity and quality depending on the kind of material. Twelve compounds on the base of Silicon, one on the base of Thiokol and one Epoxid were examined.


[Rate of dental caries in youths from communities of both naturally high and low, resp., fluoride content in drinking water (author's transl)]. The incidence of caries in terms of the so-called DFS (= Decayed filled surfaces) index was ascertained for test persons aged from 6 to 15 years, in a community with a drinking water supply having a naturally increased fluoride content (Falkenberg/Oberpfalz, 1.8 ppm F') in comparison with test persons from a neighbouring community with a drinking water supply having a low-fluoride content (Fuchsmühl/Oberpfalz, 0.05 ppm F'). In 103 persons tested (corresponding to 7,577 dental surfaces surveyed) from Falkenberg, the DES index was 5.3, in 123 test persons (corresponding to 10,473 dental surfaces surveyed) from Fuchsmühl the DFS index was 12.4, which means that the naturally increased fluoride content of the drinking water caused caries to drop by 58 per cent viv-à-vis the reference group. No appreciable differences were found to exist in the eruption times of the permanent teeth in both groups of test persons, i. e. fluoride in drinking water does not appear to delay the eruption of teeth. The incidence of fluoride-induced enamel hypoplasia as determined by Kunz on the same test persons, resulted in a distinct increase of 74 per cent for the "fluoride group" vis-à-vis the reference group with a 33 per cent increase only.


Effect of zinc ions on the oxygen affinity of hemoglobin and the level of 2,3-DPG in normal human red blood cells in vitro. This paper presents the results of experiments on the in vitro effect of zinc ions on the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen and on the 2,3-DPG content of the red blood cells of healthy humans. Blood was incubated in 1.5 X 10(-3) M ZnSO4 solution for 4 h and then the oxygen affinity of hemoglobin and the hematocrit number were determined. An original method of determination the oxygen dissociation curve of HbO2 was employed enabling an exact calculation of the P50 value of the hemolysates by the method of least squares. Analysis of statistically verified results reveals that zinc ions increase the oxygen affinity of hemoglobin bringing about a leftward shift of the HbO2 dissociation curve (by 3.85 mm Hg for P50) the level of 2,3-DPG remaining constant in the red cells incubated with ZnSO4. The mechanisms of this phenomenon and its possible clinical implications are discussed.


[Tobacco smoking and lung cancer in women: relative risk for Kreyberg groups I and II (author's transl)]. The smoking habits and history of 180 female lung cancer patients (119 cases of Kreyberg I tumors, 61 cases of Kreyberg II tumors) were analyzed in a retrospective case control study (360 female control patients suffering from not tobacco related diseases). The relative risk for smokers is 5,7 for Kreyberg I tumors (statistically significant) and 1,57 for Kreyberg II tumors. The risk for Kreyberg I tumors rises in relation to the life time cigarette consumption: less than 5000 packs of cigarettes smoked 1,94; 5000--20 000 packs smoked 6,44 (statistically significant); more than 20 000 packs 10,92 (statistically significant). The respective figures for Kreyberg II tumors are 1,2; 1,72; 1,73.


[The significance of immunological constellation with regard to the development of hypersensitivity against various chemical compounds (author's transl)]. Biopon is a generally used detergent containing detergens which does not cause hypersensitivity as was demonstrated by the authors in previous animal experiments. In the present study the authors describe the Haptene character of Biopon which quality could be demonstrated by causing a certain immunological constellation in guinea-pigs on the grounds of a hypothesis. The hypothetical concept consisted in aiding a half-antigen in the organism even in the case of its intradermal injection into a thick immunocompetent cell agglomeration. The authors produced the agglomeration of cells of the skin by means of intradermal injections of alien serum and in with BCG treated animals with tuberculin reaction. Biopon was administered thereafter into the focus by intradermal injection. The presented two aiding methods showed different effects which the authors try to explain by the fact that different adjuvants cause different effects.


[NIH potency tests with inactivated rabies vaccines (author's transl)]. 63 NIH tests were analysed. A BPL inactivated tissue culture rabies vaccine No. 108 was compared with the national standard vaccine A 18 fourteen times in different tests. The results show that reproduction of results is unsatisfactory with the NIH test and that this test in its present traditional method with two injections is not very suitable for satisfactory potency evaluation of inactivated rabies vaccines. Proposals for modifications are made.


Laboratory diagnosis in a case of fatal progressive vaccinia due to manifest immunologic deficiencies. A case of progressive vaccinia is described, in a 21 years old man, diagnosed after 8 months of vaccinial lesion's evolution. The area of vaccination developed progressive necrosis and metastatic lesions evolved on various regions of the body. The vaccinia virus was isolated on the chorioallantoic membrane of embryonated eggs, from the cutaneous lesions, blood, internal organs and even from the apparently intact skin.--The serological tests indicated hypogammaglobulinemia with absence of neutralizing antibodies.--The death occured after 366 days. The progressive vaccinia described above represents the case with the most prolonged evolution known until now.


[Estimation of age-related fatality of influenza in Vienna 1970--1976 (author's transl)]. Starting with the total number of deaths the figures of the annual basic mortality and the deaths in excess of the usual expectancy during winter are estimated; the latter are subdivided into a basic excess group and a top excess group. A similar grouping is done with influenza cases (figure 1). Table 1. shows the results of the winter seasons from 1970--71 to 1975--76. It is remarkable, that a season without excess cases of influenza as it was in 1973--74 is followed by a season with raised fatality rates (like a "catch-up-fatality"). Table 2 shows finally, that the top excess fatality in the age group 15--64 years is more than twice as high as the basic excess fatality. In elderly people the relation is inverse. It seems that the high basic excess fatality in the observed period in this age group is due to the high incidence of preexisting chronic diseases, fatally complicated by influenza.


[Epidemiological observations on the typhoid fever outbreak 1974 in the south-west of the Federal Republic of Germany (author's transl)]. A typhoid fever epidemic broke out in Baden-Württemberg during October and December 1974, 436 cases could be analyzed statistically. The interval between the date of earliest symptoms and the registration at the health-office was 18 days. This was the double respectively the triple of previous typhoid outbreaks. This interval results from a prolonged stay at home and a hospitalisation time with an average of 5 days from the hospitalisation to the registration. The interval between hospitalisation and the definitive diagnosis was 19 hours. The analysis of the age and sex incidence shows a high percentage of 15 to 30 years old women, which is due to the occupational exposition. The low morbidity of the 50 to 65 years old men points at a pre-exposition during World War II.


Effect of protein deficiency on the metabolism of glycoproteins and glycosaminoglycans in albino rat skin. 1. The total content of neutral sugars in skin of the weanling albino rats kept on the protein-deficient diet was increased by about 40%; this was mainly due to the increased concentration of galactose. The content of sialic acid was increased by about 20%. The collagen nitrogen was decreased significantly, with a concomitant increase of non-collagen nitrogen. At the same time, the content of sulphated glycosaminoglycans in skin was significantly decreased and that of non-sulphated glycosaminoglycans was increased. 2. Protein-deficient diet enhanced the activities of the protein-bound carbohydrate-degrading lysosomal hydrolases, viz. cathepsin D (EC 3.4.4.23), N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.30) and beta-D-glucuronidase (EC 3.2.1.31) both in liver and skin. The activity of liver hyaluronidase (EC 3.2.1.35) was also increased upon limitation of protein supply. 3. The changes observed in skin were accompanied by increased concentration of the protein-bound hexoses, hexosamines and sialic acids in serum, and of hexosamine and uronic acid in urine. The serum fucose remained unchanged.


Analyses of infrared amide bands of chitin. Infrared spectra of chitin isolated from various biological species were measured by Fourier transform technique. The recorded spectra were decomposed into component bands within 1500--1750 cm-1 and 3000--3500 cm-1 spectral regions; it allowed us to establish the precise position of amide I and amids II bands. It was shown that the positions of amide I and amide II bands are independent of the source from which chitin was isolated.


Induction by ferulic acid of multiple forms of peroxidase in the fungus Trametes versicolor (Basidiomycetes). Two forms of peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7) were induced in mycelium of Trametes versicolor by ferulic acid, with an about 2,5-fold increase of their specific activity. Both inducible forms of peroxidase were isolated and partially purified by ion-exchange chromatography on CM-Sephadex C-50 and DEAE-Sepharose Cl 6B; some of their properties were also characterized.


Laser raman spectroscopy of arylsulphatase B from rat liver. 1. The Raman spectra of native and denatured arylsulphatase B in aqueous solutions are reported. 2. Acid denaturation in 1 M-HCl solution (pH 1.2) was observed 1, 4 and 24 h after dissolution of the enzyme. 3. Changes in the geometry of the disulphide bridges and unfolding of the protein coil were observed. The observed decrease in the intensity of the tyrosine peaks indicates that these amino acid residues were shifted out.


Purification and properties of DNA polymerase gamma from rabbit intestinal epithelial cells. 1. DNA polymerase gamma from the cytoplasmic fraction of rabbit intestinal epithelial cells has been purified 120 000-fold and was free of phosphatase and nuclease activities towards deoxyribonucleoside-5'-triphosphates and polynucleotides. 2. The enzyme exhibited maximal activity for activated DNA and poly(A) . oligo(dT)12--18 at pH 8.5 IN 0.25 AND 0.15 M-KCl, respectively. Km values for dTTP with these two templates were 0.5 and 3.8 microM, respectively. 3. In contrast to DNA polymerases alpha and beta, the enzyme replicated poly(A) . oligo(dT)12--18 10 times faster and poly(dA) . oligo(dT)12--18 5 times slower than activated DNA. 4. DNA polymerase gamma did not replicate poly(C) . oligo(dG)12--18 or poly(Cm) . oligo(dT)12--18. The reaction with poly(I) and poly(U) did not exceed 1% of that observed with poly(A). 5. The enzyme was inhibited in 60% by antiserum against DNA polymerase gamma from human lymphoblasts. 6. The nuclear fraction of rabbit intestinal epithelial cells contained DNA polymerase gamma with the same characteristics.


Isolation and characterization of DNA-dependent RNA polymerases from rabbit mammary gland. RNA polymerases AI, AII, BI, BII, CI and CII were found in the mammary gland from lactating rabbits. The enzymes obtained from total cell homogenates were partially purified and separated by DEAE-Sephadex chromatography. Their chromatographic properties, alpha-amanitin-sensitivity, template specificity, ionic strength and divalent cation requirements are described.


Isolation of chromatin subcore particles by chromatography on Biogel 1.5 m. The method is described for separation and purification by chromatography on Biogel 1.5 m of subnucleosomal nucleoprotein particles obtained by extensive digestion of calf thymus nuclei with micrococcal nuclease.


Solution conformations of the antimetabolite 9-beta-D-xylofuranosyladenine and its 8-bromo analogue. An analysis has been made, with the aid of 1H NMR spectroscopy, of the solution conformation of the known antimetabolite, 9-beta-D-xylofuranosyladenine (xyloA), and of its 8-bromo analogue. For xyloA, the results point to a strong preference for the sugar ring of the conformation type N (C(3') endo), a relatively low population of the gauche-gauche rotamer of the exocyclic 5'-CH2OH, and a preference for the conformation anti about the glycosidic bond. For 8-bromo-xyloA, the preference for the type N conformation of the sugar ring is less marked, and the preferred conformation about the glycosidic bond is syn. The conformation of the sugar ring in the foregoing xylonucleosides consequently differs appreciably from that for the corresponding ribonucleosides, which adopt preferentially the type S (C(2')endo) and gauche-gauche conformations. Comparison with previously reported results for O'-methyl derivatives of xyloA points to the similarity in conformational properties of all of these. In contrast to arabinonucleosides with free 2' and 5' hydroxyls, the conformation of xyloA is relatively unaffected in strongly alkaline medium where the sugar hydroxyl(s) dissociate. Under these conditions, there is no formation of an intramolecular hydrogen bond such as might have been anticipated from X-ray diffraction studies in the solid state.


Antifertility activity of alpha-chlorohydrin (3-chloro-1, 2 propanediol, U-5897) on the female rats. alpha-chlorohydrin administration brings about regression in the corpus luteum and shedding of the uterine endometrium, indicating its luteolytic activity, alpha-chlorohydrin inhibited vaginal keratinization and interrupted the sex cycle. A dioestrous leucocytic pattern of the vaginal smear is retained during medication. Decreased synthesis of RNA, protein, sialic acid and glycogen concentration in the uterus and vagina suggest possible antioestrogenic action of the compound. The antifertility action of the drug may be due to its antioestrogenic property.


Effect of Lisuride on serum prolactin levels during puerperium. A new semisynthetic ergot derivative, Lisuride, has been administered to 40 women who wanted to have lactation inhibited. Purpose of the study was to evaluate the drug's effect on serum PRL levels. Treatment was carried out for 7 days with daily doses of 300 or 600 microgram. Lisuride lowered PRL levels, and the decrease was significantly more marked for the 600 microgram dose.


Plasma levels of unconjugated estetrol and estriol and of total estriol in normal human pregnancy. The course of normal pregnancy in 54 patients was monitored by weekly assays of Unconjugated Estriol (E3U), Total Estriol (E3T) and Unconjugated Estetrol (E4U). These subjects were divided into two groups: one of those patients who delivered a fetus with a weight above the 50th percentile and the other of those who delivered a fetus with a weight below the 50th percentile. No significant difference was found between these two groups and it is not therefore possible to have information regarding the weight of the fetus, starting from the weekly values of these hormones. Analogous variations of the three hormones were found as pregnancy progresses. However, the rate of increase for E4U was higher than for E3T and E3U.


Surface ultrastructure of polycystic ovaries as viewed by electron microscopy. Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe surface fine structure of germinal epithelium and granulosa cells of human ovaries from 24 patients with polycystic ovaries and primary infertility. Synthetic LH-RH was administered intravenously and serum LH was measured at frequent intervals before and after LH-RH injection. The PCO patients were arbitrarily classified into two groups on the basis of ovarian morphology: typical PCO (Type I) with greater LH response than the lower LH response of a typical PCO (Type II). The germinal epithelium which did not completely cover the surface of the normal ovary was characterized by patchy areas of cells with and  without dense microvilli. In normal preovulatory follicles, most granulosa cells were polyhedral in shape with smooth surfaces, whereas those facing the follicular cavity were elongated and flattened and were covered with material having a filamentous/reticular texture. In PCO the germinal epithelium surrounding the whole surface possessed dense microvilli, solitary cilia, and blebs, resembling the fetal ovary. In normal ovaries, the follicular cells were uniform in size and shape with microvilli and evaginations. The PCO cells have irregular size and shape with few microvilli.


Effects of type of placentation on birthweight and its variability in monozygotic and dizygotic twins. Birthweight was measured on 188 monochorionic monozygotic, 54 dichorionic monozygotic, 102 like-sexed dizygotic, and 94 unlike-sexed dizygotic liveborn twin pairs. Overall, males were found to be significantly heavier than females. These differences were not significant, however, when birthweights were compared within zygosity/chorion-type categories. Males were also characterized by a slightly greater overall total variance. Comparisons of intrapair variation of monochorionic and dichorionic monozygotic twins revealed significant differences between monochorionic pairs and dichorionic separate pairs and no significant differences between monochorionic pairs and dichorionic fused pairs. The results of this study suggest that placental proximity may have as important an influence on variation in birthweight as does the presence or absence of vascular anastomoses.


Application of His bundle recording to study disorders of atrioventricular and intraventricular conduction. This paper briefly describes the techniques available for evaluation of conduction in our catheterization laboratory. The application of the technique for recording His-bundle potentials has greatly enhanced our understanding of rhythm and conduction disturbances and has provided useful and important information in the management of atrioventricular and intraventricular conduction disorders.


The effect of gastroduodenal xylocaine on the basal pancreatic secretion in rats. The effect of intragastric and intraduodenal xylocaine on the pancreatic secretion was investigated in conscious rats. A 1% xylocaine infusion strongly decreased pancreatic protein output and flow during recirculation of pancreatic juice into the duodenum, but it diminished only moderately the increase in the secretion seen after its diversion and after duodenal infusion of soybean trypsin inhibitor. Moderate inhibition appeared during prolonged diversion of pancreatic juice. The response to exogenous CCK + secretin was not modified. The results indicate that during recirculation of pancreatic juice, which is more physiologic than its diversion from the duodenum, the neural control may play a significant role.


Embryotoxicity and fertility study with halothane subanesthetic concentration in rats. The effect of 9 ppm halothane, a subanesthetic concentration, was studied on the reproductive ability and pregnancy outcome in white rats. Pregnant females were exposed for 4 h per day during the whole gestation period. Male animals were subjected to halothane inhalation for 4 h daily, 5 days per week for 6 or 8 months. In the exposed females higher rates were established for early interruption of pregnancy (all implants dead) and for embryonic death in the later periods of intrauterine life compared to controls. Deciduomata were found in 22.22% (P less than 0.05) of pregnant treated females. Control females mated to exposed males showed a higher incidence of preimplantation loss (36.36% (P less than 0.05) of those mated with males exposed for 6 months had deciduomata). Decreased fertility in males, expressed particularly in the 8-month treated group, was also demonstrated (13.33% inseminated females, compared to 35% in the control group).


Serum bromide after general anaesthesia with halothane. Serum bromide was determined in 30 patients during the first few postoperative days after general anaesthesia with halothane. The material comprised a group of younger patients (19-50 years) and a group of elderly patients (greater than 70 years), neither of whom received thiomebumal induction, and a group of younger patients (19-50 years) who received thiomebumal induction. The changes in serum bromide were independent of age and induction with barbiturate, and a maximum rise in serum bromide was found most often 2-3 days after the anaesthesia. All groups showed a rise in serum bromide to therapeutically sedative concentrations, and a significant correlation was found between MAC-hours halothane exposure and serum bromide.


Effect of segmental epidural analgesia upon the uterine activity with special reference to the use of different local anaesthetic agents. Segmental epidural block was given to 60 primiparous women during vaginal delivery, and the effect of the block on the uterine activity was studied after the first epidural injection. The women were divided into two main groups, according to whether or not oxytocin was used for stimulating the uterine contractions, and three different local anaesthetics--lidocaine-adrenaline, bupivacaine-adrenaline and plain bupivacaine--were tested. There was a transitory decrease in uterine activity in all women after the block was applied. In women with normal uterine activity before the block, a return to almost pre-analgesic values was noted within 30 min after the block, whereas in women treated with oxytocin there was still a reduction of 15-17% at this time. The reduction was caused by a decreasing intensity and at the same time an increase in the variability of the intensity, manifested as an increase in the coefficient of variation for this variable. There were no significant differences between the local anaesthetic agents tested, but addition of adrenaline to the bupivacaine solution resulted in a more marked decrease in uterine activity in women treated with oxytocin.


Changes in placental intervillous blood flow measured by the 133xenon method during lumbar epidural block for elective caesarean section. The effect of lumbar epidural block on placental intervillous blood flow (IBF) was estimated with the i.v. 133Xe method in 24 cases and in 14 controls. All parturients had uneventful pregnancies and were scheduled for elective caesarean section. Lumbar epidural block caused a significant decrease in maternal mean arterial pressure (MAP), when no preloading infusion with a plasma expander was given. In contrast, the MAP remained unchanged during lumbar epidural block when the parturients received a preloading infusion (Haemaccel, 100 ml/10 kg body weight within 10 min immediately before lumbar epidural block). The IBF decreased to some extent in the non-preloaded group, but increased temporarily in the preloaded group 15 min after the administration of lumbar epidural block. The mean changes of IBF in the non-preloaded and the preloaded groups differed statistically significantly from each other during lumbar epidural block. The IBF of the preloaded group did not differ significantly from the IBF of the control group receiving no lumbar epidural block.


Transcutaneous oxygen measurement in adult intensive care. Transcutaneous oxygen measurement (PtcO2-measurement) gives by a non-invasive technique continuous information about central PO2. The method has as yet been tested mainly on newborns, and systematic studies of the applicability of the method on adults are still few. The current systematic study reports on consecutive PtcO2 measurements in 15 patients, all with indwelling arterial catheters: 13 of the patients were artificially ventilated; 5 patients had normal body structure and normal skin circulation; 5 patients were obese and had normal skin circulation; and 5 patients were hypothermic with a normal heart frequency or slight bradycardia. The Radiometer equipment TCM1 was used. The electrode surface tempertaure was 45.0 degrees C (within +/- 0.2 degrees C). The oxygen concentration in the inspired air was altered several times for all patients, and arterial samples were drawn at a stable PtcO2 level. On average, seven samples were drawn from each patient. The correlation between PtcO2 and PaO2 was highly significant in 4/5 patients, in both the "obese patient" group and the "normal patient" group. In the "hypothermic patient" group, the correlation between PtcO2 and PaO2 was highly statistically significant in 2/5 patients. The regression line between PtcO2 and PaO2 was calculated for each patient, and a mean regression line was obtained for each group. It was found that the regression line in the "obese patient" group was displaced to the right and parallel to the regression line in the "normal patient" group, while the regression line in the "hypothermic patient" group was less sloping and showed a higher intercept. The PtcO2 monitoring technique reliably reflects changes in the central oxygenation of adult intensive care patients. In some patients with decreased skin circulation, the relationship between PtcO2 and PaO2 seemed to be constant for the same patient, yielding statistically sifnificant correlations. However, the study cannot determine whether this would be true in all clinical situations; the relationship betwee PtcO2 and PaO2 should therefore be checked frequently when measruements are performed in patients with decreased skin circulation. The author's experience with the PtcO2 monitoring method in patients near death has been consistent with the obvious fact that the reliability of the method decreases with decreased skin circulation.


Lung uptake of lidocaine in healthy volunteers. Eleven patients with no known history of heart or lung disease received an i.v. bolus injection of a mixture of lidocaine and indocyanine green dye (Cardiogreen). The dose of lidocaine, given once (or twice 10 min apart), was 0.5 mg/kg b.w. Time concentration curves from the appearance of indocyanine green were constructed for both substances from blood samples taken from the common femoral artery for approx. 50 s at the rate of one sample every 1.2 s. The extraction of lidocaine in each sample and the uptake of lidocaine, when 95% of the injected dose of indocyanine green had been recovered, were calculated. Nine patients showed an initial plateau of high extraction, which was 0.92 +/- 0.02 (mean +/- s.e mean) and 0.91 +/- 0.02 for the first and second injections, respectively, for the entire material. In two cases, however, a short plateau and a rapid decline in the extraction curve were observed. The 95% first pass uptake was 60 +/- 5% in the first injection and 55 +/- 12% for the second injection. Extraction of lidocaine dominated over back diffusion for the approximately 25 s. It is concluded that: (1) The described technique for studying lung uptake gave consistent and reproducible results in human volunteers; (2) Lung uptake of lidocaine in healthy man exceeds that previously observed in anaesthetized pigs; (3) The initial uptake during the first 5 s after appearance of indocyanine green in the arterial samples was more than 90%.  (4) The lungs thus have a dampening effect on the arterial concentration, which might be of importance if lidocaine is accidentally injected intravenously.


Decrease in arterial pressure following heparin injection prior to cardiopulmonary bypass. Evidence exists in the literature that heparin has vasodilating properties. We recorded arterial blood pressure changes that occur after administration of 300 units/kg of beef-lung heparin prior to cardiopulmonary bypass. In 37 out of 43 patients there was a significant decrease in arterial pressure following administration of beef-lung sodium heparin. Systolic blood pressure fell approximately 10 mmHg (1.3 kPa) and diastolic blood pressure fell about 5 mmHg (0.65 kPa). Heart rates remained unchanged. In 7 of the 43 patients in whom pulmonary artery catheters were placed, cardiac output was determined and systemic vascular resistance was calculated. On the basis of these calculations, it seems that a decrease in systemic vascular resistance is responsible for the decrease in arterial blood pressure noted following sodium heparin.


Hemodynamic and cardiometabolic effects of infrarenal aortic and common iliac artery declamping in man--an approach to optimal volume loading. Nineteen patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery were randomly assigned to two groups and investigated to elucidate the mechanisms of declamping hypotension. The control group of nine patients was kept at an average mean pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (MPAOP) of 11 mmHg (1.46 kPa) before declamping. The other group was volume loaded to a MPAOP of 16 mmHg (2.13 kPa) shortly before declamping. Following declamping there was a significantly greater decrease in mean arterial pressure in the control group, with the same reduction of MPAOP in both groups. In parallel, cardiac and stroke volume indices decreased in the control patients, but remained unchanged in the volume-loaded patients. In the control group there was a reduction in myocardial substrate utilization which was not seen in the volume-loaded patients. No signs of myocardial ischemia could be demonstrated in any of the groups. The results indicate that mismatching between intravascular volume and blood volume is the main cause of infrarenal aortic or common iliac artery declamping hypotension. Volume loading before declamping to a slightly elevated MPAOP can effectively prevent hypotension, while a normal MPAOP does not guarantee a stable hemodynamic situation after declamping.


Open scavenging systems.

Open scavenging systems. A mathematical model was developed to cover the dynamic characteristics of open scavenging systems. The performance of such a device depends on the expiratory tidal volume (VT), the scavenging flow (Vs) and the mode of exhalational volume build-up. A widely used open scavenging system was tested by using carbon dioxide in oxygen as a marker gas. Capnography revealed gross turbulence in the expiratory reservoir, which tends to increase the polluted gas volumes and loads extra requirements onto the scavenging equipment. Increases in the scavenging flow or the expiratory reservoir volume are the aids in obtaining satisfactory safety margins for pollution-free scavenging of surplus anaesthetic gases. The theoretical basis of a new method to determine the expiratory time constant of the respiratory system is also presented.


An in vitro comparison of six microaggregate blood filters. The latest models of six blood microfilters were tested by filtering large amounts of pooled blood at various driving pressures. For determination of the amount and size of microaggregates in stored blood, a simple method was developed, based on consecutive nylon screens. The amount of aggregates was also determined by a modification of the screen filtration pressure method. Filtration efficiency was tested by transfusing blood from the same pool through each of the microfilters. The Pall (SQ40KL) filtered only particles with a diameter greater than 40 micrometers. Small aggregates passed also through Bentley (PFF-100). The Biotest (MF10B) filter removed large aggregates efficiently, but some small particles were not filtered. Fenwal (4C2423), Swank (6010-3) and Intersept (HRI8137-00) were the most effective filters. All filters were also tested by pressure transfusion of pooled blood (9 units, 21 days old). The efficiency of Biotest, Pall and especially Bentley improved considerably during the transfusion. Bentley and Fenwal had the highest capacities. A high flow rate was maintained with Pall, but small aggregates were not removed by this filter. Intersept, Swank and Biotest became occluded rapidly. Filtration of four units through Intersept released 2218-2454 mg of hemoglobin from the erythrocytes.


Corneal endothelial cell density after an attack of acute glaucoma. The corneal endothelial cells of 25 patients with unilateral acute glaucoma were photographed with a clinical specular microscope. Photography was performed as soon as (average 6-12 h) the IOP had been lowered with iv Acetazolamide and/or Mannitol and topical Pilocarpine therapy, and the corneas had become clear. Peripheral iridectomy was performed on the affected eye and prophylactically on the fellow eye in most of these patients. The follow-up endothelial photographs were taken 6-24 months postoperatively. High intraocular pressure lasting 3 days or more lowered the central endothelial cell density. But a rise in pressure lasting from only a few hours to 2 days did not affect the endothelial cell count. Operative glaucoma procedures caused a loss of central endothelial cells of approximately 4.8% in the series. There was a clear correlation between the duration of elevated pressure and the number of central corneal endothelial cells lost.


Variations in endothelial morphology of normal corneas and after cataract extraction. A specular microscopic study. The central corneal endothelium of 22 normal subjects and 11 unilateral aphakic subjects was photographed with the non-contact specular microscope. The aphakic patients had undergone intracapsular cataract extraction one to four years previously. Endothelial cell densities were estimated. All cells which had been counted were then grouped according to their number of neighbours. The percentages of cells having 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 neighbours were means +/- SD): 0.4 +/- 0.8; 18.0 +/- 3.4; 64.1 +/- 6.5; 15.9 +/- 2.6 and 0.9 +/- 0.8 per cent, respectively in the normal eyes, and 0.8 +/- 1.3; 20.9 +/- 3.7; 57.4 +/- 5.6; 19.6 +/- 3.9 and 1.4 +/- 1.2 per cent in the aphakic group, respectively. The frequency of cells having 5, 6, or 7 neighbours were significantly different in the two groups. Cells with 9 or 10 neighbours were not seen in the normal group but occurred in 2 and 1 of the aphakic eyes, respectively. In the normal group the frequency of hexagonal cells was found to correlate to the cell density (r = 0.46, 2P less than 0.01) and age (r = -0.40,2P less than 0.05).


Corneal endothelial cells in essential iris atrophy. A specular microscipic study. The specular microscope was used to study the corneal endothelium in three patients with essential iris atrophy and three patients with anterior mesodermal disorders with uncertain diagnose. Pleomorphic and enlarged endothelial cells were found to be typical for essential iris atrophy. The changes were also present in one eye with normal pressure. In the patients with other types of iridal disorder the endothelial cells were normal in form. In one of these patients high intraocular pressure and surgery had seemingly led to enlargement of the endothelial cells. According to our findings, the specular microscope is a useful aid differentiating essential iris atrophy from other disorders of the iris.


Contractile properties of extraocular muscle in Siamese cat. Siamese cats are albinos with poor visual resolution and severely impaired binocular vision. Eey muscle phyiology was studied in Siamese cats as a part of a more extensive project on eye muscle properties in cats with deficient binocular vision. Isometric contractions of the inferior oblique muscle were recorded in response to single and repetitive muscle nerve stimulation. Speed of contraction, measured as twitch contraction time, fusion frequency and rate of tetanic tension rise, was lower in Siamese than in normal cats. Eye muscles of Siamese cats fatiqued more easily to continuous activation than normal cat eye mucle. These functional changes have also been found in cats with binocular defects from monocular lid suture, but were much more marked in Siamese cats. It is suggested that the eye muscle changes represent muscular adaptations to genetically caused impairments of binocular vision and visual resolution in Siamese cats.


One hundred consecutive cases of pars plana vitrectomy with the vitreous stripper. The results of 100 consecutive cases of pars plana vitrectomy are reported. Vitrectomy was performed on accunt of complications of diabetic retinopathy (37 eyes), complicated retinal detachment (28 eyes), vitreous haemorrhage of various causes (17 eyes), vitreous haemorrhage and complications secondary to injuries (13 eyes) and secondary cataract or vitreous in the anterior chamber creating corneal dystrophy (5 eyes). With an average follow-up time of 14.2 months, vitrectomy resulted in visual improvement in 55 eyes, unchanged visual acuity in 24 eyes and reduced visual acuity in 21 eyes. The operative and postoperative complications were: secondary vitreous haemorrhage (11 eyes), retinal detachment (8 eyes), haemorrhagic glaucoma (7 eyes), retinal tears (5 eyes), lens injury (4 eyes), corneal dystrophy (2 eyes) and endophthalmitis (1 eye).


Ultrasonic measurements of the eye in the newborn infant. The right eyes of 28 newborn infants have been examined retinoscopically, and the anterior chamber depth, the lens thickness and the length of the virteous were measured by ultrasound. In 15 of the infants keratometry was performed using the Javal-Schiötz keratometer. The total axial length of the eye was found to be longer the heavier the weight of the baby, whereas the lens thickness showed no correlation to the total axial length or to the weight of the baby. In only 1/3 of the babies was the corneal astigmatism less than 0.5 D. A significant correlation (P less than 0.01) was found between the total axial length of the eye and the length of the corneal radius.


Villous processes from the inner segments of cones in the human macula lutea. The cones of the human macula lutea were examined by scanning electron microscopy. It was found that each inner segment had about 15 thread-like processes which projected from the cell surface. They were arranged in a longitudinal straight line along the photoreceptor, and were directed away from or towards the fovea contralis. The villous processes may be analogous with the lateral fins of the inner segments of certain vertebrates. They may perhaps bridge the space between neighbouring photoreceptors and may establish contact and interaction between them.


Morphology and enzyme activities of the retinal capillaries in streptozotocin-diabetic mice. Male lean mice belonging to the obese-hyperglycemic strain were made diabetic by intravenous injection of streptozoticin. The retinal capillary bed freed by trypsin digestion was studied with regard to morphology and the activity of some enzymes. There was a significant increase in the ratio between the endothelial and mural cells which was interpreted as indicating mural pericyte disappearance. The activities of adenylate kinase, aspartate-aminotransferase and hydroxyacyl-CoA-dehydrogenase in the retinal vessels of the diabetic animal were significantly higher than in vessels from the control animals. No differences were found in the activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glutathione reductase and phosphofructokinase between the two animal groups. It is suggested that these results reflect early morphological and metabolic changes of the retinal vessels, preceding the well known clinical picture of diabetic retinopathy.


Timolol in maintenance treatment of ocular hypertension and glaucoma. The hypotensive effect of Timolol eye drops (0.25 and 0.50%) in maintenance treatment of 64 patients with elevated intraocular pressure has been studied. The patients were treated for a period of mean 13 months. In 44 patients mostly comprising ocular hypertensives, a significant reducation in IOP (32%) could be maintained with Timolol alone (P less than 0.001). In patients with a high starting baseline pressure of previous maladjustable glaucoma it was necessary to start combined treatment. Pilocarpine, epinephrine or acetazolamide appeared to have additive pressure-lowering effect to Timolol. A significant correlation was present between pre-treatment and Timolol treated intraocular pressures. Thus a pre-treatment IOP above 25 mmHg may indicate a critically hypotensive effect below an IOP of 20 mmHg with Timolol alone. No significant interfernce with visual acuity, pupullary size, blood pressure, or pulse rate was noted. Existing visual field defects in three patients were slightly aggravated and in four patients, with a pathological optic disc, visual field loss developed. In seven patients transient sensations of dry eyes and rose-bengal staining dots on the cornea developed.


Treatment of acute occlusion of the retinal arteries. In five patients with obstruction of the retinal arteries, three with emboli, the circulation was reestablished by bulbus massage, intravenous administered acetazolamide and theophylamine. The patients were further treated with salicyclic acid for six months. An improvement of vision was obtained with maintained over a 2-year period. The basis of the present treatment  occlusive arterial disorders in the retinal is discussed.


Ocular lesions in hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia. A regional survey has been carried out in order to establish the prevalence of hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) (Rendu-Osler-Weber's disease). Forty-seven patients fulfilled the proband criteria. No patient was registered due to ocular symptoms. All of the probands were subjected to ophthalmological examination in order to estimate the distribution of ocular lesions in HHT. Conjunctival lesions were found in 20 cases, and an intraocular vascular abnormality in only one case. The possibility of intraocular lesions being a component of the clincal picture of HHT or a sporadic vascular abnormality is discussed.


Congenital horizontal gaze paralysis, foacial hemiatrophy, and situs inversus of the opitc disc. A case report. A case of congenital horizontal gaze paralysis in association with facial hemiatrophy and situs inversus of the optic discs is described. Except for the presence of deafness on the side of the atrophic face no other neurologic abnormality was present. To our knowledge, no similar case has been reported.