[Eye-hand coordination in squint sufferers]. The localisation of an object close at hand and grasping it with the hand is the result of a complicated sequence of nerve impulses involving close co-operation between optical, perceptive and psychological stimuli, which are integrated in the central nervous system and lead to a well-directed command-movement. Disturbances of coordination between eye and hand in cases of amblyopia and concomitant strabismus are described. The individual authors suggest different forms of traeatment. In our opinion these are not genuine disturbances of hand-eye coordination. In amblyopia we have an ambiguity of localisation due to fact that the fixation is not stable. In the case of strabismus the error of spatial localisation can be explained by the unnatural examination methods, and by the abnormal position of the eye in the orbit. There is no denying the results gained by localisation treatment, but these the results can also be achieved by another mechanism not only in amblyopia but also in strabismus.


[Effects of inconspicuous bionocular defects, their diagnosis and suggestions for therapy (author's transl)]. Unclear asthenopic complaints are often due to intermittant loss of binocularity. Simple tests are described, based on the characteristic features of physiological binocularity. They can be used to demonstrate an intermittant alternating or unilateral central scotoma which may be the result of the interaction of primarily sensory or primarily motor dysfunctions. Hence particular importance must be attached to using these methods with varying distances and directions of vision. The findings obtained from these tests should be the starting point of therapy.


[Reoperation of the internal or external rectus in case of undercorrection (author's transl)]. The present paper presents a new reoperationtechnic in case of undercorrection. First the different possibilities of surgical technics are reviewed and than the new approach outlined. Between the primary (physiological) insertion and the secondary insertion (after a conventional recession) there is usually some episcleral connective tissue formation. This tissue is carefully dissected without cutting the link between the muscle and the tongue. The secondary insertion is then cut off and the elongated muscle reattached at the secondary insertion. Pictures illustrate the procedure. This method is especially useful in case of narrow palpebral fissue, increased rigidity of the internal rectus and in case of small angle exotropia for distance.


[Variations in the muscular insertion, the course and elasticity of the muscles in people suffering from squint (author's transl)]. Variations in the area of the insertions of the rectus muscles are quite often observed. We have been paying more attention to these changes during the past year, and therefore we measured the distance of insertion from the corneal limbus during 310 squint operations. Furthermore we noted the width of the tendon at the insertion, atypical forms of insertions and finally we tried to evaluate the factor of muscular elasticity. The findings are as follows: 1. The arithmetical mean of the distance of insertion from the limbus was slightly less than cited in literature on this subject. It was not unusual to find variations of up to 4mm, even between the same muscles of both eyes. This seems to have little influence on the primary position and on the success of surgical interventions; when they do not exceed the measures cited in our paper. The relatively great area of contact will balance these variations. 2. We could not find a correlation between anomalies of refraction and the distance of insertions of the limbus. The insertions of higher degree hyperopia was not closer to the limbus. 3. The arithmetical mean of the width of tendon conformed to the values as shown in the literature. A range up to 8 mm for the medial rectus, up to 5,5 mm for the lateral rectus and up to 2,5 mm for the vertical rectus were observed. 4. We could see variations of the insertions: upward and downward and furthermore different lines of insertions: arched and step-like. These anomalies were found 52 times among the 310 muscles measured. 5. An increased muscular rigidity was felt in 56 medial rectus and in 13 lateral rectus muscels. In 21 cases the course of the horizontal muscles was atypical, i.e., they ran from below diagonally out of the orbita.


Humoral immune response to natural infection with Encephalitozoon cuniculi in rabbits. Sera from 4 generations of a family of rabbits having a natural Encephalitozoon cuniculi infection were investigated. Antibodies were demonstrated in a litter of newborn rabbits and in another litter 11 days old. Histoloigcal examination of the brains and kidneys of these animals failed to reveal lesions attributable to the disease. Sera from a further litter of 2 rabbits, taken at weekly intervals from 4 to 42 weeks of age, revealed a low initial antibody titre which regressed to an undetectable level. After an interval, titres rose and then plateaued to the end of the period of observation. Encephalitozoon cuniculi infections in the dams of all the litters were confirmed by antibody assay and by histology. Parallel titration of samples treated and not treated with 2-mercaptoethanol showed that the india-ink immunoreaction demonstrates only immunoglobulin G.


Routine chromosome screening in Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) using orbital sinus blood. Blood from the posterior orbital sinus of Syrian hamsters, obtained under halothane anaesthesia, can be cultured to give large numbers of metaphase chromosome spreads for analysis. The procedure has been used for rapid routine screening of the karyotypes of all offspring in a breeding colony where translocations are present. Results can be obtained within 3 days of collecting the blood sample.


Cardiac puncture in the mouse through the anterior thoracic aperture. The puncture is performed during ether anaesthesia and will usually give 0.6-0.8 ml within 10-15 s. Blood volumes up to 1 ml have frequently been obtained from adult mice with this method.


Production of ultraviolet-light-induced skin erythema in the hairless rat: a comparison with the haired rat in screening for anti-inflammatory drugs. The onset of this erythema in response to different times of exposure corresponds closely to that in the haired animal. Orally administered phenylbutazone (30 mg/kg) or subcutaneously administered fluocinolone acetonide (10 mg/kg) have an equivalent antierythemic effect on haired and hairless animals. The hairless rat may therefore be an attractive alternative to its haired counterpart in this model since, prior to irradiation, it requires no depilation--which itself may affect subsequent erythema production.


Hydronephrosis in ACI/N rats.

Hydronephrosis in ACI/N rats. Of 45 ACI/N rats 9 were found with renal agenesis and 2 with hydronephrosis. The hydronephrosis may have been due to faulty development of the mesonephric duct.


A new guinea pig mutant with abnormal hair production and immunodeficiency. Hairless guinea pigs were born in a closed colony of Hartley guinea pigs. At birth, hairless guinea pigs were smaller than littermates, had wrinkled skin and stunted vibrissae. The most striking abnormality histologically was distension of the upper portion of the pilary canal with thickening of the epidermis. Hairlessness resulted from production of abnormal hair shafts. Preliminary work indicated that in addition to hairlessness, the guinea pigs were athymic or hypothymic. Initial immunologic studies showed that the guinea pigs also were agammaglobulinemic. Animals that survived the weaning period died of infections that are usually associated with immunodeficiencies, such as systemic cytomegalovirus, systemic balantidiasis and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.


Exteriorization of the bile duct in germfree rats. A modified T cannula and a cannula housing receptacle was employed to cannulate the bile duct of germfree rats. Bile was collected without anesthesia or sedation. During collection, the rat was restrained in a plastic holder where it was free to eat.


The woodchuck, Marmota monax, as a laboratory animal. The woodchuck or groundhog (Marmota monax) has been used as a biomedical model for studies of obesity and energy balance, endocrine and metabolic function, central nervous system control mechanisms and cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and neoplastic disease. Methods of care of a woodchuck colony, techniques for handling, restraint, anesthesia, blood sampling and breeding were developed.


Ureteral catheter system for renal function studies in conscious rabbits. To overcome the problem of obstruction of ureteral catheters with blood clots, a ureteral catheter was constructed which had a double lumen. Irrigation of blood from the catheter was accomplished by perfusion of heparinized saline through a small inner catheter. In renal function studies performed in 12 rabbits using this system, no instances of catheter obstruction occurred.


A simple light-level recording device to monitor lighting in animal quarters. The performance of lighting timers in animal rooms was tested with a portable light-level recorder. The instrument monitored the light and dark phases under various degrees of illumination. This inexpensive method of electronic surveillance ensured the validity of experiments dependent on photoperiodicity.


Pneumatic whistle for animal hearing tests. A hand activated pneumatic whistle produced a stable acoustic burst. The whistle was adjustable and the frequency could be selected over a range of 6-14 kilohertz. The whistle was useful in screening hearing in animals.


A method to provide secure attachment of miniature electric connectors in free-moving animals. A connection assembly for miniature electric plug and socket systems used in the recording and stimulation of the brain in free-moving animals was constructed from sew-on dress snaps. Two male portions of the snaps were cemented to the miniature electric socket or the dental acrylic mound that attached the socket to the skull. The female portions of the snaps were sewn to the ends of an elastic band. The wires that lead to the commutator passed through a hole in the elastic band. The plug and socket were securely attached to one another by snapping the elastic band to the skull.


Dysplasia of the lymphatics with lymphoedema, generalized lymphangiectasis, chylothorax and "pseudo-storage-disease". A patient showing an unusual association of various abnormalities of the lymphatic vascular system is reported. These abnormalities became first evident in early childhood and consisted of lymphoedema of the left leg, lymphangiectasis in various organs and occlusion of the thoracic duct at its entrance into the venous angle. Chylous effusions and subcutaneous chyloedema appeared in adolescence. Diagnostic biopsies of spleen, liver and bone-marrow revealed the presence of multiple foamcells, suggesting the diagnoses of lipid storage disease. The patient died from severe honeycomb-lungs at the age of 20. This case cannot be attributed to one of the wellknown disease entities of the lymphatic system. The "pseudo"-storage disease is regarded as secondary to the backflow of chylus into the tissues.


Microvascular alterations in the lymph node during the BCG-induced immune response. Previous studies have shown significant microvascular changes during the evolution of the immune response. In order to assess the BCG-induced microvascular alterations in the lymph node, we injected the left foot pad of 23 rabbits with 1.6 x 10(6) live BCG/kg weight; the right side served as control. Following a period of 1 to 50 days, microangiography and histology of the popliteal lymph nodes were carried out. On the side where BCG was injected, the lymph nodes initially showed a moderately increased cortical, and later, a markedly increased medullary hypervascularity. Histologically, there was mixed mononuclear cellular infiltration followed by granuloma formation. This latter was temporally related to the florid medullary hypervascularity. No significant changes were present on the control side. The hypervascularity induced by BCG was more intense and longer lasting than that seen with other antigens such as Typhoid 0 or bovine serum albumin. The results indicate a prominent vascular component in the BCG-induced primary immune response within the regional lymph node.


Distribution and role of lymph vessels of the bursa Fabricii. The fine distribution of lymph vessels in the bursa of Fabricius and the efferent lymph vessels coming from the bursa were demonstrated. The lymph vessels never entered lymphoid follicles, whereas the blood vessels pierced the cortex of lymphoid follicles and formed a network at the boundary between the cortex and medulla of lymphoid follicles. The lymph vessels commenced in the immediate exterior of lymphoid follicles. A large number of lymphoid cells were found in the lumen of the lymph vessels. Migration of lymphoid cells from the cortex of lymphoid follicles to the lymph vessels was also observed. Therefore, it was assumed that the lymph vessels of the bursa are important in the transport of lymphoid cells from the bursa to the blood stream.


Lymphocytosis in rats treated with polyacids. Inoculation of rats i.v. with dextran sulfate or polymethacrylic acid causes lymphocytosis. Electron microscopy of sections of cervical lymph nodes in control rats showed active passage of small lymphocytes through the high endothelial cells (HEC) of the post-capillary venules. In treated rats there was no indication of such passage: the HEC were free of small lymphocytes; and in about 25% of the venules apparently stationary lymphocytes, lacking microvilli, were found appressed to the luminal walls of the HEC.


Roentgenographic and clinical signs in yellow nail syndrome. The yellow nail syndrome is a rare condition consisting of thickened opaque yellow nails, lymphedema and respiratory symptoms such as bronchitis or pleural effusions. In a 25-year-old woman, presenting all clinical signs of this syndrome, lymphangiography revealed impaired lymphdrainage of both legs. Both, number and size of the lymph vessels and regional lymph nodes were found to be reduced and several extravasations of the contrast medium were noted. Lymphangiography may help to establish the diagnosis of yellow nail syndrome, especially if the assocation of clinical anomalies is incomplete.


Generalized lipomatosis of lymph nodes: a lymphographic problem in differentiating from malignancy. A case presentation. Lymphography in a 50-year-old male patient showed suspicious lymph nodes in the para-aortal regions. Exploratory laparotomy and histological examination of biopsied material gave no evidence of tumor or lymphoma. The lymph nodes had distinct lipomatous changes. The differential diagnosis of positive lymphography is discussed.


Possibilities of studying the deep-sub-fascial lymphatic system of the lower limbs. After mentioning the lymphangiographical methods for the study of the lower limb channels, the authors illustrate a new technique which allows, in at least 15% of cases, the simultaneous study of both the superficial and deep lymphatic systems.


The influence of atropine and adrenaline on basal lymph flow in the neck region. The effect of atropine (0.5 mg/i.v.) and adrenaline (5 pg/min.) on basal lymph flow in the neck region was studied in 15 patients. No significant stimulatory effect of these drugs on basal lymph flow was registrated.


Spleen regeneration in mice after gamma irradiation and administration of thymosin. The effect of thymosin (thymic humoral factor isolated from calf thymus) on regeneration of the spleen in mice after whole-body gamma irradiation was studied. Thymosin, in varied dosages (0.1--2.0 mg/day) applied subcutaneously before and after radiation exposure, stimulated splenic regeneration as indicated by increased splenic weight, number of endogenous splenic colonies and 59Fe and 125IUdR incorporation into the spleen. A control extract of brain tissue (cerebrosin) isolated in the same way as thymosin was applied to mice to verify specificity of thymosin. After cerebrosin application, a mild increase also was observed. Whereas a near maximal effect of thymosin was reached at a dosage of 0.1 mg, a comparable response with cerebrosin required a dosage of 1.0 mg. These data suggest that administration of thymosin has both a specific and non-specific effect on splenic regeneration and proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells.


Loss of hybridizable ribosomal DNA from human post-mitotic tissues during aging: I. Age-dependent loss in human myocardium. DNA obtained from 29 male humans at autopsy was hybridized in liquid phase with tritium-labelled 18 and 28S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) in order to determine whether a change in the dosage in rDNA, which codes for rRNA, occurs during human aging. The individuals ranged in age from 3 months to 76 years. It was found that the amount of rDNA hybridizable per 260 nm absorption unit by DNA decreases by about 0.5% per year with a regression coefficient of about -0.83. These findings confirm earlier ones from this laboratory and indicate either a loss of these key genes during aging of humans or decreased hybridizability due to some other factor or factors. In any event, this degree of loss or inactivation of genes involving an all protein synthesis would seem to impair function of post-mitotic cells in response to maximal stress to about the same degree that function is lost in various human organ systems during aging, as defined by Shock and others.


Loss of hybridizable ribosomal DNA from human post-mitotic tissues during aging: II. Age-dependent loss in human cerebral cortex--hippocampal and somatosensory cortex comparison. DNA was isolated from the hippocampal and from the somatosensory cortex of 13 humans (at autopsy). In both the cortex and hippocampus, the loss of ribosomal DNA (rDNA), as measured through hybridization in the liquid phase, approximates about 0.9% per year. The r value for somatosensory cortex was about -0.7 and that for the hippocampus was about -0.91. The correlation coefficient between the sets of two samples derived from the same individual (two different areas) in +0.945. These results are consistent with those reported concurrently for human myocardium and with earlier studies conducted with beagle dogs, in which only post-mitotic tissues (brain, heart and skeletal muscle) showed measurable decrements in these key genes. To the degree that the synthesis of new proteins is essential for sustained mental activity, these results are consistent with the observations that Nissl substance is more slowly replenished, following exhaustive work by motor cortical cells, and the fact that many older persons experience mental fatigue during continuous mental work at earlier times than do younger persons. The mechanism of loss is not certain, but may well be related to inadequacies in DNA repair systems, thereby allowing deletion of tandemly duplicated genes through cross-over "episome" formation, followed by degradation of the excised DNA segments. The ratio of loss of rDNA hybridizability in human and dogs in about 1 to 7, which approximates the relative ratios of their lifespans (reciprocals).


Differences between transfer RNA methylase activity in human diploid fibroblasts during in vitro and in vivo aging. The change of the specific activity of S-adenosylmethionine: tRNA methyltransferase in cultures of human diploid fibroblasts at different passages has been measured and compared with that in the same type of cells derived from donors of different ages. Whereas the specific activity of tRNA methylase in the in vitro aged cells was found to decline gradually with increasing passage number of the culture, a different activity--age relationship was observed for this enzyme in cells derived from donors of different ages. The activity of tRNA methylase is high in the fetal cells and drops drastically in the "newborn" cells. After a further 10% decline, the activity of this enzyme reaches a steady low level in the postnatal cells from donors ranging in age from 3 months to 94 years. These findings cast doubt on the validity of the assumption that the results obtained from in vitro aging experiments reflect the biochemistry of aging in vivo. The "fetal" enzyme can methylate the "aged" tRNA but the "aged" enzyme cannot methylate the "fetal" tRNA. The fetal cells contain enzyme activities specific for the formation of m1A, m5C and m1G. These activities are low or deficient in "aged" cells. Control experiments showed that all of these results are due neither to the presence of inhibitor or stimulator in the extract nor to effects related to the population density, sex or growth rate of the culture.


Effect of ageing on the response of the rat isolated testicular capsule to norepinephrine, acetylcholine and prostaglandins. The response of the rat isolated testicular capsule to norepinephrine (NE), acetylcholine (ACh) and prostaglandins (PG) was found to be age-dependent. The testicular capsular contractions attributable to smooth muscle cells located within the tunica albuginea may be involved in the transport of non-motile spermatozoa from the testis and into the epididymis. With an increase in age of the age of the rat there was a concomitant increase in mass of the testis, thickness of the capsule and the amount of smooth muscle fibers present in the tunica albuginea. The response to the addition of equimolar concentrations of NE and PGA2 became progressively greater as the age of the animal increased. However, the response of the testicular capsule to ACh remained constant throughout adulthood, while PGF2 alpha became progressively less stimulatory as the age of the animal increased. These findings suggest that neurohumoral agents may have an important role in the maintenance of testicular capsular contractions with regard to ageing.


The effect of age on the protein degradation system in the nematode Turbatrix aceti. The administration of 0.2% of the amino acid analogues canavanine and 6-fluorotryptophan to young nematode cultures caused the appearance of inactive but antigenically reactive aldolase molecules at levels comparable to those found in old untreated cultures. Concomitant with the rapid appearance of inactive enzyme molecules a rapid rate of mortality could be detected. Mortality, however, ceased when a massive disappearance of inactive molecules could be observed. Subsequently, mortality resumed at a rate similar to that found in untreated cultures. The NaH14CO3 method of Swick and Ip (J. Biol. Chem., 249 (1974) 6836-6841) was used to estimate the half-life of proteins. The half-life of total soluble proteins in old and intermediate age animals was 4 times and 2.5 times longer, respectively, than that of young nematodes. No differences could be discerned in the half-lives of total proteins between analogue-treated and control animals of young and intermediate ages. However, the rate of disposal of inactive molecules was slower in intermediate age as compared to young animals as it was closely related to the general rate of protein degradation in the different age groups. The results suggest that (a) the proportion of inactive enzyme molecules encountered in old animals is potentially detrimental, (b) the decline in efficiency of the degradation system in older animals may account for the accumulation of altered protein molecules in aging organisms.


[Value of hemophagocytosis in the morphological examination of the bone marrow (author's transl)]. The hemophagocytosis or the process of ingestion of blood cells by phagocytes and macrophages of the mononuclear phagocytic system (MFS), is a phenomenon that rarely could be observed in the morphological examination of the bone marrow aspirate. Occasionally it is present in certain pathologic conditions such as, malignant histiocitosis, autimmune hemolytic anemia, or some chronic inflammatory diseases. The capacity of ingestion is not an exlusive property of the phagocytes and macrophages of the MFS, so that different neoplastic cells can show it too. This study analyzes the presence of hemophagocytosis by neoplastic cells in a total of 552 bone marrow aspirates corresponding to a series of 130 patients with acute leukemia and 422 patients with diverse solid tumors. In the group of patients with acute leukemia, hemophagocytosis by blastic cells was observed in five cases with acute monocytic leukemia. In the other group with solid tumors, hemophagocytosis was present in three patients with oat-cell lung carcinomas and diffuse bone marrow metastases. The interest of the evaluation of hemophagocytosis by neoplastic cells in the morphological examination of the bone marrow is stressed, as well as it possible value in the cytological diagnosis of acute monocytic leukemia. However, in these circumstances a sdiffuse metastases by solid tumors should be always discarded, since their cytomorphological characteristics are in most cases superimposed to those of the leukemic bone marrow infiltrate.


[Usefulness of creatine phosphokinase isoenzyme, CK-MB, in the diagnosis of myocardial necrosis (author's transl)]. With the objective of evaluating the clinical usefulness of a new immunologic method (Merck-1-Test CK-MB), in the determination of the CK-MB activity, 48 patients admitted to the Coronary Unit for angina pectoris were studied. Samples of blood were gathered upon admission and every 4 hours for 48-72 hours, determining in each one of them the total CPK, SGOT, LDH, and CK-MB; electrocardiograms (ECG) were taken and all possible causes for the increase in the enzymatic activity were recorded. Results were analyzed in order to study the following aspects: in the patients in which an acute myocardial infarction was diagnosed the CK-MB activity was studied, also the relation of CK-MB to the remaining parameters, each parameter's sensitivity and specificity and the relationship of the CK-MB to the prognosis of the patients. The usefulness of CF-MB in the differential diagnosis of myocardial necrosis and variations in the total CKP curve in the clinical course of acute myocardial infarction unrelated to myocardial necrosis were evaluated too. The following conclusions were drawn from the analysis of the data. The immunological method has the advantages of its sensitivity and easily and quickly performance (15 minutes), but it has the disadvantage that it detects CK-BB (elevated in cebrovascular disorders). Twenty-four hours after the onset of symptoms, the negativity of CK-MB does not exclude the diagnosis of a myocardial necrosis. CK-MB is more sensitive than total CPK in diagnosing the extent of the area of necrosis. CK-MB is very specific for myocardial necrosis but less sensitive than other parameters. A positive CK-MB upon the patient's admission confirmed the diagnosis of necrosis in 60 percent of the cases, but in 18 percent error was induced because of false positives. CK-MB permitted confirmations of the diagnosis of myocardial infarction in 33 percent of cases in which there was only a suggestion of necrosis by the ECG. The variation in the curve of total CPK in the course of an acute myocardial infarction is subjected to such a great number of factors intercurrent with time, that caution should be exercised in trying to relate a specific elevation of total CPK to an unsuccessful maneuver or to a possible extension of the area of necrosis.


[Arterial hypertension in the island of Tenerife. I. Incidence (author's transl)]. Arterial hypertension is one of the most frequent pathologic situations in general practice. The purpose of the present study has been to discover the real incidence of blood hypertension among people in the island of Tenerife, and its possible relation to several factors, such as age, sex, constitution, type of work, alimentary habits, and pathologic background, as well as the distribution of the disease according to the different altimetric zones of the island. A total of 1,728 individuals of both sexes (ages ranged from 13 to 74 years) were included in the study. Arterial hypertension was demonstrated in 19 percent of the subjects, borderline values were recorded in 11 percent of the individuals; 70 percent of the population exhibited normal arterial tension values. The incidence of blood hypertension increased progressively with age, and was similar in both sexes up until 44 years of age; in the older group hypertension was significantly higher among women. An important finding was the discovery that 90 percent of the hypertensive people were unaware of their condition, were aware but received no treatment, or were treated but were not kept under control. The younger the individual was, the higher was the proportion of subjects without treatment; 32 percent of the patients were under 45 years of age. In this group of young hypertensive people 83 percent of them did not receive anti-hypertensive therapy. while 16 percent of the same group were taking medication but did not have the disease under control.


[Response of the autonomous nervous system of the heart in diabetes mellitus (author's transl)]. The vegetative response of the heart in 80 diabetic patients and 24 controls was evaluated by means of four tests: cyclic variations, Valsalva's maneuver, static muscular exercises and postural hypotension. This methodology indicates that vegetative alterations of the heart in the diabetic subjects are frequent (56.25 per cent). The parameters which are first affected are the cyclic variations and the Valsalva's maneuver, and that this disorder increases with the duration of the diabetes, showing a clear correlation with the appearance of peripheral somatic polyneuropathy. Although from a clinical point of view orthostatic hypotension is the more obvious manifestation, its implication in other situations, such as unexplained tachycardia, silent myocardial infarction and sudden death in the diabetic patient, lends great importance to this little-known form of degenerative disorder in diabetes mellitus.


[The use of 125I-fibrinogen in the diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis in medical practice (author's transl)]. A series of 38 "high risk" selected cases of deep venous thrombosis were studied in an internal Medicine Department. Fibrinogen-125I was used. Phlebographic verification was sought in those cases with a positive response to the fibrinogen. From the 38 cases 13 turned out to be positive; in 8 the venous thrombus was identify by venography. In two cases the dorsal venous arch could not be filled. In one case the phlebography could not be carried out. In the remaining two cases the venography did not show a thrombus but there was a pathologic fracture with hematoma and an ossifying myositis, respectively. Both cases were interpreted as false positives to the radioactive fibrinogen. One of them had suggestive clinical manifestations of deep venous thrombosis. Of the eight cases which were positive to the venography and radioactive fibrinogen only four showed a clinical picture suggestive of deep venous thrombosis. If the three cases with negative venographies are included only 36.3 percent of the patients had clinical manifestations. Among the 25 cases which were negative to the radioactive fibrinogen none of them had a clinical picture of deep venous thrombosis, although in 64 percent of them at least one of the clinical signs collected during the physical examination was positive. The correlation between fibrinogen-125I and phlebography turned out to be 80 percent.


[Influence of the albumin fraction in the plasma oncotic pressure (author's transl)]. This work analyzes the influence which albumin fraction exerts upon plasma oncotic pressure. With this objective three different groups were studied, each one of which was composed of subjects with identical total proteinemia and variable albuminemia. The first group: nine subjects with 6.2 g/100 ml proteinemia and albumin values between 3.2 and 3.8 g/100 ml; the second group: seven healthy subjects with 6.4 g/100 ml proteinemia and the level of albumina between 3 and 4 g/100 ml; the third group: subjects with proteinemia at 6.6 g/100 ml and extreme values of albumin between 3.1 and 4.3 g/100 ml. Plasma oncotic pressure was determined by means of an electronic osmometer, according to the described technique. With a proteinemia constant at 6.2 g/100 ml, a 0.6 percent fluctuation of the albumin concentration induced a variation in the plasma oncotic pressure of up to 20.4 per cent. In cases of proteinemia remaining constant at 6.4 g/100 ml, the oscillation of albumin levels between 3 and 4 g/100 ml represented a change in the plasmatic oncotic pressure of 32.58 per cent. In the third group, the influence of the albuminemia was lesser (23.1 per cent variability in the plasma oncotic pressure, with an oscillation of 1.2 g/100 ml in albuminemia). The existence of variable values of plasma oncotic pressure corresponding to cases with identical proteinemia and albuminemia, lead us to consider the powerful influence exerted upon the plasma oncotic pressure by other factors which affect the mass-structure and the electrical charges of proteins.


[The behaviour of fibrinogen and fibrinogen degradation products in myocardial infarction. Justification of a prognostic index (author's transl)]. The behaviour of fibrinogen and fibrinogen degradation products in 52 patients with myocardial infarction was analyzed with the aim of finding an evolutive prognostic index for these patients. According to the clinical course the patients who developed complications were separated from those who did not develop them; a special distinction was made of those complications classified as being of thromboembolic type. In the same way those patients who died were analyzed differentially from those who did not. When these facts were related to the behaviour of fibrinogen and of fibrinogen degradation products the following facts were observed: 1) There was an increase of fibrinogen which reached its maximum on the 5th and 6th days and which returned to normal limits on approximately the 9th day. The greatest increase was reached in those patients who developed thromboembolic complications, although the study did not allow to establish significant differences between this group and the rest of the cases. A reactive and nonspecific behaviour was suggested. 2) Fibrinogen degradation productes reached its maximum increase during the 48 hours after the myocardial infarction, without significant differences between both groups. Therefore it does not seem that a prognostic and evolutive assessment can be derived from the study of the changes in the fibrinogen time and fibrinogen degradation products in patients with myocardial infarction.


[Guillain-Barré syndrome associated to a type B acute hepatitis (author's transl)]. A 42-year-old male patient suffers an acute hepatitis with positive HBs Ag and approximately 2 months after its onset, an acute polyneuritis with lessening of conduction velocity and albumino-cytologic dissociation appeared. Both conditions recuperated synchronously in a few months. This association has been only slightly referred to previously, and the majority of cases lacked facts important to the establishment of a diagnosis. The polyneuritis is possibly secondary to the viral alteration, either directly or due to an ensuing immunological alteration. Besides, there is the possibility that a clinical or sub-clinical demyelinizing neuropathy that does not fill the criteria of a Guillain-Barré syndrome may complicate a hepatitis, or that an acute polyneuritis may associate itself to an autoimmune hepatitis.


[Bisalbuminemia (author's transl)].

[Bisalbuminemia (author's transl)]. A general review of bisalbuminemia is presented. Besides congenital bisalbuminemia there is an acquired form of bisalbuminemia that appears following treatment with high dosis of penicillin and cephalosporin, or in cases of acute pancreatitis after the development of a pancreatic pseudocyst. There is one type of abnormal albumin that migrates faster than normal albumin (rapid variant) and another type that is slower (slow variant). Different subtypes of each one have been recognized. There is no immunological difference between normal albumin and the variants. From a clinical point of view, bisalbuminemia per se does not cause any observable alterations. This is an important finding, however, because of the possibility that some physiologic or pharmacologic substances may not be bound to the abnormal variants as well as to normal albumin. When bisalbuminemia appears following an episode of pancreatitis it may be indicative of a pancreatic pseudocyst.


[Icterohemorrhagic leptospirosis with acute renal failure (author's transl)]. Icterohemorrhagic leptospirosis is a zoonosis which is relatively frequent in rural agricultural or cattle areas. In the severe forms of the disease renal affection is frequent, but the incidence of acute renal insufficiency is far lesser. Three cases of acute renal insufficiency in adult male patients secondary to an infection by Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae are presented. Two of the patients resided in urban areas and only one of which presented professional risk. The clinical polymorphysm of the illness is confirmed, having observed not only the absence of fever but also that of jaundice. The former history of chronic alcoholism, present in two cases, determined diagnostic difficulties with acute alcoholic hepatitis. The serologic diagnosis is often positive only at the end of the second week, and the need to carry out a series of seroaglutinations is to be insisted upon. The types of renal impairment in leptospirosis are reviewed and the presence of acute renal insufficiency is stressed, including those patients with less severe forms of the disease, and especially those without Weil's syndrome. All of the patients had to be treated with dialysis, although two of them had a conserved diuresis after an initial brief period of oliguria.


[Pheochromocytoma and sudden death (author's transl)]. Five cases of pheochromocytoma are described in which sudden death was the form of the initial clinical presentation in almost all of them. After a brief review on the history and the incidence of the tumor within the general population, diverse cases are analyzed from a clinical point of view and in relation to the data appeared in the literature. In the analysis of the symptoms emphasis is placed on the important psychomotor manifestations which are present in the majority of those patients and which causes serious difficulties in the initial diagnosis. All of the patients showed signs of shock at the time of being observed or during the course of this observation, and in the majority of them the presence of acute pulmonary edema was confirmed; facts which we attribute to an initial hypertensive episode associated to a left heart failure. The onset of the crisis in two patients was related to known triggering factors: anesthesia and sulpiride. In other two patients associated conditions were diagnosed: medullary carcinoma of the thyroid gland in one of them, and cystic necrosis of the middle layer of the aorta in the other.


[Cysticercosis and angiomatosis. Clinicopathological study of one case (author's transl)]. This is a discussion of the clinical condition of a 49-year-old patient who had been presenting intermittent episodes of intracranial hypertension since the age of 9, at which time she suddenly began a serious psychic deterioration which impaired her normal intellectual development. A new episode of intracranial hypertension led to the emergency admittance to the medical center, and was the cause of death. The cerebral post mortem study showed a large ventricular dilatation and the existence of a translucent cysticercus of a lobular shape which was adhered by a fine filament ot the internal wall of the right ventricle, very near to Monro's foramen; the possibility, therefore, was attributed to it of having had the effect of a valve mechanism which might have been causing the crises and the intracranial hypertension. At the same time, it was also observed that there existed an angiomatosis at the level of the temporal lobe, which does not seem to be related to the process, especially because of its small area and the integrity of the blood vessels.


[Argyriasis. Report of a case (author's transl)]. A case of argyriasis in a 45-year-old woman is reported. When the patient was 34 she took for a period of 25 months a silver-containing pharmacological product (colloidal silicon with 0.5 percent of silver) in order to treat an intestinal dyspepsia with diarrheic episodes. A few months after discontinuing the treatment a cutaneous pigmentation of a greyish-blue color extending over the whole body, developed. There was also discoloration of the nails, hair, and of the oral and gingival mucosae. The differential diagnosis with other conditions that also develop anomalies of cutaneous pigmentation was established. It is thought that the appearance of the silver poisoning is due to different factors such as the quantity of silver intake, the individual sensitivity to the metal, and the greater or lesser period of exposure to sunlight. The importance of the skin biopsy in order to confirm the diagnosis is commented on. Typical pathologic findings include the presence of silver granules in the basal membrane of sudoriparous glands, around the pilosebaceous follicles, and in the connective tissue. Lastly, the authors insist on the necessity to avoid the prescription of silver-salt containing drugs as far as possible, since the cutaneous pigmentation is irreversible.


[Immunopathologic implications of cryoglobulins (author's transl)]. Cryoglobulins are proteins which appear in the serum of some patients. Their basic characteristic is their power to precipitate at low temperatures. In this work a review is made of the data presented by several authors in regard to the origin, isolation, classification, and precipitation mechanism, as well as of the factors which influence the cryoprecipitability. We also set out the most probable etiopathogenic theories and the possible clinical findings in those patients who have these proteins altered in their serum. Finally we comment on the treatment with special reference to penicillamine.


Evaluation and management of nutritional status before surgery. Preoperative evaluation of all patients should include evaluation of nutritional status. Factors of greatest clinical usefulness are nutritional history correlated with the clinical situation, and measures of body height and weight, serum albumin concentration, and muscle mass. Depressed immune function suggested by a lack of skin test reactivity to standard antigens may correlate with the risk of postoperative complications and death, but further studies are required to determine the specific relation of nutrient deficiencies and immune function. Micronutrient deficiencies must be identified and corrected rapidly. Nutritional support in patients with nutritional deficiencies should be started preoperatively either by enteral or intravenous techniques and continued postoperatively.


Cardiac risk factors in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. Cardiac risks of noncardiac surgery are associated with some noncardiac risk factors but are primarily a function of the patient's underlying cardiac disease. Elective surgery should only be performed when the patient is in optimal condition--i.e., with no evidence of heart failure, at least 6 months after a previous myocardial infarction, and so forth. Careful monitoring of fluid status should lead to reduced cardiac morbidity and mortality after surgery in these patients.


Pulmonary risk factors in surgery.

Pulmonary risk factors in surgery. The altered pattern of ventilation and the diminution in lung vol-mes after general anesthesia and surgery predispose the postoperative patient to develop serious pulmonary complications. Many additional risk factors are readily identifiable and often reversible. Careful attention to these allows the institution of therapy which can greatly diminish the incidence of serious postoperative pulmonary complications. In patients for whom thoracic surgery is contemplated, the identification and quantification of risk factor helps identify those individuals in whom surgical risk is prohibitively great, or who will not likely tolerate lung resections of major or minor extent.


The preoperative patient wit hypertension. Preoperative medical evaluation of the hypertensive patient has a dual focus: (1) to establish an appropriate level of blood pressure control before anesthesia and surgery; and (2) to assess the degree of cardiovascular impairment, with particular attention to brain, heart, and kidney. Close communication between clinician and anesthesiologist can do much to ensure the patient's safety. Interpretation of  the results of the preoperative examination is aided by the clinician's prior knowledge of the patient: the onset and history of his hypertension, his record of compliance to an antihypertensive regimen, his blood pressure response during previous hospitalizations and surgical procedures. Though there is no longer any question that antihypertensive medications should be continued in the preoperative period, side-effects of thiazide therapy may need treatment before or during surgery. Again, the clinician's fuller knowledge of the patient will help to alert the anesthesiologist to the need for special caution.


Preoperative endocrine and metabolic considerations. Patients with endocrine dysfunction have an increased risk of intraoperative and postoperative morbidity. Identification of such patients prior to surgery, and preoperative management to achieve normal hormonal status may prevent or lessen episodes of morbidity. Diabetics undergoing elective surgical procedures can be managed by any number of approaches. Whatever the method used, close monitoring of blood glucose levels is imperative.


The preoperative patient with an asymptomatic cervical bruit. At the time of this writing there appears to be little evidence that cervical bruits are good indicators of stenosis or plaque in the underlying carotid artery in asymptomatic patients, or that the finding of a carotid bruit places the patient at greater risk of postoperative stroke. The mortality and morbidity of angiography and endarterectomy are too high to risk their use in a group of asymptomatic patients.


The emotional impact of surgery and the value of informed consent. The process of obtaining consent detailed here contains within it most of the therapeutic techniques useful in the prevention and treatment of usual postoperative psychological complications. You will note that at various points the physician will have; given information, utilized suggestions, reflected feelings, allowed ventilation and catharsis, clarified, desensitized, increased self-esteem, given reassurance, fostered identification, supported healthy defenses, encouraged autonomy, control, and responsibility, and done some social engineering. These psychotherapeutic techniques have been built into the content and process of eliciting consent. In addition, and most importantly, the process has fostered the growth of the doctor-patient relationship, the ultimate therapeutic weapon in managing most postoperative psychological reactions.


The general medicine consult service in a university teaching hospital. A general internal medicine consult service that provides continuity of care, availability, and preoperative out-patient consultation was instituted at UCDMC in September 1977. The volume and source of consultations increased dramatically with little impact on the medical specialty consult services. We believe the organization of our consult service has helped to provide optimal training in an often neglected area of Internal Medicine.


[Psychogenic hearing loss (author's transl)]. The possible causes of psychogenic hearing loss and aggravating deafness are compared. The evaluation of anamnesis, speech reception thresholds, hearing threshold levels and recuitment tests, Békésy audiometry and simulation tests for the differential diagnosis is discussed. Therapeutical consequences are talked about. A case report will demonstrate in-debth how a minor noise-induced hearing loss due to having worked in a noisy environment for 25 years, was dominated by psychogenic hearing disorders of a considerable degree.


[Behaviour of the fast brain stem response P6 under noise influence, an "objective noise audiometry" (author's transl)]. The fast brain stem response can be recorded even at the threshold; it informs on hearing in the high frequency range of greater than or equal to 2000 cps. Especially in those frequencies often the differentiation between sensorial and neural hearing impairment is of interest--f. e. controlling the pure tone threshold in noise: at sensorial hearing loss tones remain heard within noise of equal loudness unaltered, at neural hearing loss the tone vanishes in noise, e. g. the tone-intensity must be increased to make the tone arise again. This phenomenon known from subjective audiometry mentally can be transferred to the recording of acoustic evoked potentials and can be proved by the behaviour of latency of P6: at sensorial hearing loss the latency is prolonged (corresponding to minus 20 dB) but the response furthermore is recorded in the noise as well as at the click masked threshold; at neural hearing loss, however, the response can be recorded again with a click-intensity, which exceeds that of the noise clearly.


[The influence of cerebral aging on directional hearing and the indication to applicate a binaural hearing aid (author's transl)]. For demonstrating the influence of cerebral growing old on directional hearing three groups of 20--30 years, 40--50 years and 70--90 years old persons have been tested. It could be shown that the ability to differentiate small changes of direction was diminished, the old persons recognized only changes of 50 degrees and 60 degrees to 100%. The indication to applicate a stereophonic hearing aid has been discussed and the importance to select patients by testing directional hearing for fitting binaural aids is emphasized.


[The effect of the noise level on the occupational hearing loss. Observations carried cut in 25,544 industrial workers (author's transl)]. The paper deals with the investigations carried out into the effects of the exposure level on the hearing thresholds in the range of 0.5--4 kHz. The investigations are based on the data of 25,544 workers exposed to noise at their working places ("noise workers"). The hearing thresholds at 0.5 and 1 kHz practically do not differ in any level class nor do they differ from the thresholds of the persons exposed to under 85 dB(A). Starting with 2 kHz the hearing loss is intensified with an increase in frequency and exposure level. The effects of the exposure levels of 85 dB(A) to 96.9 dB(A) are dependent linearly on the level; with an exposure of 85 dB(A) to 90 dB(A) to 96.9 dB(A) are dependent linearly on the level; with an exposure of 85 dB(A) to 90 dB(A) the risk of a noise-induced damages to be paid to the person concerned, is nearly as high as with exposures of 90 dB(A) to 96.9 dB(A). At exposures of under 85 dB(A) the hearing losses are significantly smaller. These data suggest that 85 dB(A) must be regarded as the critical intensity. A difference in the development of noise-induced hearing losses dependent on the exposure level was not discovered; in all level classes examined the hearing loss develops linearly to the number of noise-years.


[The value of SISI test for audiological examination (author's transl)]. The reliability of SISI Test for audiological evaluation of hearing impairment is investigated basing on audiometric findings of 604 subjects. In addition to the dependence of SISI scores on the age of the subjects the influence of sound pressure level and frequency is discussed. Comparing SISI results with those of other differential diagnostic tests we find that SISI test tends to indicate haircell lesions even though other tests exhibit a different site of the lesion. Particularly in cases of uncertain, complex hearing impairments (noise plus other causes) SISI test frequently shows false-positive results. Therefore SISI scores should be interpreted carefully especially with regard to legal examination of noise induced hearing impairment.


[Automatic storage for the analysis of audiometric values (author's transl)]. An analysis by means of electronic data-processing is necessary at audiometric surveys because of the great number of audiometric values. To clear off the dates of the audiometric curves is long-winded and therefore expensive. That's the reason why we developed an operating system which allows to store on recording tape the dates of the Hearing Threshold Level and some extra informations about the test person immediately at the survey. The Hearing Threshold has to be appointed in a manner which is usually practiced in the clinic. We have described the setup of the unit and the graphic representation of the audiometric curves by means of a XY-recorder. The system has proved to be a success at the survey of 1,300 employees working in noisy areas. The analysis of the Hearing Threshold Levels could take place immediately after the investigation.


[The clock at the audiometer (author's transl)]. The latencies of on- and off-responses on tonal stimuli have been measured by a pair of electronic clocks. Short responding times have not been forced and interaction between audiometrist and subjects has been perserved. Experienced probands and patients reacted by lengthening of reaction time near threshold and near thresholds in masking noise. In most cases stimuli at threshold levels have not been responded completely. Recruitment is not the only possible cause for short latencies at threshold levels.


[Tumor associated antigens induce humoral and cellular immune response to laryngeal carcinomas (author's transl)]. Tissue from larynx carcinomas or cultured tumor cells were incubated in the presence of patient's sera and binding of IgG antibodies was measured. Sera of 47 from 50 patients showed antibodies against their own malignomas. Furthermore 20% possessed antibodies crossreacting with isolated cultured larynx carcinoma cells. Moreover lymphocytes prepared from patient's blood lysed isolated carcinoma cells. The experiments suggest the presence of tumor associated antigens on the surface of larynx carcinoma cells.


Lipid binding properties of a factor necessary for linoleic acid desaturation. Suspension and centrifugation of crude microsomes of rat liver in low ionic strength solution separated a soluble protein fraction that is necessary for the full activity of the linoleic acid desaturase. The fraction partially purified through Sephadex G-150 still retains lipids which are mainly constituted by phosphatidycholine. Linoleic acid predominates in the fatty acid composition. By NaCl gradient centrifugation and electrophoresis in gelatinized cellulose acetate, the factor behaves like a lipoprotein. The factor binds linoleic acid and linoleyl-CoA that are desaturated to gamma-linolenic acid when incubated with washed microsomes. Albumin does not replace the factor.


The effect of hibernation on the positional distribution of ethanolamineglycerophospholipid fatty acids in hamster brain membranes. Microsomal and myelin membrane fractions were prepared from the brains of warm-adapted (room temperature) and hibernating Syrian Hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). Ethanolamineglycerophospholipids were isolated and subjected to a fractionation scheme to separate the fatty acids of the plasmenylethanolamine and the phosphatidylethanolamine 1 and 2 positions. The major changes in microsomal phosphatidylethanolamine with hibernation were relative increases in 18:1 at the 1 position and 20:4(n-6) in the 2 position. In myelin, 18:1 increased and 18:0 decreased at the 1 position while the 2 position showed an increase in 16:0 and a decrease in 22:6(n-3). Plasmenylethanolamine fatty acids also changed in microsomes and myelin although the magnitudes were not as great and confined to longer chain fatty acids. In both membranes, fatty acid alterations were position-specific, and no new types of fatty acids were introduced at any position.


Kidney lipids: changes caused by dietary 9-trans, 12-trans-octadecadienoate. Trans,trans-linoleate at 50 and 100% of dietary fat decreased kidney size and altered its composition. Trans,trans-linoleate as the sole source of dietary fat impaired growth and caused more severe symptoms of essential fatty acid deficiency than was observed with hydrogenated coconut oil (HCO). The concentration of renal cholesterol, phospholipids (PL), triglycerides (TG) and cholesteryl esters (CE) were also decreased. Linoleic (18:2), homo-gamma-linolenic acid (20:3n6) and arachidonic acid (20:4n6) were significantly depressed in lipid classes, especially in PL and CE, by dietary trans,trans-linoleate. The increase in eicosatrienoate (20:3n9), especially in PL and CE of kidneys of rats fed HCO (essential fatty acid deficient), was slight in rats fed 100% trans,trans-linoleate, indicating that the trans,trans acid probably inhibited acyl elongation and desaturation.


Identification of methyl-branched fatty acids from the triacylglycerols of subcutaneous adipose tissue of lambs. A concentrate of branched chain fatty acids (as methyl esters) was prepared from the triacylglycerols of subcutaneous adipose tissue lipids of lambs receiving a carbohydrate-rich (cereal diet). This was accomplished by procedures which allowed the removal of unsaturated components by peroxidation and straight chain saturated components by urea-adduct formation. The concentrate was analyzed by high resolution gas chromatography in combination with mass spectrometry and was shown to consist of a complex mixture of saturated methyl-substituted fatty acids. Methyl substitution occurred on even-numbered carbon atoms (relative to the carboxyl group) and the chain lengths of the acids ranged from 10 to 18 carbon atoms. Acids with one methyl substituent in the fatty acyl chain were most abundant; di-, tri- and tetramethyl-substituted acids were also present. The biosynthesis of these methyl-substituted acids is discussed briefly.


The lipid composition of erythrocytes in European cattle and buffalo steers. This study compared the lipid composition of the red blood cells of European cattle and of buffalo steers at the same level of feed intake in a thermoneutral environment. The mean volumes of the erythrocytes and their lipid content were greater in buffalo than those in cattle. However, the amounts of phospholipid and cholesterol in cells of equal volume were higher in buffalo than in cattle. In contrast, the phospholipid level at a given cholesterol level was higher in cattle than in buffalo. The distribution of the different molecular species of phospholipids in the red cells of the two breeds were similar, but there were significant distinctions in their fatty acid patterns, notably in the levels of 24:0 and 24:1 in the sphingomyelin fractions. The proportion of total monounsaturated acids in the erythrocytes were similar from both breeds. However, there was a higher percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids with a corresponding lower content of total saturated fatty acids in the red cells from buffalo than in those from cattle. The breed differences in erythrocyte lipid composition are discussed in relation to breed differences in red cell characters and could lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms of environmental adaptation.


Volatile hydrocarbon and carbonyl products of lipid peroxidation: a comparison of pentane, ethane, hexanal, and acetone as in vivo indices. A study was undertaken to determine whether respiratory hexanal and acetone as well as pentane and ethane could be measured as potential indices of lipid peroxidation in vivo. The tests of induction of lipid peroxidation in rats included injection of iron-dextran and the vitamin E deficiency status. Injection of 460 mg of iron/100 g body wt over a 28-day period increased pentane and ethane production 4- and 6-fold, respectively. Hexanal production was increased 7-fold after injection of 60 mg of iron/100 g body wt, and then it fell back to the preinjection level in spite of continued injection of iron-dextran. Acetone production was lower in iron-injected rats than in controls, and it was ca. 10-fold higher in fasted vitamin E-deficient rats than in vitamin E-supplemented rats, being ca 48 and 5 nmol/100 g/min, respectively. It was observed that halomethane injection did not increase hexanal production, while acetone and pentane production were increased. Pentane and hexanal, but not acetone, were found to arise from decomposition of linoleic acid hydroperoxide in vitro. It was concluded that hydrocarbon gases are better indices of lipid peroxidation than hexanal, which is enzymatically metabolized, and acetone, the production of which is dominated by factors such as altered carbohydrate metabolism.


Effect of calcium on absorption of fatty acid by rat jejunum in vitro. The effect of Ca++ on jejunal osmiophilic particles was studied in a recirculating system which was not contaminated with plasma lipoproteins. An isolated, infused segment of rat jejunum was suspended in a bath of liquid paraffin. Transudate, containing osmiophilic particles, appeared like beads of sweat on the serosal surface, and fell to the bottom of the bath. In the range of 25-38 C, 30 C proved to be optimal for histological preservation of villous architecture. Production of transudate, 20 mg/min/g of jejunum, and transport of [14C] oleate proceeded nearly linearly after the first 30 min. Necrosis of mid-villus and crypt cells became obvious by light microscopy after one hour. Therefore, transudate was collected between the period of 30-60 min. Shadow casting of transudates, produced when saline was infused, revealed that 86 +/- 9 (SD) % of osmiophilic particles was less than 800 A in diameter; 13 +/- 8% was 800-1000 A; 0.4 +1- 0.5% was 1000 - 2000 A. Corresponding values were 58 +/- 10, 25 +/- 5, and 16 +/- 5% when 5 mM [14C] oleate + 2.5 mM monoolein was infused; 75% of the transported [14C] appeared in triglyceride. Adding 2 mM Ca++ to the infusion doubled the transport of [14C] triglyceride without increasing particle size further. We conclude that luminal Ca++ increases the absorption of luminal fatty acid by rat jejunum in vitro.


Incorporation of cis- and trans-octadecenoic acids into the membranes of rat liver mitochondria. The incorporation of dietary isomeric fatty acids into the membranes of liver mitochondria was investigated. Three groups of rats were fed diets containing 3% sunflower seed oil plus 15%, 20%, or 25% partially hydrogenated arachis oil. A fourth group was fed 25% partially hydrogenated arachis oil, but no sunflower seed oil. All diets were given for 3, 6, or 10 weeks. After 10 weeks, the content of trans fatty acids in the lipids of the mitochondrial membranes was 15--19% of the total fatty acids. The composition of the trans- and the cis-octadecenoic acids in the lipids of the mitochondrial membranes was similar for all groups supplemented with sunflower seed oil (SO), irrespective of time and dietary level of partially hydrogenated arachis oil (HAO). The cis 18:1 (n-8), which was a major isomer of the partially hydrogenated arachis oil, was almost excluded from the mitochondrial fatty acids. Likewise, the content of trans 18:1 (n-8) was considerably lower in the mitochondrial lipids than in the diet. On the contrary, the content of trans 18:1 (n-6) was higher in the mitochondrial lipids than in the diet. In the group fed without sunflower seed oil, isomers of linoleic acid and arachidonic acid were observed in the lipids of mitochondrial membranes.


The synchronization of muscle activity and body segment movements during a running cycle. Locomotor patterns of running were studied using computerization to synchronize electromyography (EMG) and cinematography (CMG). Surface electrodes monitored the muscle action potentials from rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, biceps femoris, semitendinosus, semimembranosus, triceps surae and tibialis anterior muscles as 10 female subjects ran on a treadmill at speeds of 2.5 m/s and 3.5 m/s. Averaged integrated electromyograms were formulated to represent action potential levels for various sub-sections of the running cycle. Beginning at foot contact, the running cycle was dominated initially by muscle activity concerned with stabilization. The co-contraction of vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, semimembranosus, tibialis anterior, biceps femoris and triceps surae were associated with clockwise rotation (running from left to right) of the thigh, leg and foot in providing a stable base during the early support phase. Lower limb stabilization then gave way to the powerful driving thrust of the mid and late support phases. This period was characterized by increases in the activity levels from triceps surae and biceps femoris. The co-ordination of inertial effects and secondary muscular activity was associated with leg flexion as the thigh changed direction and with leg extension during the swing phase of running. This conclusion was supported by both EMG and resultant muscle moment of force date. Increased activity from semimembranosus and semitendinosus occurred with cessation of thigh flexion and leg extension prior to the subsequent heel strike. Tibialis anterior also eccentrically contracted to place the foot on the treadmill under control. The increase in the running speed was related to an increase in muscle action potential (in parts of the cycle) where the particular muscle was functional. This increase was paralleled kinetically by an increase in the resultant muscle moment of force level.


Functional variability of the lower extremity during the support phase of running. The purpose of the research was to determine the variability of selected parameters during the support phase of running between consecutive right footfalls, and the included left footfall, as well as to acquire additional descriptive data on lower extremity function. Eleven college aged male runners were filmed (200 fps) from the rear and side while running on a treadmill at 4.29--4.47 m/sec. The statistical analysis of the mean absolute differences for temporal events between the three footfalls resulted in no significant differences. An estimate of event variability was calculated to be the actual time +/- 0.0110 sec or the percentage +/- 4.98% at the 95% confidence interval. Comparisons between the absolute deviations of selected body part positions and/or orientations for the test conditions resulted in no statistically significant differences. Estimates of variability ranging from 1.78--4.08 deg were calculated. Even though no statistically significant differences were obtained, the magnitude of the variability obtained for the parameters evaluated would seem to indicate a need for calculating representative or average values if subtle differences in lower extremity function are to be detected.


Analysis of the velocity curve in sprint running. Four main characteristics were distinguished on the basis of an analysis of the velocity curve in sprint running which determine the special exercise capacities of a sprinter: a) the ability for rapid attainment of speed in start momentum; b) ability for attaining maximal strength; c) ability for maintaining maximal running speed; d) ability to resist fatigue in the final phase of running. These properties are relatively conditioned and effected, to different degrees, by training. Distinctions between qualified sprinters and beginners are observed in display of maximal running speed, but these distinctions are not observed in display of staring speed and in abilities to resist fatigue.


Plasma lactate accumulation and distance running performance. Laboratory and field assessments were made on eighteen male distance runners. Performance data were obtained for distances of 3.2, 9.7, 15, 19.3 km (n = 18) and the marathon (n = 13). Muscle fiber composition expressed as percent of slow twitch fibers (%ST), maximal oxygen consumption (Vo2max), running economy (Vo2 for a treadmill velocity of 268 m/min), and the Vo2 and treadmill velocity corresponding to the onset of plasma lactate accumulation (OPLA) were determined for each subject. %ST (R greater than or equal to .47), Vo2max (r greater than or equal to .83), running economy (r greater than or equal to .49), Vo2 in ml/kg min corresponding to the OPLA (r greater than or equal to .91) and the treadmill velocity corresponding to the OPLA (r greater than or equal to .91) were significantly (p less than .05) related to performance at all distances. Multiple regression analysis howed that the treadmill velocity corresponding to the OPLA was most closely related to performance and the addition of other factors did not significantly raise the multiple R values suggesting that these other variables may interact with the purpose of keeping plasma lactates low during distance races. The slowest and fastest marathoners ran their marathons 7 and 3 m/min faster than their treadmill velocities corresponding to their OPLA which indicates that this relationship is independent of the competitive level of the runner. Runners appear to set a race pace which allows the utilization of the largest possible Vo2 which just avoids the exponential rise in plasma lactate.


The effect of retabolil and training on activity of RNA polymerase in skeletal muscles. One hundred and twenty male albino rats weighing 180--200 g were used to determine the effect of anabolic steroid hormones on adaptive changes in the synthesis of ribosomal RNA both in sedentary animals and in animals involved in a training program. One injection of Retabolil (0.1 mg/100 g body weight) increased the alpha-amanitin insensitive RNA polymerase activity of nuclei from skeletal muscles. Fourteen h after this hormone injection the enzyme activity was 45% higher than in control animals and it remained at this level for 4 days. Under these conditions a selective binding of 19-nortestosterone with cytoplasmic proteins of skeletal muscle was found. Physical training increased the RNA polymerase activity by 50% (P less than 0.05). It was found that the testosterone binding capacity of a cytoplasmic extract from trained animals was 70% greater than that of the control animals (P less than 0.05). Four injections of Retabolil during training resulted in an additional increase of RNA polymerase activity of 40% (P less than 0.05) but reduced the testosterone binding capacity of the cytoplasmic proteins that occurred with training by 21%. The findings demonstrate the effect of anabolic hormones in the regulation of RNA synthesis in skeletal muscle nuclei in the process of their adaptation to systematic physical training.


Proteinuria in the exercising dog.

Proteinuria in the exercising dog. Exercise proteinuria is a transient condition often observed following heavy exercise in man. A general belief is that exercise proteinuria in man is partially due to the decline in renal blood flow (RBF) associated with exercise. The purpose of this study was to determine if exercise proteinuria occurs in the dog, an animal whose RBF is constant during exercise. Chronic bladder cannulas were surgically implanted in four female mongrel dogs. Urine from both kidneys was collected prior to, during, and after heavy treadmill exercise (30 minutes duration, 5mph, and 15% grade). Urine protein concentration was determined by the biuret method. When compared to resting control urine, protein concentration during exercise increased by 47 percent (P less than .01). Urine flow rate at rest, .17 +/- .02 ml/min, decreased to .09 +/- .01 ml/min (P less than .01) during exercise, resulting in a small but not statistically significant decline in protein excretion. In twenty-six tests, when comparisons were made between resting and post-exercise periods, urine flow rate was identical, urine protein concentration was significantly highently elevated (P less than .01). These data indicate that exercise proteinuria may occur in the absence of changes in RBF.


Changes in bone mineral content following ligamentous knee injuries. In 44 patients with clinical signs of ligamentous injuries to the knee-joint without fracture, the bone mineral content was measured by gamma absorptiometry in the proximal end of the tibia and the fibula. The injuries caused a loss of an average 10% in those patients who had no signs of complete tears of knee ligaments and were therefore treated only with an ace-bandage and for a shortime, whereas the loss was 18% in those who were operated on with repair of ligamental injuries followed by plaster immobilization. Repeated injuries did not seem to cause further loss of mineral. There were no signs of restoration within the first year. The pre-injury bone mineral content was in these patients above that of an unselected control population, however, the post-traumatic loss of mineral brought the values down into a normal range.


Age at menarche, family size, and birth order in athletes at the Montreal Olympic Games, 1976. Age at menarache, family size, and birth order in 145 athletes at the Montreal Olympic Games, 1976, were determined through interview. The athletes represented 27 countries, but 76% came from Canada, Great Britain and the United States. On the average, athletes attained menarche later than the general population in their respective countries, the mean age at menarche for the sample of 139 athletes who had attained menarche at the time of the survey being 13.66 +/- 0.12 years. Six athletes had not yet attained menarche at the time of the survey. Gymnasts, runners and rowers attained menarche significantly later than swimmers, but gymnasts, runners, rowers and jumpers/hurdlers did not differ significantly among themselves in the age at menarche. Correlations between age at menarche and family size and birth order were significant, but low to moderate in magnitude. Athletes from larger families tended to have, on the average, later menarche than those from smaller families, this trend being more apparent in rowers and track and field athletes.


Tennis: the effects of grip firmness on ball velocity after impact. The effects of grip firmness on the ball velocity after impact has been investigated in tennis. The average horizontal velocity of the ball prior to contact and after completion of contact was determined by a motion-picture camera. A tennis ball was fired from a machine to impact with a tennis racket, which was fixed in several different positions. No significant difference was found between the velocity of the ball after impact with a racket which was horizontally clamped and with a racket in a balanced, upright position. The velocity ratio (post-impact vs pre-impact velocity) was an inverse function of the velocity of impact.


[Human trypanosomiasis foci in OCCGE member countries: present situation (author's transl)]. Using official epidemiological informations, authors study evolution of sleeping sickness epidemiological situation in seven OCCGE countries: Benin, Ivory Coast, Upper Volta, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo. 745 new cases were diagnosed in 1977 and more than 600 in 1978. We observe the extinction of historic foci in Niger and Senegal, the persistance of foci in Upper Volta and Mali and the reviviscence of foci in Benin, Ivory Coast and Togo. One of the prominent points of the present endemia is the importance of people migrations, especially between Ivory Coast and Upper Volta. It would be of major interest to enter upon an epidemiological study of this problem. An outline of situation in neighbouring countries is given. The important reviviscence of certain foci must lead to increase energies for medical surveys and vector control.


[Is the first dental eruption a good criterion to fix the time of anti-measles immunization? (author's transl)]. The anti-measles immunization must be given to children aged about 9 months. When identity and sanitary cards are lacking, the first dental eruption has been considered as a good indicator of the age. This study shows that at the critical age of 8-9 months this eruption is not a good criterion.


[An experience of primary health care education in Mauritania]. Volunteers are instructed during one month: they receive some basic training in hygiene, infectious diseases, and primary therapy using the few drugs which should exist in each family. A two years experience has given encouraging results with, among others, an increase in the number of pulmonary tuberculosis cases detected, and of the population attending vaccinations.


[Immunization campaign in Ethiopia (author's transl)]. In the framework of the smallpox eradication worldwide programme, WHO, the Ethiopian, and the French governments signed a cooperation agreement by which the French Army Medical Service, based in the French Afars and Issas Territory (TFAI), was designated to carry out an immunization campaign in the ethiopian districts along the border with TFAI. With the every-day collaboration of the ethiopian governmental and traditional authorities, 44,000 people were immunized by the medical and paramedical personnel of 5 "ground teams" with heavy equipment and all-track vehicles and 1 "air-team" with helicopteres. In the same time (7 Feb. - 8 March 1974), the teams collected epidemiological informations on five selected tropical diseases: tuberculosis, malaria, bilharziosis, cholera, small-pox; a team from the TFAI Hygiene and Epidemiological Service investigated thoroughly the Kalo area. The ethiopian border districts are under-equiped with medical and hygiene facilities, and the population is used to go to the TFAI dispensaries and hospitals. TFAI being free of malaria, bilharziosis and smallpox, the French Medical Service has to maintain a firm grip on possible spreading. Kalo area might be a favorable reservoir due to the prevailing ecological conditions. Tuberculosis is so widely common that any control in the TFAI would imply a BCG campaign on both sides of the border within an inter-governmental plan of operations.


[Clinical and biological symptoms of T. gambiense tryponosomiasis in the meningo-encephalitic period (author's transl)]. Main clinical symptoms are reviewed in the first part of the article. They consist in mental alertness disorder, motorial confusion and quite constantly in reflexes and abnormal movements due to brain stem lesion. The author reports on 22 cases. No correlation appears between prognosis and epileptiform seizures. Bertran's prognostical score has given contradictory indications. Neujan's criteria have not been very reliable to select treatment schedule. No correlation has been observed between biological data on the one hand and clinical symptoms as well as lethal evolution on the other hand.


[Place and importance of specific surgery in a national program for control of leprosy (author's transl)]. In order to get a representative sample of the population, a survey was conducted in an rural district of the Republic of Mali. The data collected give evidence that the number of specific surgical indications can be correctly evaluated not from the number of leprosy patients numbered, but by applying a ratio of 5,5 per cent to the whole population. This easy evaluation is important for the management of any public health programme.


[A case of retinitis in a patient with schistosomiasis (author's transl)]. The authors report a case of pure macular oedema. After ruling out all other etiologies, the diagnosis of schistosomiasis due to Schistosoma mansoni was established, with parasitologic and serologic proofs. The specific treatment was followed up by a progressive restoration associated with an acute increase of eosinophila. The question of ocular damages in schistosomiasis is exposed according to the existant litterature: 1) Presence of schistosoma eggs in the ocular area. 2) Presence of adult schistosome in the eyeball. 3) Ocular troubles assumed to be in relation with the presence of adult worm or to larva.


[Corneal sensibility in 57 black Africans. A study based on 113 biomicroscopically normal ocular globes (author's transl)]. This study of the corneal sensitivity in 57 sahelian black Africans with a biomicroscopically normal cornea demonstrated that most of them (80,8 p. 100) had a normal corneal esthesia. The others (19,2 p. 100) having an hypoesthesia are older than the average age of this group and have a lower sociocultural status.


[An Ota's naevus in a West African child (author's transl)]. Report of a case of Ota's naevus fuscocaeruleus ophtalmomaxillaris in an african child. The authors are not aware of a previous report of this deformity in Africa (South of the Sahara). They review the clinical and histological features of this naevus and describe in this case a pigmentary infiltration of corneal stroma.


[Onchocerciasis chemotherapy. II. Evaluation of two therapeutic schemes on microfilarial density, utilising the association diethylcarbamazine and levamisole (author's transl)]. As the study of the association diethylcarbamazine-levamisole gave encouraging results on the dermal microfilarial density of Onchocerca volvulus (Leuckart, 1893), the authors followed it up in order to determine the optimum regimen for mass treatment. Two therapeutic schemes have been tested: A--Initial treatment: 14 days with the dayly dosis of respectively 200 mg of diethylcarbamazine and 120 mg of levamisole progressively reached in four days. After one year: a single dayly dosis of respectively 200 mg and 60 mg for five days. B--Initial treatment: 7 days with the same dosis as above. After one year: dayly dosis of respectively 200 mg and 60 mg for seven days. It appears that scheme A may be considered as the best baseline to achieve the optimum regimen for the mass treatment of onchocerciasis. The aim of such a treatment is to decrease the dermal microfilarial density to a level compatible with the patient good condition.


[A parasitologic survey conducted in Touraine (France) in a group of South East Asia refugees (author's transl)]. Forty refugees (23 from 5 lao families and 17 from 3 cambodian families) previously and routinely treated against intestinal parasites, underwent stools and serum controls: 77 p. 100 had still intestinal parasites but 61 p. 100 had a normal blood cells count without hypereosinophilia. The parasites so detected were: Clonorchis sinensis, Heterophyes heterophyes, Trichuris trichiura, Necator americanus, Strongyloides stercoralis, Giardia intestinals and Entamoeba coli.


[Distribution of HBs antigen in Tananarive (author's transl)]. This survey has been conducted among blood donors and patients with hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver carcinomas and various causes of liver dysfunction or enlargement. The frequency is 5,4 p. 100 among blood donors and 50 p. 100 among cases of hepatitis.


[The central venous catheterization: its value in medical and surgical emergencies in tropical areas (author's transl)]. The central venous catheterization is obtained by placing a catheter in the superior or inferior vena cava after puncturing the subclavian vein, the external or the internal jugular, or the femoral ones. The corresponding technics are discribed with their complications, contraindications and advantages. Their value in tropical practice of resuscitation is emphasized.


[Loco-regional anesthesia in remote medical units. III. Anesthesia of upper-limb: the intravenous loco-regional anesthesia (author's transl)]. The loco-regional intravenous anesthesia has the great advantage of its simplicity. It is a good complement of the plexic blocks for anesthesia of the upper limb, but it must be discarded in case of lasting interventions because of the tourniquet, or in case of large damages through which the anesthesic fluid leak out, or if a long hemostatic checking may be foreseen.


[Echography in the diagnosis, treatment and surveillance of amoebic liver abcesses (author's transl)]. Echography has in amoebic liver abscesses, a great value for confirming the diagnosis, localizing the cavities and controlling their size. Therefore it contributes greatly to fix the best treatment, and it is nowadays, in tropical areas, a good substitute to isotopic examinations because of the cost and transport safety requirements of isotopes.


Electron microscopic evidence of Phosfon D-induced alterations in the membranes of the dermatophytic fungus Microsporum cookei. The dermatophytic fungus Microsporum cookei was cultivated for 24 h in the presence of subinhibitory and inhibitory concentrations (50 and 100 micrograms/ml) of Phosfon D, a growth retardant for higher plants also affecting fungal development, and its toxic effects were examined at the ultrastructural level. In both treatments, Phosfon D attacked the membranes, whose structural integrity was clearly compromised with damage of particular severity to mitochondria, nuclei and endoplasmic reticulum. In the instance of fungal growth suppression, the compound also caused plasmolytic and autolytic phenomena, sometimes accompanied by plasma membrane breakages. The submicroscopic effects observed confirm that Prosfon D is an antifungal compound which displays its toxic effects in the area of lipid metabolism, probably preventing the synthesis of fundamental components of the cellular membranes, such as unsaturated fatty acids and sterols.


Chlorhexidine resistance and the lipids of Providencia stuartii. The lipid composition of Providencia stuartii has been shown to resemble closely that of Proteus mirabilis. The ability of some Pv, stuartii strains to survive exposure to high concentrations of the antiseptic chlorhexidine could not be explained in terms of differences in lipid content between sensitive and resistant strains. In addition, resistance could not be attributed to either reduced adsorption of the antiseptic or to its gross enzymic degradation.


Improved microphotometry by compensating for fluctuations in the illumination. Behind a beam-splitter in the illuminator, the irradiation of an area conjugated to the object plane is measured by a silicon photodiode and used as a reference signal. Analog division of the photomulitplier signal by this reference acts like stabilizing the light source by a factor greater than 25. A technical realization of the optical and electronical components as well as experimental results are described.


Metabolic state dependent preservation of cells by fixatives for electron microscopy. The preservation of mitochondria, cytoplasmic vacuoles and cytoplasm by various fixatives after various pretreatments of ethothelial heart cells from Xenopus laevis tadpoles in tissue culture was investigated. The study was based on phase contrast cinemicrographic recordings and on qualitative and quantitative observations with the electron microscope. Three fixatives were used: 3% glutaraldehyde in phosphate buffer, followed by 1% osmium tetroxide postfixation, fixation only with 1% osmium tetroxide in phosphate buffer and the fixing medium according to Dalton. Cells were either not treated or pretreated for 20 min: 10 microM FCCP (Carbonylcyanide-p-trifluoromethoxy-phenylhydrazone) or 4 mM KCN. The superiority of glutaraldehyde was exemplified by its very rapid action, good preservation of cytoplasm, vacuoles, and mitochondria. It was the only medium which maintained an electron density of the mithochondria matrix. In both of the other fixatives swelling of mitochondria and coagulated appearance of cytoplasm (in phase contrast) was more pronounced in cells pretreated with metabolic inhibitors than in controls. Observations with the light microscope have been confirmed by morphometry of electron micrographs of mitochondria. The relation of matrix space to intracristal space is changed in opposite directions after glutaraldehyde and after the Dalton-type fixation. The results indicate a higher sensitivity against fixation artifacts in cells under pathological conditions than normal cells.


Dissociation of rat colonic mucosa into single epithelial cells and their microscopic visualization. Repeated incubation of rat colonic mucosa with phosphate-buffered mannitol yields morphologically intact single cell suspensions which are easily visualized microscopically with trypan blue. Cell dimensions are determined by means of a Nikon microcomparator.


Mycoplasma pulmonis arthritis in congenitally athymic (nude) mice. Clinical and biological features. Congenitally athymic BALB/cA nu/nu mice were employed to elucidate the role of the thymus in experimental Mycoplasma pulmonis strain m53 infection, and nu/+ mice were used for comparison. Chronic polyarthritis was frequently produced in both of nu/nu and nu/+ mice by intravenous injection of the organisms. Macroscopically, nu/nu mice developed severer arthritis and a much lower grade of resolution than nu/+ mice. Periarticular abscess, conjunctivitis, and emaciation were observed in some of the nu/nu mice, but not in the nu/+ mice. Mycoplasmas were isolated from joints and other tissues (including periarticular abscesses and eyelids) of infected nu/nu mice at higher frequencies as well as in greater quantities, and did not show any elimination trends for at least 20 weeks after inoculation. However, nu/+ mice, mycoplasmas were almost exclusively located in joints, and distribution of organisms to the other organs disappeared soon after the infection. Increases in complement-fixing antibody titers were not related to the inhibition of mycoplasmal spread. Thymus-dependent functions that may in some way prevent growth and spread of mycoplasmas in mice are discussed.


Disassembly of tobacco mosaic virus by membrane lipid isolated from tobacco leaves and polyornithine. In vitro disassembly of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) virions occurred in the presence of both polyornithine and a lipid fraction isolated from tobacco leaf membrane. The latter could be replaced by lecithine. Disassembly of 10 microgram of TMV virions was attained in the presence of a 500-mg leaf equivalent of membrane lipid and 20 microgram of polyornithine in 1 ml of 0.01 M Tris-HCl buffer, pH 7.4 at 30 C. Similarity and dissimilarity between the in vitro disassembly and the in vivo uncoating  mechanisms are discussed.


Susceptibility of Ad12-transformed S (+) and S (-) mouse cells to cell-mediated immunity in vitro. Adenovirus type 12 (Ad12)-transformed mouse cells were examined for their susceptibility to cell-mediated immunity in vitro, with respect to the activity of the virus-specific surface (S) antigen in the cells. A transformed cell line, C57AT1, was established from embryonic cells of C57BL/6 mice by Ad12 infection. In fluorescent antibody tests, the transformed cells were positive for the S antigen when the cells were maintained as cultures, whereas when the cells were grown as tumors in animals they became negative for the antigen (referred to as S(+) and S(-) cells, respectively). These S(+) and S(-) cells were subjected to the 51Cr-release test for cell lysis by immune spleen cells (ISC) raised in syngeneic mice by Ad12 infection. When the S(+) cells at various passage levels were exposed to ISC, all of them were lysed extensively and to a similar extent irrespective of their passage history. In contrast, the S(-) cells were consistently refractory to the action of ISC. In addition, the cytotoxic action of ISC was markedly impeded by pretreating the S(+) cells with antiserum to the S antigen, or the ISC with anti-Thy-1,2 serum plus complement. Taken these findings together, the S(+) cells were assumed to be injured by ISC through direct interaction of the S antigen with T-lymphocytes.


Lipopolysaccharide-induced mediators assisting the proliferative response of C3H/HeJ thymocytes to concanavalin A. 3H-Thymidine uptake of thymocytes from LPS-responder Balb/c mice in the presence of a submitogenic dose (0.5 microgram/ml) of con A in vitro was significantly enhanced by adding LPS (0.1 to 2.5 microgram/ml), while the uptake of thymocytes from LPS-nonresponder C3H/HeJ was not enhanced by LPS. However, "endotoxin soups," which were prepared from the supernatants of LPS-responder murine spleen cell cultures in the presence of LPS, clearly increased the incorporation of 3H-thymidine into C3H/HeJ thymocytes in the presence of this small amount of con A. The soup prepared from C3H/HeJ spleen cell cultures did not show any synergistic effect with con A. Even if the major histocompatibility between soup-producer cells and responder cells to con A was different, the soups were still effective. The active substance in the "endotoxin soups" was eluted through a Sepharose CL-4B column, and its molecular size was estimated to be about 20,000 daltons. The activity of the soups was destroyed by heating at 70 C for 30 min or at 80 C for 10 min. Digestion with trypsin destroyed the activity of the soups, but digestion with DNase or RNase did not. The role of the active substance in the soups in synergy with con A and its relation to the synergistic effect of con A and LPS are discussed.


[Numerical systematics of bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas]. In 290 strains of bacteria belonging to the genus Pseudomonas, 120 morphological and physiologo-biochemical characters were studied and the results obtained thereby were analyzed by the methods of numerical taxonomy using computers. The majority of strains were subdivided into 11 clusters: Ps. aeruginosa (1), Ps. putida (2), Ps. rathonis (5), Ps. syringae (8), Ps. pseudoalcaligenes (9), Ps. maltophilia (10), Ps. acidovorans (11), Ps. testosteroni (12), Ps. mendocina (13), Ps. cepacia (14), Ps. fluorescens (3). The latter cluster included also the strains identified earlier as Ps. aurantiaca, Ps. lemonnieri, Ps. fluoro-violaceus, and Ps. aureofaciens. Three clusters contained strains which could not be identified and probably should be regarded as distinct species. The characteristics have been selected useful for diagnostics of the above Pseudomonas bacteria and the subgroups of Ps. fluorescens.


[New genus of budding bacteria Angulomicrobium tetraedrale having radially symmetrical cells]. The growth cycle and the ultrathin structure were compared in two strains of polygonal bacteria. Due to the presence of radial symmetry, the type of division, the character of metabolism and physiology in common, the polygonal bacteria are classed as a separate genus, Angulomicrobium nov. gen. It would be too early to divide the genus into species. The diagnosis of the new genus and the species A. tetraedrale nov. gen. nov. sp. is presented.


[Ultrastructural organization of marine luminescent bacteria and their mutants]. The aim of this work was to study the submicroscopic organization of luminescent bacteria belonging to the genera Photobacterium and Lucibacterium as well as that of their "dark" mutants incapable of luminescence. The ultrastructural organization of all studied bacteria is typical of gram-negative species. The luminescent bacteria are characterized by the presence, in their cytoplasm, of osmophilic formations 22--110 nm in size. The cells of "dark" mutants accumulate volutin and contain complex membrane systems which are related to decelerated growth of the cultures.


[Blakeslea trispora mutants with a disrupted sexual process]. Three groups of Blakeslea trispora (+) and (-) mutants were obtained and their phenotypical characteristics were studied as well as biochemical changes in the course of mating and the ability to synthesize carotenoids when the sexual process of these mutants was disordered. The first group of mutants synthesized carotenoids at the control level, the second group produced them below the control level, and the third group accumulated less than 1% of carotenoids as compared to the control. The difference in the yields of carotenoids among the three groups of mutants in the mated culture is attributed to the presence (or absence) of the ability to synthesize trisporic acids in them.


[Microorganisms of the upper layers of the atmosphere]. Samples for microbiological studies were taken at a high altitude using meterological rockets with specially constructed analyzers so that no extraneous microorganisms could get into them before sampling. The analyzers were sterilized by gamma-irradiation before sampling. For the first time, microscopic fungi, bacteria and mycobacteria were detected at a height of 48--77 km. Five among six of the microbial species were found to contain pigments. The prevalence of these forms at high altitudes suggests that natural selection may take place in the upper atmospheric layer since cells containing chromogenic pigments (carotenoids, melanins) are more resistant to the action of ultraviolet rays.


[Hydrocarbon-oxidizing microorganisms in the waters of certain regions of the Western and Central Atlantic]. The incidence of hydrocarbon-oxidizing microorganisms in water was determined by the method of plating on solid media. Vertical distribution of hydrocarbon-oxidizing microflora was different near the shore and in the open ocean; the incidence of the microorganisms was low in the surface water layer but increased at depths of 25 and 75 m in the open ocean in contrast to regions near the shore. Pure bacterial and fungal cultures were isolated and their properties were described. The cultures were grown in a liquid mineral medium with diesel fuel and 50 cultures out of 66 were found to be true hydrocarbon-oxidizing microorganisms surviving under the laboratory conditions. It was shown that bacteria and fungi have grown on tarballs collected from the surface of the ocean during their incubation at 30 degrees C.


[Number of bacteria and features of their activity in hypersaline reservoirs of the Crimea]. The incidence of bacteria, their biomass production, and heterotrophic assimilation of CO2 by bacterioplankton were studied in the Crimean hypersaline water reservoirs from May to October of 1974. The total incidence of bacteria in the natural brine of these reservoirs varied from 20 to 70 x 10(6) cells per 1 ml. Such a high bacterial number may be caused by the combined action of water evaporation which increased the concentration of bacterial cells and active growth of microflora. Low values of bacterial production and heterotrophic CO2 assimilation should be attributed to weak activity of microflora in the reservoirs.