Keratophakia: a preliminary evaluation.

Keratophakia: a preliminary evaluation. The results of 18 cases of combined cataract extraction and keratophakia are presented. Initial results indicate that these procedures may replace the use of alloplastic materials for the correction of aphakic ametropia either as a primary or a secondary procedure.


Frozen section analysis of the lacerated globe. Prolapsed tissues from seven traumatized globes were examined by frozen section prior to primary enucleation or surgical repair. The findings suggest that if retina is identified on such sections, primary enucleation may be justified. If iris, ciliary body, or choroid is found, the decision regarding management must be based on other factors.


The acute manifestations of ocular cicatricial pemphigoid: diagnosis and treatment. Seven patients with ocular cicatricial pemphigoid displayed acute inflammatory activity that could not be attributed to secondary bacterial infections, trichiasis, or lagophthalmos secondary to symblepharon. This acute inflammatory activity was manifested either as a localized conjunctival mound that was ulcerated and intensely hyperemic or as diffuse and intense conjunctival hyperemia and chemosis. Acute disease activity developed shortly after conjunctival biopsy in three patients and appeared spontaneously in the other four patients. Conjunctival biopsy specmens disclosed a heavy infiltrate of polymorphonuclear leucocytes within and beneath the conjunctival epithelium in addition to the chronic inflammatory cells typically found in this condition. The acute manifestations of ocular cicatricial pemphigoid cause rapid shrinkage and scarring of the conjunctiva. Systemic corticosteroids suppressed the acute disease activity and prevented additional scarring in all five patients treated.


Vitrectomy techniques in retinal reattachment surgery. Vitreous surgery techniques are useful in the management of selected retinal detachments with an otherwise poor prognosis. Vitrectomy methods can be used to remove intraocular opacities; cut vitreous sheets causing vitreo-retinal traction and separate epiretinal membranes covering or distorting the retina; provide a fluid space to aid in creation of a scleral buckle or use of an intravitreal gas bubble; perform other intraocular procedures, including transvitreal treatment of retinal breaks, transvitreal removal of subretinal fluid, and intraocular fluid-gas exchange. These surgical capabilities can be combined with conventional retinal reattachment methods to treat selected types of retinal detachment. The surgical techniques, indications for surgery, and role of vitrectomy methods in the current management of retinal detachment are reviewed.


A temporary balloon buckle for the treatment of small retinal detachments. An inflatable silicone explant has been used to treat small retinal detachments. The device is inserted through the conjunctiva at the oral and expanded beneath the retinal break. Subretinal fluid absorbs because the intrusion of the balloon closes the retinal break. Adhesion is obtained by transconjunctival cryopexy or laser coagulation. The balloon, which is unsecured by sutures, is deflated and withdrawn after one week.


A regional course to update the practicing specialist. Four medical centers collaborated in the development of a course in ophthalmology to present new information and skills to the practicing specialist who is not associated with a medical center. The course is presented in 8 two-day sessions, scheduled Friday and Saturday, four times a year, on a two-year cycle. Thus, the participant loses only four days a year from his practice. This course differs from most of the postgraduate courses currently being offered in that it is designed to update basic specialty knowledge and skills systematically to improve health care delivery.


Binkhorst Lecture. (Part 2). Experimental cataract surgery--electron microscopy. Scanning and transmission electron microscopic examinations were performed on cat corneas after the steps usually taken to perform cataract extraction were completed. The endothelium did not replicate, but showed nuclear division or segmentation occasionally. In each case, the anterior segment was free from any evidence of inflammation one year after surgical treatment--unless a pseudophakos had been inserted: in some of these cases, significant numbers of white cells were present, a condition that may contribute to anterior segment complications from implants.


Anterior segment complications of implant surgery. An overview of the anterior segment complications related to implant surgery is presented. Complications are considered in three categories: (1) their actual relationship to the presence of an implant; (2) their time relationship to implant surgery; and (3) specific complications frequently associated with each type of implant.


Surgical complications of Choyce-type implants. The development of various intraocular lenses will be described, and implantation of anterior chamber-type lenses will be discussed.


The platinum clip (Platina) intraocular lens. The platinum clip (Platina) intraocular lens is reserved for the patient with an active mobile pupil when some type of fixation device is necessary to avoid the complication of dislocation. A surgical technique is described in which the surgeon fixates the lens with the cataract wound closed (closed-eye system), thereby allowing the procedure to be carried out safely.


The Fyodorov Sputnik intraocular lens.

The Fyodorov Sputnik intraocular lens. The author has implanted 197 Fyodorov intraocular lenses. With careful selection of patients, good surgical judgment, and meticulous surgery, a degree of success can be obtained with this lens, which will equal that of conventional cataract surgery. The surgical technique of implantation will be described.


Complications with the four-loop lens of Binkhorst (the iris-clip lens). The iris-clip (four-loop) lens of Binkhorst has been and continues to be the best intraocular lens on the market. It is recommended for primary or secondary implantation in an eye with a suitable iris sphincter and anterior chamber. Complications may occur, but these can be minimized by appropriate treatment and, particularly, by case selection.


Complications associated with posterior chamber lenses. Different types of posterior chamber lenses and their complications are discussed and compared with complications of anterior chamber lenses, pupil-supported lenses, and capsular-fixated lenses. Special emphasis is placed on the Shearing intraocular lens.


The extended-wear contact lens vs the intraocular lens: a comparison of risks. Although both the extended-wear contact lens and the intraocular lens are under intense clinical investigation, years will be required to collect sufficient data for valid comparisons of their risk factors. Meanwhile, a rational appraisal of risks associated with both therapeutic alternatives should be considered, with decisions based on risks or benefits for each patient. The factors to be considered in comparing these alternatives for the correction of aphakia are discussed.


Complications of the Copeland implant.

Complications of the Copeland implant. The Copeland lens is easy to insert, requires no intraocular suture or clip for fixation, and is rarely dislodged from its proper position. It has enjoyed long follow-up and wide usage in the United States. Properly managed, its complications are not as formidable as once believed. It remains an acceptable alternative for the intraoperative correction of surgical aphakia.


The cause of excessive astigmatism with intraocular lens implants. Higher degrees of astigmatism are found after intraocular lens implantation than after routine cataract surgery. The cause is optical and is associated with the effectivity of lenses. The same amount of corneal astigmatism requires, in the spectacle correction, a cylinder that is smaller than, equal to, or larger than the corneal astigmatism, depending on whether the spherical equivalent of the refraction is a plus, zero, or minus sphere.


Mast cells in human aorta.

Mast cells in human aorta. Aortic specimens from 111 autopsy and 23 surgical cases were examined by light and electron microscopy. Differential mast cell counts were made of three aortic segments (ascending, thoracic, and abdominal) and layers (intimal, medial, adventitial). The mast cell counts varied considerably from case to case and sector to sector and generally showed no correlation with age, sex, or atherosclerotic severity. However, intimal mast cells were fewer in number in areas of lipid accumulation than in areas of diffuse intimal thickening without lipid accumulation. The reduction in the number of intimal mast cells may play a part in the localization of atherosclerosis.


[Morphological and histochemical behavior of arterial tissue in normal and spontaneously hypo- or hypercholesterolemic rats on a normal or hyperlipidic diet]. Hypo and hypercholesterolemic rats strains were selected (Lyon) and compared to a normocholesterolemic one issued from the same race (Sprague-Dawley). The arterial tissue of these three strains at three ages (10-19-25 months) and their reactivity to an hyperlipidic diet (2 and 6 month duration) were studied using histological and histochemical technics. There were neither histological nor histochemical differences between the three strains whatever the ages. Therefore, at the present stage of selection, the genetic differences have not changed the arterial metabolism or its evolution during ageing. However the arterial reactivity of hypo and hypercholesterolemic strains towards an hyperlipidic diet was different: indeed both strains developed hypercholesterolemia, liver steatosis and diffuse intimal lipoidosis, but on the other hand the hypercholesterolemic rat alone demonstrated arterial cell proliferation. These data suggest that a same genetic trait can give rise to both a spontaneous hypercholesterolemia and an arterial hyperactivity against a superimposed hyperlipemia.


Differences between the arterial and the venous pathomorphology in Buerger's disease. Morphological lesions were found to be different in arteries and in veins, in 9 cases of Buerger's disease. The arterial lesions were not characteristic and consisted of non-specific inflammation, thrombosis and obliteration which also occur in many other disease. In contrast, in addition to wall infiltration and thrombosis, the veins showed microabscesses and giant cell granulomas, which we believe to be absent in all other known diseases. The affected venous segment exhibited a variety of lesions. In the earliest period, the morphological aspect of inflammation in arteries and veins was fairly similar. In a late periods, that is those of vascular obliteration, the arteries and veins did not show any distinguishing morphological differences.


Growth regulators in connective tissues. II. Evidence for the presence of several growth inhibitors in aortic extracts. Studies on the effects of bovine aorta extracts on endothelial and smooth muscle cells cultured from the same tissue indicate they contain at least four separate molecular species capable of inhibiting cell growth. Two, heparin and a recently characterized dermatan sulfate-chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan, are large polyanions and inhibit the growth of both smooth muscle and endothelial cells, but require large amounts to induce this effect. The other two are low molecular weight molecules which inhibit only the growth of endothelial cells, one of which is a protease inhibitor which has been purified to homogeneity. The fourth and most potent is an as yet unidentified fraction distinguishable from the protease inhibitor. Heparin, as reported by others, and the proteoglycan also enhance collagenase activity. It would therefore appear that aorta contains several molecular species which have the potential to affect both invasive and proliferative processes.


The duration of passive protection against Taenia ovis larvae in lambs. In an attempt to induce passive protection in lambs against Taenia ovis larvae that would last for the 15-20 weeks from birth to slaughter as fat lambs, one group of ewes was immunized by a series of injections of 2000, 4000, 8000, 16 000 and 32 000 activated oncospheres of Taenia ovis prior to parturition. Another group of ewes was not immunized. All ewes had previously grazed pasture lightly infected with T. ovis eggs. Most lambs from non-immunized ewes developed cysts after oral infection with T. ovis eggs. However, no lambs from immunized ewes developed cysts up to and including 6 weeks after birth. Between 8 and 16 weeks after birth a proportion of lambs were found to be susceptible to infection. By 18 weeks after birth all lambs were apparently susceptible. The 99% confidence band for the mean duration of demonstrable complement-fixing antibody titres was 6.2-7.8 weeks for lambs from immunized ewes. The persistence of maternal protective antibody in some lambs could possibly preclude successful active immunization of all lambs against T. ovis larvae before 18 weeks of age.


The dynamics of infection of Tribolium confusum by Hymenolepis diminuta: the influence of infective-stage density and spatial distribution. The mean parasite burden of a population of Tribolium confusum is shown to rise to a plateau as the exposure density of infective eggs of Hymenolepis diminuta increases. The level of this plateau is shown to be dependent on the nutritional status of the host population, being depressed from approximately 18 cysticeroids/beetle in hosts which have been starved prior to experimentation, to approximately 2 cysticercoids/beetle in satiated hosts. A simple model is used to describe the shape of this infection functional response in terms of the predator-prey interaction between hosts (T. confusum) and parasite infective stages (H. diminuta eggs). The distribution of successful infections/host is shown to be over-dispersed, even when hosts are exposed to infective stages arranged in a uniform spatial pattern. The over-dispersion of parasite numbers/host is shown to become more severe as the spatial pattern of infective stages changes from under-dispersed, through random, to over-dispersed. Experimental results are discussed in relation to the dynamics of parasite-host interactions, in which infection takes place by host ingestion of a free-living infective stage.


Immunization of mice with gamma-irradiated intramuscularly injected schistosomula of Schistosoma mansoni. The parameters involved in the induction of resistance against Schistosoma mansoni by injection of irradiated, artificially transformed schistosomula were studied in mice. Single intramuscular injections of 500 schistosomula exposed to radiation doses in the range 2.3 to 160 krad. resulted in significant protection (in the range 20 to 50% as assessed by reduced worm burdens) against a challenge infection administered at intervals from 3 to 24 weeks post-vaccination. However, schistosomula irradiated with 20 krad. consistently resulted in better protection than those exposed to either higher or lower radiation doses despite the persistence of stunted adults from the infections irradiated with 2.3 krad. Vaccination with 40 krad. schistosomula resulted in significant protection in terms of reduced worm and tissue egg burdens and increased survival following lethal challenge. Varying the number of irradiated schistosomula, the frequency and route of their administration, the site of challenge and the strain of host all failed to enhance the level of resistance. However, percutaneously applied, irradiated cercariae were found to be more effective in stimulating resistance (60%) than intramuscularly injected, irradiated schistosomula (40%).


The effects of gamma-irradiation on migration and survival of Schistosoma mansoni schistosomula in mice. Infections with irradiated Schistosoma mansoni were established by intramuscular (i.m.) injection of mechanically transformed schistosomula. A dose of 2.3 krad. allowed persistence of a small proportion of worms to adulthood, and of these survivors the majority of the female worms were sexually sterile. However, a small proportion of 2.3 krad.-irradiated females and a larger proportion of similarly irradiated males were capable of pairing successfully with non-irradiated partners. Radiation in the range 2.3 to 10 krad. resulted in slightly reduced peak recoveries from the lungs while 20 krad. resulted in a much reduced and 40 krad. a virtual absence of survival to the lung stage. Increasing doses of radiation in the range 2.3 to 10 krad. resulted in successively fewer parasites reaching the liver. Thus, the major sites of the radiation-induced mortality appeared to be as follows: 2.3 krad., mainly in the liver; 4 krad., in the lungs and liver; 10 krad., mainly in the lungs; 20 krad., at the injection site and in the lungs and 40 krad., mainly at the injection site. The infections studied here showed reduced survival following exposure to high doses of radiation compared with the infections, established as percutaneously applied cercariae, which have been reported by other workers. Possible reasons for the disparity are discussed.


Redescriptions of Eimeria irresidua Kessel & Jankiewicz, 1931 and E. flavescens Marotel & Guilhon, 1941 from the domestic rabbit. Eimeria flavescens and E. irresidua from the domestic rabbit are redescribed. The relatively smaller ovoidal oocysts of E. flavescens which measure on average 31.7 X 21.4 micrometer, possess a wide micropyle at the broad end. First-generation schizonts of this species develop deep in the glands of the lower small intestine. Merozoites migrate to the caecum and colon where second, third and fourth-generation schizonts develop in the superficial epithelium followed by the fifth-generation schizonts and gametocytes which form in the glands. In young Dutch rabbits E. flavescens is very pathogenic; low doses of oocysts produce a severe enteritis with high mortality and morbidity. The larger, broadly ellipsoidal oocysts of E. irresidua measure on average 38.4 X 23.2 micrometer and often possess a very small cryptic oocyst residuum. The endogenous stages develop in the small intestine only; first-generation schizonts in the glands and second-generation schizonts in the lamina propria whilst third and fourth-generation schizonts and gametocytes develop in the villous epithelium. E. irresidua is not pathogenic in young Dutch rabbits; even heavy infections produce only a transient pause in weight gain.


The species of Eimeria in rabbits for meat production in Britain. Eight species of coccidia were recognized in 596 faeces samples from 3 commercial rabbitries in South East England. The level of infection was related to management methods and at one site it was reduced by an outbreak of mucoid enteritis and/or its treatment with oxytetracycline. In samples from rabbits managed conventionally in the wire cages over droppings-pits, 96% contained oocysts and of these, 60% had 1000-10000 oocysts/g. Mixed infections were common, 67% of the animals carrying 2-4 different species. Eimeria, media, E. magna and E. perforans occurred most frequently; E. coecicola, E. irresidua and E. flavescens were less common and E. intestinalis and E. piriformis were relatively rare. E. stiedai  was not recorded.


The fine structure of the developing macrogamete of Eimeria maxima. The fine structure of the developing macrogamete of Eimeria maxima was studied from chicks killed at intervals from 138 to 147 h after inoculation. The macrogamete developed within a parasitophorous vacuole. Lying within the vacuole and extending for some distance around the periphery of the macrogamete were intravacuolar tubules, grouped in certain areas, and in some cases they were seen to make direct connexions with the cytoplasm of the parasite. During development, electron-pale vesicles were pinched off externally from the surface of the macrogamete. There appeared to be 2 forms of wall-forming bodies of the Type I during development, one form being less osmiophilic than the other. Other organelles present, such as wall-forming bodies of Type II, granular endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, canaliculi, lipid inclusions and intravacuolar folds, were similar in structure to those of other Eimeria species.


Separation of erythrocytes infected with murine malaria parasites in metrizamide gradients. Density gradients with metrizamide, a tri-iodinated benzamido derivative of glucose, have been used to separate erythrocytes infected with 3 species of murine plasmodia. Good separations were obtained of uninfected erythrocytes from erythrocytes containing parasites in different developmental stages. With metrizamide solutions, the densities required for isopyenic separation can be obtained without hypertonicity or high viscosity, and the viability and those aspects of the metabolism of parasites and erythrocytes that we measured are not detectably modified by exposure to these solutions. This type of separation has many possible applications to biochemical and immunological investigations.


Evasion of the insect immune response by Moniliformis dubius (Acanthocephala): further observations on the origin of the envelope. The envelope around larvae of Moniliformis dubius appears to protect the parasite against immune recognition and encapsulation by the insect host's haemocytes. The origin of this envelope has been the subject of controversy although most evidence suggests it is parasite-derived. If host-derived, the envelope would be expected to share surface properties with host tissue. Thus, experiments were undertaken, transplanting parasites and host tissue to other insects and using haemocytic encapsulation as an assay for immune recognition, in order to compare the response to host tissue and to the parasite's envelope. Parasites without their envelopes, and pieces of tissue (ventral nerve cord) from the experimental host (the locust Schistocerca gregaria) were recognized as foreign and encapsulated in the cockroach, Periplaneta americana. The majority of parasites with their envelopes were unencapsulated or only partially encapsulated on transfer to their normal host, P. americana, indicating that the envelope does not have surface similarity to locust tissue. Cockroach-derived parasites with or without envelopes were not encapsulated in S. gregaria, suggesting that the larva itself can evade or inhibit the locust's recognition mechanism. However, since larvae which develop in S. gregaria are enclosed in an envelope, the formation of the envelope would seem to be an inherent feature of the parasite's development.


Classical conditioning of human systolic pressure: replication and extension using three stimulus durations. Recent efforts have demonstrated classical conditioning of human systolic pressure (De Leon, 1972). The present research attempted a replication with longer sessions and to maximize the CS+, CS- differentiation by varying CS+ durations. Student volunteers (N = 64) underwent four, 50 minute sessions, three conditioning and one extinction, distributed over two weeks. Shock (UCS) occurred intermittently in light-on (CS+) and never in light-off (CS-). Results closely replicated the earlier work, revealing a characteristic UCR, a significant CS+, CS- differential and, conditioned elevations failed to adapt within and across sessions. The pressure differential was inversely related to CS+ duration. Clarification of conditioning influences requires follow-up research on these clients outside of the laboratory. Nevertheless, these studies provide firm experimental evidence for implicating stimulus variables in the origins of certain hypertensive states.


Varying temporal location of a conditioned stimulus in heart rate conditioning of Macaca mulatta. The several functions that a stimulus can assume were investigated in a Pavlovian conditioning procedure. The subjects were six rhesus monkeys; the response under observation was heart rate. The conditioning began with a temporal separation of zero between a signal and a regularly repeating electric shock; the signal was then moved to a series of earlier locations in the inter-shock interval. After six sessions at each location, two sessions followed in which only the shock was delivered periodically. The findings included: (1) A two-phased conditioned cardiac rate response seen at the first location became more multiphasic and irregular during longer intervals between signal and shock; (2) the location where the conditioned response peaked became increasingly variable as the signal was moved back, but this variability maintained a constant proportion to the signal-shock interval; and (3) heart rate during a presignal period, and during a comparable period in shock only sessions, was generally deceleratory early in training and acceleratory thereafter. Sessions with the signal showed heart rate in the presignal period to have become acceleratory earlier in training than sessions with shock only. The data pertain to stimulus control over heart rate as a function of: (A) the temporal proximity of a signal to an aversive stimulus; and, (B) the presence or absence of the signal. The use of appropriate response units in cardiac conditioning is also discussed.


Conditioning and the classification of the chronic schizophrenic patient. An attempt to construct a psychophysiological (conditioning) classification of chronic schizophrenia has been reported and the relationship of this new classification with the prevailing clinical (psychopathological) classification has been examined. Our findings suggest that our chronic schizophrenic population may be described in terms of a hypothetical continuum, based on the combination of the 11 experimental variables tested. This is supported by the result that our experimental population was distributed over 97 of the possible 117 categories. Furthermore, in a Pavlovian frame of reference our population disperses into three groups: a high performance group, in which both, excitatory and inhibitory processes are relatively maintained, a moderate performance group with some impairment of the inhibitory process, and a low performance group in which both the excitatory and the inhibitory processes are relatively impaired. Heuristically even more important is the finding that these schizophrenic categories are characterized by dissociation, either within the individual functional system or between this functional systems. In most of the categories of the experimental population a characteristic dissociation of functioning appears. It is characterized by a relatively well maintained functional ability of the autonomic functional system in contrast to an impaired skeletomuscular system. This dissociation resembles the phenomenon of schizokinesis. Since the morphological substrates of our experimental variables are those which are also affected by a variety of psychoactive drugs with well defined neurophysiological action, the categories delineated in this study would be verified by differential psychopharmacological responsiveness.


Unconditional-stimulus locus and interstimulus-interval shift in rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) nictitating membrane conditioning. The nictitating membrane response of rabbits was conditioned at a 200 msec interstimulus interval (ISI) with either circumorbital (C) or paraorbital (P) shock as the unconditional-stimulus locus. After 3 acquisition days half of each group was shifted to a 700 msec interstimuls interval. Results indicated: (1) more rapid acquisition for Group C, (2) postshift response decrements for both groups, (3) more rapid and stable, as well as complete return to preshift performance levels for Group C. Results were discussed in terms of the response-shaping hypothesis and the contiguity-substitution hypothesis in explaining both conditional response emergence and subsequent modifications of CR topography.


DDT in northern pike (Esox lucius) from the Richelieu River, Québec, Canada, 1974-75. Concentrations of DDT, TDE, DDE, and sigma DDT were determined in homogenized whole fish samples of 129 northern pike (Esox lucius). These fish were netted between June 1974 and June 1975 in the first 10 km of the Richelieu River flowing in Canadian territory. Two years after the banning of DDT, sigma DDT levels ranged from 0.2 ppm fresh body weight in two-year-old specimens to 1.5 ppm in a six-year-old pike. Residues increased greatly with age, and significant seasonal variations in the sigma DDT levels were found in five- and six-year-old pike.


Herbicide contamination and decontamination of well waters in Ontario, Canada, 1969-78. OVER THE 10-YEAR period 1969-78, the waters of 237 wells were analyzed because of contamination from herbicide spillage in or near the well, complaints of impaired water flavor, or injury to seedling plants moistened with the well water. Herbicides were identified in 159 wells: 98 had a single herbicide, 46 had two, 12 had three, one had four, and another had five separate herbicides contributing to the contamination. Wells were grouped according to the mode of entry of the contaminant. Entry occurred most commonly as an aerial spray fdrift or in runoff. Serious contaminations were caused by spillage of herbicide concentrates and spray solutions in or around the well. Twenty-four of the contaminated wells were further investigated to determine the persistence of the contaminant and how to remove it. Some wells were decontaminated adequately to allow reuse within nine weeks, others required three years, and yet others had to be abandoned. Particularly persistent contaminants were amitrole, dinoseb, and picloram.


Triazine herbicide residues in central European streams. Triazine herbicide residues were monitored in the rivers Adour, Danube, Garonne, Herault, Loire, Marne, Oise, Rhine, and Rhône from spring 1976 to fall 1977 to determine whether the continued use of the compounds resulted in accumulations of undesirable residues in the streams. Samples were generally collected monthly or bimonthly and analyzed for the parent compounds atrazine, simazine, terbumeton, terbuthylazine, and dealkylated metabolites GS 26571 (2-amino-4-etert-butylamino-6-methoxy-1,3,5-triazine) and G 30033 (2-amino-4-chloro-6-ethylamino-1,3,5-triazine). The compounds were extracted into dichloromethane and quantitated by gas chromatography (GC) with nitrogen-specific detection. Selected results were verified by GC with mass fragmentographic detection. Limit of detection was usually 0.4 mg/m3; 80 percent of all results were below 0.4 mg/m3, 14 percent were 0.4-1 mg/m3, 6 percent were 1-10 mg/m3, and 0.3 percent were higher than 10 mg/m3. Detectable residues were mainly atrazine from the downstream sampling sites. Residues usually peaked during June.


Sources of parathion exposures for Israeli aerial spray workers, 1977. Exposure of Israeli agricultural spray pilots and ground crews to parathion was studied. Measurements were made with personal samplers contianing wet midget impingers; samples were analyzed by gas chromatography. Cockpit air exposure levels during 11-21-minute sampling periods for 12 flights ranged from nearly 0 to 430 microgram/m3. During sampling periods of 30 minutes to 4 hours the threshold limit value (TLV) of 100 microgram/m3 was exceeded in 2 of 19 instances. In seven measurements of ground crew exposures, TLV was not exceeded. Air washing with parathion resulted in airborne contamination of the ground level area at more than three times the TLV. Skin exposure data suggested that this route of exposure was significant for ground crew workers but not for pilots. Calculations based on the present data and standard absorption formula suggested that total daily intake for ground crew, but not for pilots, exceeded the Accepted Daily Intake (ADI) of 5 microgram/kg body weight. Sources of exposure and contamination for ground crew and pilots were identified. Recommended environmental control measures for parathion exposure should include cockpit air filtration, modification in flight patterns, paving landing areas, installation of hosing and drainage, NaOH neutralization point, and separate loading and unloading sites. Personal control measures were suggested as a supplement.


Organochlorine pesticide residues in animals of Tasmania, Australia-1975-77. Animals taken in Tasmania including duck (Anas superciliosa), eel (Anguilla australis), English perch (Perca fluviatilis), white-faced heron (Ardea pacifica), brown trout (Salmo trutta), European starling (Strunus vulgaris), cat (Felis cattus), cormorant (Phalacrocorax sp.), mutton bird (Puffinus tenuirostris), Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), rainbow trout (Salmo gairdnerii), Tasmanian raven (Corvus mellori), tench (Tinca tinca), and quail (Coturnix sp.) were sampled for p,p'-DDE, pp,p'-TDE, p,p'-DDT, lindane, dieldrin, and hexachlorobenzene. Pesticide residue levels exceeded 0.1 ppm in at least one animal from each area and in the majority of animals sampled from all areas. Pesticide sources could not be determined, partly because migratory species such as ducks, mutton birds, cormorants, and eels may have ingested pesticides outside of Tasmania.


[A method of fetal surveillance in utero: active movements count (author's transl)]. The authors have investigated the method introduced by Sadovsky for analysing fetal activity in which the woman counted her fetal movements in accordance with a time schedule. The counts were performed for three periods of 30 minutes, each day, at 9 a.m., 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Thirty minutes was the time chosen for each period because, after this time, most patients became tired and subsequent recordings became unreliable. After careful instruction, the patient was provided with a digital counter. The total number of movements counted was recorded on a special data form. This method was found to be useful for the assessment of chronic fetal distress in disturbances of the feto-placental unit, particularly in hypertension. Normal fetal movements in high-risk pregnancies are an indication of fetal well-being. Decreased fetal movements may be an indication of chronic fetal asphyxia. In this case, cardiotocography has to be undertaken. We intend to make a prospective study to elucidate the normal pattern of fetal activity throughout pregnancy, the factors which affect the fetal movements and the prognostic significance of their variations.


[Treatment of chronic pain in advanced malignant disease by oral morphine (author's transl)]. Fifty one patients with terminal cancer suffering severe pains reluctant to other treatment have received morphine by mouth, in a regular regimen. The doses range between 5 and 50 mg every 4 hours. 60% of our patients have their pain alleviated without any side effect impeding the treatment.


[Platelet functions in diabetes with angiopathy (author's transl)]. Platelet functions studied in 163 unselected diabetics compared with 163 controls had the following characteristics: hyperagregation induced by ADP (1.2 muM and 0.6 muM), delayed platelet disagregation (ADP: 0.6 muM), normal agregation in the presence of collagen and thrombin. Platelet hyperagregation induced by ADP was marked in both sexes in cases of retinopathy and in women after the age of 50. By contrast, no correlation was demonstrated between the degree of hyperagregation and age, weight, the duration of diabetes, blood glucose control, lipid profile, vascular complications other than retinopathy and the nature of treatment.


[Direct urinary antibiotic sensitivity studies. A rapid method of therapeutic orientation in a urology department (author's transl)]. Two hundred and thirty antibiotic sensitivity studies performed directly on urine in a urology department were compared with the results of cytological and bacteriological examinations of the same urine in the laboratory. The direct sensitivity study proved valid in 65% of cases. This method, which shortens the time in which results are obtained, is thus useful in a urology department.


[Gastric ulcer: conservative surgical treatment in 100 patients (author's transl)]. One hundred patients with gastric ulcer underwent surgery without gastric mutilation by a technique initially directed against stasis by pyloroplasty, vagotomy and, according to the site of the ulcer, its limited resection or biopsy. In half of the cases, the indication was that of the development of a complication. Eight patients died, 6 of them from amongst the 44 haemorrhagic ulcers. Two deaths were favourised by a complication specific to the procedure used. 86% of the patients followed up had an excellent or good result. Six recurrences of ulcers were seen, including two which again recurred after gastrectomy. Morbidity and mortality, in particular in the case of bleeding, appear to be less after vagotomy than after gastrectomy. The long term results in terms of ulcer disease of the two methods are similar.


[Antenatal administration of betamethasone. Effects upon neonatal blood glucose in premature infants (author's transl)]. This effect was studied in 23 preterm neonates at the age of 2--8 hours. Betamethasone was administered at a dose of 12 mg intramuscular once or several times before delivery. This glycemia was compared with the glycemia of 52 control preterm infants studied at the same period. In the control preterm neonates, the mean (+/- 1 S.D.) blood glucose level was 0.51 +/- 0.26 g/l versus 0.53 +/- 0.24 g/l in the preterm infants pretreated with betamethasone. The incidence of glycemia less than 0.30 or 0.20 g/l was not significantly different in the two groups. These data show that prenatal betamethasone therapy has no harmful or diserable effect on the neonatal glycemia of preterm infants.


[Spontaneous pure subcapsular renal hematoma. 2 cases (author's transl)]. The first patient was a 33-year-old woman, diabetic, hypertensive, in whom the haematoma was due to rupture of a Klebsiella abcess of the kidney. The second patient was a 68-year-old woman, who for several months had suffered from renal lithiasis complicated by urinary infections. Spontaneous sub-capsular haematoma of the kidney is rare (21 cases published since 1960, including 2 personal). The diagnosis must be considered in the presence of a characteristic double-contour seen on a plain X-ray of the abdomen, nephrotomographies and intravenous urography. Renal carcinoma is the commonest cause.


[Intermittent postoperative gastric aspiration. New equipment (author's transl)]. Gastric suction is prescribed routinely by some, even though it is responsible for complications which are sometimes extremely serious, such as haemorrhagic gastritis or even perforation. It is indicated in all cases of postoperative gastric ileus or of stenosis causing marked dilatation of the stomach. However, experience would tend to show that in addition to problems immediately secondary to the presence of the tube in the gastric lumen, it sometimes leads to a false sense of security since the apertures of the tube tend to suck in the mucosa, giving rise to a suction-like effect whilst the stomach remains full of fluid. In order to overcome this disadvantage, we have designed an apparatus which varies the times of suction over a selected period. It fills the troublesome role previously filled by nursing staff in confirming the satisfactory function of gastric tubes. Thus not only does the tube not become blocked but gastric transit is restored more rapidly which not only leads to savings in the cost of intensive care but offers additional technical security.


Effects of heat shock on gene expression and subcellular protein distribution in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Incubation of Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells for one hour at 43 degrees C results in several obvious changes in protein distribution and protein synthesis. One major protein of the cytoplasm (molecular weight 45,000 daltions), also present as a minor component in the nucleus, rapidly disappeared while several proteins, especially high molecular weight peptides, were induced by heat shock. Localization of the proteins in the cytoplasm, extra-nucleolar chromatin and nucleolar bodies has been carried out. Different sets of induced proteins appear in each subcellular compartment. Four hours after restoration of the normal temperature, the normal pattern of protein synthesis was observed. The 45,000 dalton protein reappeared first. Relations between structural and functional alterations and changes in protein distribution are suggested.


A tRNA gene of Xenopus laevis contains at least two sites promoting transcription. A small cloned DNA segment previously shown to contain all genetic information for the expression of the tRNA1met gene of Xenopus laevis was cleaved into an anterior and posterior portion by Hae III restriction. Both restriction fragments were cloned in pCR1 using EcoRI linkers. Starting from these tDNA subclones, a series of new recombinants were constructed. The transcriptional activity of the cloned DNA's was tested both in an in vitro transcriptional system and by means of the oocyte injection technique. It was shown that both the 5' and 3' ends of the cloned gene unit were essential for transcription. We have developed a model for the functional organization of the tRNA1met gene. We propose that the gene contains a regulatory site situated near the 3' portion of the gene unit. For transcription to occur both in vivo and in vitro a specific initiation site near the 5' end of the gene is required.


Analysis of the high mobility group proteins associated with salt-soluble nucleosomes. Two methods have recently been described for the isolation of monomer nucleosomes enriched in transcribed sequences which depend on their solubility in 0.1 M NaCl (Levy, W.B. and Dixon (1978), Nucleic Acid Res., 5, 4155-4163) or solutions containing divalent metal ions (Bloom, K.S. and Anderson, J.N. (1978), Cell, 15, 141-150). Using these procedures the proteins associated with such nucleosomes from rabbit thymus, calf liver and hen oviduct nuclei were isolated and analysed. Increased amounts of proteins HMG14 AND HMG17 and small amounts of HMG1 and HMG2 were found associated with the four core histones H2A, H2B, H3 and H4 in these nucleosomes. HMG14 and HMG17 were found to be enriched 2 - 7 fold, suggesting an involvement of these two proteins with transcribed sequences. 0.1 M NaCl-soluble monomer nucleosomes prepared by the method of Levy and Dixon were analysed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and found to be composed of principally two types of particle: 1. Core particles of 145 base pairs of DNA associated with the four core histones only. 2. Nucleosomes with 160 base pairs of DNA associated with the four core histones, increased amounts of HMG14 and 17, and no H1. Small amounts of HMG1 and HMG2 are also detected. These results suggest that HMG14 and HMG17 might be interacting with the 15 base pair linker DNA. A model is presented for the structure of transcriptionally active chromatin.


Gel electrophoretic separation of transcription complexes: an assay for RNA polymerase selectivity and a method for promoter mapping. We describe a method for analyzing ternary transcription complexes, of RNA polymerase, DNA and nascent RNA32 chains, by agarose gel electrophoresis. When the RNA of such complexes is 32P-labelled, a simple comparison of the DNA fluorogram with an autoradiogram identifies transcriptionally active DNA molecules and restriction fragments in any mixture. Two limitations on the method are described: 1) retardation during electrophoresis of polymerase-DNA complexes relative to their conjugate bare NA fragments; 2) failure of very large ternary complexes to enter gels. The following potential applications of the method are surveyed: transcription unit (elongation) mapping, separation of RNA molecules in a mixture of transcripts, dinucleotide primer mapping and identification of preferred template conformations.


Cloning and characterization of ribosomal RNA genes from wheat and barley. Wheat and barley DNA enriched for ribosomal RNA genes was isolated from actinomycin D-CsCl gradients and used to clone the ribosomal repeating units in the plasmid pAC184. All five chimeric plasmids isolated which contained wheat rDNA and eleven of the thirteen which had barley rDNA were stable and included full length ribosomal repeating units. Physical maps of all length variants cloned have been constructed using the restriction endonucleases Eco Rl, Bam Hl, Bgl II, Hind III and Sal I. Length variation in the repeat units was attributed to differences in the spacer regions. Comparison of Hae III and Hpa II digestion of cereal rDNAs and the cloned repeats suggests that most methylated cytosines in natural rDNA are in -CpG-. Incomplete methylation occurs at specific Bam Hl sites in barley DNA. Detectable quantities of ribosomal spacer sequences are not present at any genomic locations other than those of the ribosomal RNA gene repeats.


Nucleotide sequence of the 3'-noncoding region of alfalfa mosaic virus RNA 4 and its homology with the genomic RNAs. A 226-nucleotide fragment was derived from alfalfa mosaic virus RNA 4 (ALMV RNA 4), the subgenomic messenger for viral coat protein, and its sequence was deduced by in vitro labeling with polynucleotide kinase and application of RNA sequencing techniques. The fragment contains the 3'-terminal 45 nucleotides of the coat protein cistron and the complete 3'-noncoding region of 182 nucleotides. The total length of RNA 4 was calculated to be 881 nucleotides. AlMV RNAs 1, 2 and 3 were elongated with a 3'-terminal poly(A) stretch and subjected to sequence analysis by using a specific primer, reverse transcriptase and chain terminators. This revealed and extensive homology between the 3'-terminal 140 to 150 nucleotides of all four ALMV RNAs. Despite a number of base substitutions, the secondary structure of the homologous region is highly conserved. The observed homology indicates that, as with RNA 4, the sites with a high affinity for the viral coat protein are located at the 3'-termini of the genomic RNAs.


A spectroscopic probe of stacking interactions between nucleic acid bases and tryptophan residues of proteins. The external heavy atom effect of mercury on the spectroscopic properties of the indole ring has been used to investigate stacking interactions of tryptophan with mercurinucleotides in mixed aggregates formed in frozen aqueous solutions as well as in oligopeptide-polynucleotide complexes. This effect is characterized at 77 K by a quenching of the tryptophan fluorescence, an enhancement of the phosphorescence emission and a drastic shortening of the phosphorescence lifetime. These phenomena result from an enhanced spin-orbit coupling due to a close contact between the mercury atom and the indole ring. Dissociation of the complexes leads to a recovery of the spectroscopic properties of the free tryptophan ring. The possible use of this spin-orbit probe to provide evidence for stacking interactions in protein-nucleic acid complexes is discussed.


The use of barium salts of protected deoxyribonucleoside-3' p-chlorophenyl phosphates for construction of oligonucleotides by the phosphotriester method: high-yield synthesis of dinucleotide blocks. A new experimental approach to the synthesis of polydeoxyribonucleotides via the phosphotriester method involves construction of oligonucleotide blocks by direct use of the easily prepared barium salts of O5',N-protected deoxyribonucleoside-3' p-chlorophenyl phosphates as the key monomers in condensation reactions. The procedure has been demonstrated by the rapid synthesis in high yield and purity of all sixteen fuly protected dinucleotides (Formula: see text) (where dN' = dT, dbzC, dbzA, or dibG; (Formula: see text) This set of molecules constitutes a "syllabary" for the preparation of defined sequence oligonucleotides.


Interferon induction by mismatched analogues of polyinosinic acid . polycytidylic acid [(Ix,U)n.(C)n]. Interruption of the (I)n strand of (I)n.(C)n by unpaired bases [(U)] yielded mismatched analogues, (Ix,U)n.(C)n which were still effective as inducers of interferon, provided the I:U ratio (x) was equal or greater than 10. In highly sensitive interferon-induction systems such as primary rabbit kidney cells and human skin fibroblasts superinduced with cycloheximide and actinomycin D, (I10,U)n.(C)n and (I50,U)n.(C)n proved nearly as active as (I)n.(C)n. By virtue of their increased susceptibility to degradation by nucleases, (Ix,U)n.(C)n complexes with 10 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 50 may be expected not to persist as long in biological fluids as (I)n.(C)n, hence to induce fewer side effects.


Distribution of estradiol receptor and vitellogenin gene in chick liver chromatin fractions. The distribution of estradiol receptor and vitellogenin gene was studied in estradiol stimulated chick liver chromatin fractions prepared by limited DNAse II digestion and MgCl2 precipitation. The receptor was found in all fractions, undigested chromatin (P1), Mg2+ insoluble chromatin (P2) and Mg2+ soluble chromatin (S2). This last fraction was rich in acidic proteins, had a high protein:DNA ratio (7.0 w/w), contained 28% of rapidly labelled RNA, 20% of the receptor, 3-5% of chromatin DNA and showed a 2 fold enrichment of vitellogenin DNA sequences over unfractionated chromatin as well as P1 and P2 DNA. On isopycnic metrizamide gradients, all chromatin fractions showed a receptor peak banding at 1.23 g/cm3, the density of nucleoproteins. Hybridization experiments showed that the DNA banding at this density in fraction S2 was enriched 4 fold in vitellogenin DNA sequences over unfractionated chromatin as well as P1 and P2 DNA. These results suggest an association of hormone receptor complex with nucleoprotein structures of an apparently active chromatin fraction.


Do eukaryotic mRNA 5' noncoding sequences base-pair with the 18 S ribosomal RNA 3' terminus? Protein synthesis initiation on prokaryotic mRNAs involves base-pairing of a site preceding the initiation codon with the 3' terminal sequence of 16 S rRNA. It has been suggested that a similar situation may prevail in eukaryotic mRNAs. This suggestion is not based on experiments, but on observation of complementarities between mRNA 5' noncoding sequences and a conserved sequence near the 18 S rRNA 3' terminus. The hypothesis can be evaluated by comparing the number of potential binding sites found in the 5' noncoding sequences with the number of such sites expected to occur by chance. A method for computing this number is presented. The 5' noncoding sequences contain more binding sites than expected for a random RNA chain, but the same is true for 3' noncoding sequences. The effect can be traced to a clustering of purines and pyrimidines, common to noncoding sequences. In conclusion, a close inspection of the available mRNA sequences does not reveal any indication of a specific base-pairing ability between their 5' noncoding segments and the 18 S rRNA 3' terminus.


Secondary structure of MS2 phage RNA and bias in code word usage. Based on the secondary structural model of MS2 RNA, it is shown that, in base-pairing regions of the RNA, there is a bias in the use of synonymous codons which favours C and/or G over U and/or A in the third codon positions, and that in non-pairing regions, there is an opposite bias which favours U and/or A over C and/or G. This nature is interpreted as a result of selective constraint which stabilises the secondary structure of the single-stranded RNA genome of the MS2 phage.


[Quantitative exercise scintigraphy of the myocardium with 201Tl--methods and normal values (author's transl)]. Quantitative myocardial scintigraphy was performed in 20 normal individuals after maximum exercise and after two hours of rest. A mobile Anger camera with converging collimator and a Data-General computer with a 128 x 128 matrix were used. Quantitative analysis of data was performed on the basis of a 14-halfsegment model. Quantitative normal values after exercise and after redistribution of activity during rest are presented.


Cardiac blood pool imaging--a clinical comparison between red blood cells labeled with 99mTc in vivo and in vitro and 99mTc-labeled human serum albumin. In 25 patients undergoing radiocardiographic determination of ventricular function, three methods for blood pool imaging were compared. 99mTc was used to label human serum albumin (HSA) and red blood cells (RBC) in vivo or in vitro. The activity concentration of 99mTc in blood was measured during 2 hrs after injection and a significantly higher concentration was found with RBC compared to HSA already after 15 min. The left ventricular to background count rate ratio was significantly lower for HSA after 90 min compared to RBC. There was no statistical difference in 99mTc activity concentration in blood or in left ventricular to background count rate ratio during the two hrs when the two RBC-labeling procedures were compared. 99mTc-labeled RBC are superior to 99mTc-labeled HSA for gated blood pool studies and especially for repeated determinations of ventricular function. Because the in vivo labeling is the most convenient method it has been adopted as the clinical routine at our hospital.


Serum vitamin B12 and folic acid levels in hyperthyroidism. Serum vitamin B12 and folic acid levels were measured in 48 hyperthyroid patients and in a group of euthyroid controls. The levels of vitamin B12 ranged from 120-900 pg/ml with a mean of 429.3 +/- 30.9 pg/ml (SE). The mean serum vitamin B12 level was lower in hyperthyroid patients than in normal controls, the difference being statistically significant (t = 2.584, p less than 0.025). Serum vitamin B12 levels showed a statistically significant negative correlation with the clinical index of Grooks et al. (r = 0.344, p less than 0.05). The findings, although not excluding the involvement of auto-immune gastritis in patients with low serum vitamin B12 levels, suggest a direct action of increased thyroid hormone concentrations. Serum folic acid levels ranged from 0.5-13.8 ng/ml with a mean of 6.8 +/- 0.46 ng/ml (SE). The mean serum folic acid levels were higher in the hyperthyroid patients than in normal controls but the difference was not statistically significant (t = 1.2, p greater than 0.2). The serum folic acid levels did not show any statistically significant correlation with the clinical index of Grooks et al. The fact that no statistically significant difference was found between the mean value in hyperthyroid patients and the mean value in normal controls is probably due to the high folic acid intake in Greece.


Ventricular pseudo-aneurysm demonstrated by multiple gated cardiac imaging. The use of multiple gated cardiac imaging in the diagnosis of left ventricular pseudo-aneurysm is reported and the clinical and therapeutic implications are discussed. Complemented with myocardial perfusion imaging, it is the method of choice for screening patients following infarction or chest trauma who may develop this potentially treatable complication of myocardial necrosis.


Functional activity of a thyroid nodule under the influence of stable iodide administration in a hyperthyroid patient. In a thyrotoxic patient with nodular goiter treated with stable iodide and Carbimazole, a series of 131I scans was performed at different intervals for proposed 131I therapy. Originally, total uptake was suppressed and the node was evaluated as active. The same type of scan was seen repeatedly with uptake increasing for about 6 months following stable iodide withdrawal. Only 9 months later, the effect of 127I disappeared and uptake rose considerably with a reversal of the scan to the picture of a hypofunctioning node. The same distribution was found after therapeutic 131I administration. 6 months following treatment, without any thyrostatic drugs, the patient was euthyroid and on the scan most of tracer was found in the node. It is believed that this change is best explained by the different sensitivity of the nodule and the paranodular tissue to the effect of stable iodide. It is believed that the hyperthyroidism originated in the paranodular tissue highly sensitive on the 127I, while the nodule (presumably an adenoma) was less sensitive and showed uptake only when the paranodular tissue was depressed by 127I or, later, injured by the effect of therapeutic 131I.


Endometriosis and infertility.  A review of sixty-two patients with danazol. The authors present a clinical study of 62 infertile patients with endometriotic lesions diagnosed in all cases by laparoscopy. The large variety of lesions and the high incidence in this series of tumorous or tubal lesions, led in 39 cases to a combination of medical treatment with danazol with surgical intervention, i.e. excision or conservative surgery. The overall pregnancy rate was 46.7%, which proves the high efficacy of danazol in this situation.


Hormonal, metabolic and clinical effects of danazol in the treatment of endometriosis. The effect of danazol in a dose of 600 mg a day was studied in 20 women with moderate or severe endometriosis. The clinical effect was found to be excellent and repeat laparoscopy after about 6 months treatment revealed a marked regression in all patients with only small residual foci of endometriosis in two of them. The side effects were few. The metabolic studies revealed a significant increase in serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), serum potassium, serum albumin and serum creatinine, but a significant decrease in serum gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GT). Serum sodium showed no alteration. A longitudinal study of basal plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and their responses to 25 microgram gonadotrophic releasing hormone (GnRH) i.v. as well as basal plasma levels of oestradiol, oestrone, progesterone and prolactin was performed. During treatment with danazol (600 mg a day) basal levels of LH, FSH, oestradiol, oestrone and progesterone were low but did not differ from the levels found in the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. On the other hand the pituitary response to GnRH was significantly greater for both LH and FSH than observed during the early follicular phase. These conflicting results are discussed. It seems that danazol inhibits the pituitary secretion of biologically active LH and FSH and this action is responsible for the decreased ovarian steroid secretion.  Whether the atrophy of the uterine and ectopic endometrium is an effect of the reduced oestradiol levels or is a direct effect of danazol on endometrial oestrogen receptors, or a combination of both modes of action, is not clear.


Effects of danazol in the treatment of severe endometriosis. Twenty patients, mostly with severe endometriosis and infertility, were treated with danazol 600 mg daily for six months. Clinical investigation and laboratory tests were done monthly. During treatment most clinical findings and symptoms of endometriosis disappeared within 2 to 3 months, but rectocervical induration and rectocervical pain decreased more slowly. During the 10 months follow-up after discontinuation of danazol, dysmenorrhoea recurred most commonly of all symptoms, but not to the same degree as before treatment and the patients were mainly satisfied. Gonadotrophin and prolactin levels did not alter significantly during treatment. Serum oestradiol and progesterone values were low during the danazol course. Testosterone values increased because of cross-reaction with danazol metabolites in the testosterone assay. Serum transaminase, creatinine, haemoglobin and blood platelet concentrations increased on average, but the changes were reversible. Three conceptions occurred during the period of study.


Clinical and biochemical experiences with danazol in the treatment of endometriosis in cases with female infertility. Based on "second look" pelviscopic control in 438 cases of pelvic endometrosis, additional hormonal antigonadotrophin therapy with danazol represents the most effective treatment for endometriosis. The rationale is well explained by Dmowski and Scommegna (1976). As endocrine treatment alone cannot control severe cases of endometriosis, in recent years a combined 3-step surgical-endocrine-surgical therapy, with thermocoagulation of endometriotic foci, cyst wall resection of endometriomas and consecutive thermocoagulation has proved to be the optimal therapy for endometriosis in general and especially in cases of sterilty. While additional progestogen therapy resulted in a 60% rate of remission of the symptoms of endometriosis, danazol gave a 90% success rate in the 3-step therapy. This 3-step therapy avoids many cases of radical surgery during the reproductive age in women with endometriosis. The pregnancy rate of 312 patients treated between 1976 and 1978 with danazol amounted to 45% compared with a pregnancy rate of 32% treated with lynestrenol and laparoscopy.


Comparison of plasma protein changes induced by danazol and pregnancy. Analysis of 25 proteins of supposed hepatocyte origin was performed on plasma from 7 females before and during treatment with danazol. The same 25 proteins were analysed in plasma from pregnant women in their third trimester. The general conclusions are that the major plasma proteins of hepatic origin have a biosynthetic regulation which is steroid insensitive but the biosynthesis of some minor components is highly steroid sensitive in a way that supports the theory that hepatocyte steroid receptors exist. The full hepatocyte steroid response (2-6 weeks) develops more slowly than the response of steroid dependent tissues (days). The plasma protein response with danazol administration is similar to the response to other 17-alpha-alkylated anabolic steroids and is in accordance with the theory that danazol competes with endogenous steroids for their receptors in all target tissues. The changes during pregnancy are mainly referred to the increased influence of oestradiol. Integrated data from this and earlier studies suggest that the level of sex hormone binding globulin in a sensitive way reflects the competition of androgen, oestrogens and gestagens at hepatocyte receptor level.


Follow-up of patients with endometriosis treated with danazol. Since 1975, 65 cases of endometriosis have been treated with danazol, and in an attempt to retain effective management with a minimum of side effects, three different dosage scheme providing 600 mg (Group 1) 400 mg (Group 2) or 200 mg daily (Group 3) have been used. At present 20 cases in Group 1, 16 in Group 2 and 12 in Group 3 are available for assessment and the results are here presented.


Danazol therapy in gynaecomastia; recent experience and indications for therapy. A group of 42 patients with gynaecomastia were treated with danazol. There were 31 adults and 11 cases of pubertal gynaecomastia. Dosage schedules in adults were 300-600 mg a day and in adolescents 200-300 mg a day.  In the 31 adults, marked regression of gymaecomastia occurred in 18 and a moderate regression in 10, whilst in the 11 cases of puberty gynaecomastia, there was a marked regression in 7 and a moderate regression in 3. Plasma testosterone concentration fell in most patients. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) excretion in the urine seemed to fall to a greater extent than did the reduction in luteinizing hormone (LH). Yet the plasma concentration of both FSH and LH fell during treatment with danazol, whilst the pituitary responsiveness to luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LRH) was blunted. Tests of other pituitary functions showed them to be unaffected.


The role of danazol in the management of precocious puberty. The management, investigation and treatment of 12 children with precocious puberty is described. Danazol, a synthetic derivative of ethisterone, has been used over a period of 3 1/2 years. Its clinical, endocrine and biochemical effects have been evaluated. Danazol ha a very useful clinical effect in controlling the development of secondary sexual features but does not modify the rapid linear growth and skeletal maturity seen in this condition.


Lithium neurotoxicity.

Lithium neurotoxicity. The peripheral and central neurotoxic effects of lithium carbonate are illustrated by 4 case histories. Lithium neurotoxicity is likely to be more common than the literature suggests. Neurological sequelae may be irreversible and may be associated with therapeutic serum levels. Prevention may be facilitated by more stringent case selection, EEG and clinical monitoring and the development of improved methods of drug level assessment.


Cardiovascular effects of amitriptyline, mianserin, zimelidine and nomifensine in depressed patients. The cardiac effects of amitriptyline, mianserin, zimelidine and nomifensine on the systolic time intervals (STI) and on the high speed surface ECG have been studied in depressed patients. Amitriptyline increased pre-ejection period (PEP) index and the PEP/left ventricular ejection time (LVET) ratio of the STI (P less than 0.05 and P less than 0.02). It also increased heart rate significantly (less than 0.02) and tended to prolong Q-T interval. Mianserin shortened QS2I (P less than 0.05) and LVET (P less than 0.01) and prolonged PEP/LVET ratio (P less than 0.01). Zimelidine did not affect the STI but tended to decrease heart rate and prolong the Q-T interval. Nomifensine decreased T wave height. These findings indicate that amitriptyline decreases cardiac contractility and confirm the quinidine-like action of the tricyclic antidepressants. The changes brought about by mianserin are probably due to effects on the peripheral circulation rather than a direct action on the heart.


The effect of metoprolol on plasma lipids. Fifteen hypertensive patients entered a single-blind study to examine the effects of metoprolol (100 mg twice daily) on fasting plasma lipids. In 12 patients who completed the study, non-esterified fatty acid concentrations fell, but cholesterol and triglyceride levels were unchanged after 12 weeks' treatment. These results conflict with earlier reports of the effect of metoprolol on plasma triglyceride concentrations.


Acute spinal epidural abscess. Observations from fourteen cases. Fourteen cases of acute spinal epidural abscess are analysed. Postoperatively 6 recovered completely, 4 patients recovered enough to allow unaided walking, 2 died and 2 who were paraplegic pre-operatively remained so. The purpose of this paper is to remind readers of the existence of this condition and to plead for early diagnosis and prompt surgical treatment.


A review of the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome--with particular reference to a patient treated with cimetidine. A case of the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, presented with watery diarrhoea, malabsorption and multiple duodenal ulcers. Resection of a gastrinoma from the head of the pancreas was ineffective. Cimetidine, administered for more than 30 months produced an immediate and sustained relief of symptoms with a gain in weight of 19 kg and improvement of the biochemical features of malabsorption. Gastric acid secretion has been markedly inhibited and duodenal ulceration healed.


Potassium in the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion. Serum potassium concentration was normal (greater than or equal to 3.6 mmol/l) in 29 of 32 patients with the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone excess (SIADH) associated with a bronchogenic carcinoma. In 11 of the patients there was no significant change in serum potassium concentration after correction of the syndrome, by fluid restriction. Hypokalaemia is thus an uncommon finding in SIADH due to bronchogenic carcinomas.


Heat oedema: a clinical study.

Heat oedema: a clinical study. Transient generalized oedema was observed in a patient upon exposure to a hot climate. Oedema disappeared in 5 days. Clinical study during oedema revealed decreased urine volume, high urine osmolality, high urine sodium concentration, increased blood volume, hyponatraemia and hypo-osmolality. The total solute excretion was unchanged. The endogenous creatinine and para-aminohippurate clearances were normal. The findings were suggestive of increased antidiuretic hormone activity, and heat might be responsible.


Epileptiform seizures with maprotiline hydrochloride. Two cases are described who developed epileptic seizures whilst taking maprotiline hydrochloride in therapeutic dosage. In both cases the electroencephalogram was normal and the fits stopped on withdrawal of the drug.


Transplacental passage of anti-s antibody without haemolysis. The production of anti-s antibodies during pregnancy is a rare event and usually causes haemolysis of fetal red cells. A case is presented where an IgG anti-s antibody crossed the placenta, but did not produce any evidence of haemolysis.


Gastroduodenal fistula in the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. A case of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome complicated by a gastroduodenal fistula is described in a 42-year-old man. So far as the authors know, this is the first report of this complication in gastrinoma.


Iron overload despite partial gastrectomy. Iron overload was found in 3 patients who had undergone partial gastrectomy: a 61-year-old woman developed iron overload because she may have had idiopathic haemochromatosis and had also been given parenteral iron; in a 62-year-old man with thalassaemia minor, iron overload may have developed because of increased oral iron ingestion, low serum folate, increased, albeit ineffective, erythropoiesis and sideroblastic anaemia; a 74-year-old man with thalassaemia minor developed iron overload without exogenous therapy and died from a hepatoma. These cases illustrate that partial gastrectomy fails to protect patients from developing iron overload, particularly if given uncontrolled iron therapy.


Haematemesis in Ménétrier's disease.

Haematemesis in Ménétrier's disease. Three patients with Ménétrier's disease presented with massive haematemesis. One patient died. Ménétrier's disease may be associated with gastrointestinal haemorrhage and although it is rare it should be borne in mind as a cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. In one patient an elevated serum gastrin was found and the possible significance of this is briefly discussed.


The existence of inflammatory bowel lesions in gluten-sensitive enteropathy. Three patients with coincident coeliac disease and inflammatory bowel disease are described. In 2 patients with known coeliac disease the recurrence of diarrhoea was not due to dietary deviation but to an additional large bowel pathology.


Two cases of the nephrotic syndrome with a reversible coagulation defect. Two cases of the nephrotic syndrome with an apparently identical defect of blood coagulation, discovered during preparation for renal biopsy are described. Plasma from both patients showed prolongation of thrombin and kaolin cephalin times which was probably due to abnormally slow polymerization of fibrin monomer. Corticosteroid therapy reversed the abnormal times in one case. One of the patients showed seasonal relapses which occurred in relation to episodes of hay fever associated with allergy to grass pollen. The other patient showed some similar features, but on renal biopsy was found to have proliferative glomerulonephritis.


Seminoma in Marfan's syndrome.

Seminoma in Marfan's syndrome. A patient with a testicular seminoma and Marfan's syndrome is described. The association is unlikely to be by chance alone, and an explanation in terms of either an associated congenital defect, or a minor chromosomal anomaly, is discussed.


Prolonged survival with adrenal cortical carcinoma. Recurrence of adrenal cortical carcinoma 22 years after first presentation is reported in a 54-year-old woman with Cushing's syndrome. This tumour is normally associated with poor prognosis and prolonged survival is rare. Although the patient had remained well with apparent 'cure' in the intervening years, it is suggested that hormonal changes related to the menopause and the development of primary hypoadrenalism stimulated recurrence of malignant activity and return of Cushingoid features.


[Data on the etiology of the liquid of broncho-alveolar lavage in mediastino-pulmonary sarcoidosis (author's transl)]. The cell population of the liquid of broncho-alveolar lavage of 44 cases of mediastino-pulmonary sarcoidosis was compared to that of 12 normal controls, of 14 controls with a localized pulmonary affection, who underwent lavage in healthy contro-lateral segment, and of 33 patients with various diffuse interstitial pneumopathies, except hypersensitivity ones. In sarcoidosis, the total number of cells is significantly higher than in controls; such is the case for neutrophils. It is also higher for lymphocytes in sarcoidosis: 21.8, than in controls: 7.8, or in patients with other diffuse interstitial pneumopathies: 10.3. It is independent of the disease radiological stage, but closely related to its degree of activity; it showed important variations, going from 3 to 50%. The observation of a normal level of lymphocytes is not enough to exclude the diagnosis of sarcoidosis.


[Conduction disorders during cardiac sarcoidosis (author's transl)]. The authors report 2 observations of auriculoventricular blockage developed during a mediastino-pulmonary sarcoidosis, requiring a heart pacer in the first case and corticosteroid treatment in the second. The frequency of the disorders of intracardiac conduction was evaluated by a retrospective study of 412 cases of mediastino-pulmonary sarcoidosis. Seventy two ECG were considered abnormal, a frequency of 17.2%. The disorders of auriculo-ventricular and intra-ventricular conduction represented a third of cases. What is known on the risk of lethal evolution of cardiac sarcoidosis in which those abnormalities are significant, justifies an electrophysiological investigation. The indications for a definitive cardiac stimulation and corticosteroid treatment are debated. On this final point, it seemed necessary to plan a prospective study to confirm the merits of the treatment and to define its modalities.


[Current persistance of pleural empyema. Study of 31 observations (author's transl)]. Antibiotic treatment of pleuro-pulmonary infectious diseases with ordinary germs brought a notable decrease in the frequency of pleural empyema without preventing them completely. The authors report 31 cases observed over the last 10 years. The initial signs corresponded to the classical picture but were rapidly masked by antibiotic treatment; it resulted in delay in hospital admission of over one month for more than half of the cases, for diagnosis was overlooked for a long time. In 19 patients, the pleural liquid was aseptic probably because of the antibiotics and of the lack of identification of anaerobic germs. The authors insist on the practical modalities of a medical treatment by puncture-lavage which, when associated with general antibiotic treatment, cured patients in 22 cases. On the other hand, the existence of bronchopleural fistula entailed surgery.


[Chronic bilateral pleural effusion, ungual dystrophies and diffuse lymphoedema by systemic hypoplasia (author's transl)]. To chronic pleuropathies of lymphatic origin were recently added clinical data of a systemic hypoplasia of a malformative origin (Samman-White syndrome). The association of lymphoedema in lower limbs, of yellow nail and other changes brought by lymphatic disorders enabled to attribute some inexhaustible pleural effusion to this syndrome which can develop in the adult, probably through the help of microtrauma or of oligosymptomatic infections. Immunological changes can accompany this affection and promote the subsequent start of malignant hemopathies; after a study done on the two personal observations reported here, the problem is discussed.


[New information on the metabolism of isoniazide and rifampicin. Their therapeutical consequences (author's transl)]. The highly bactericidal rifampicin-isoniazide association enabled the shortening of tuberculosis treatment. The authors present the study done on the tolerance to these drugs either alone or in association. Rifampicin on it own is little toxic, apart from a few cases of immuno-allergic accidents connected to intermittent prescriptions. Isoniazide is mainly responsible for hepatic accidents through the medium of metabolite, the acetyl-hydrazin. Acetylation of isoniazide is then completed by a hydrolysis, all the more important that the patient has a rapid acetyling phenotype. The optimal therapeutical period corresponds, 3 hours after a single intake of isoniazide, to a level of 1 to 2 mcg/ml in serum. Hepatic toxicity only appears for a level superior to 2 mcg/ml, mostly for the slow acetylors. Both drugs given together have unchanged cinetics and with adapted dosing of isoniazide the hepatic accidents seem to disappear.


[Vasodilators in the treatment of cardiac insufficiency (author's transl)]. The use of vasodilators represents a new approach to the treatment of cardiac insufficiency, either chronic or acute. Their field of action is venous, arterial or mixed. Decreasing the pre-load, the "venous" vasodilators lighten the congestive symptoms of cardiac insufficiency. By decreasing the post-load, the "arterial" vasodilation increases the cardiac output. Some vasodilators, venously administered, imply a continuous hemodynamic checking (Sodium Nitroprussiate, Phentolamine, injectable Trinitrine). Others are active orally (Trinitrine, Isosorbide Dinitrate, Hydralazine, etc.). Vasodilating treatment is recommended for acute cardiac insufficiency, particularly during myocardium infarct and some acute valvular insufficiencies. It is also successfully used in acute lung edema. Finally it takes an increasing importance in the treatment of chronic cardiac insufficiency.


[A case of serohemorrhagic pericarditis (author's transl)]. The authors report the case of a 54 year old man with a tamponade and a serohemorrhagie pericarditis. From the cytology of the pericardiac liquid, a neoplastic origin is suspected and confirmed by the secondary appearance of pulmonary primitive localization responsible for death. The low frequency of such a mean of revelation is underlined together with the difficulties of an etiological diagnosis.


Depressed 59 Fe absorption due to dietary aflatoxin. This study investigated the relationship between 59 Fe absorption and the anemia associated with aflatoxicosis in commercial broilers. A level of 0 or 5 micrograms of aflatoxin per gram of diet was fed for a 21 day period beginning at 1, 7, 14, or 21 days of age in each of two trials. Packed cell volume (PCV) and percent retention of an oral dose of 59 Fe were determined. The feeding of aflatoxin resulted in an anemia when fed from 0 to 3 or 1 to 4 weeks of age. At the conclusion of these treatment periods, percent 59 Fe retention was significantly reduced from the controls. Aflatoxin when fed from 2 to 5 weeks of age resulted in a slight but significant depression in PCV (P less than .05) with a slight but nonsignificant depression in percent 59 Fe retention. At the conclusion of the 3 to 6 week treatment period both percent iron retention and PCV were greater than controls but not significantly so. The iron retentions of birds separated into high and low PCV groups within each treatment combination were compared. Although the iron retentions of the low PCV groups were lower than those of the high PCV groups, none of the differences were statistically significant. However, Pearson correlations of PCV with percent 59 Fe retention were - .28 (P less than or equal to .02, n = 69) for control birds and - .19 (P less than or equal to .14, n = 58) for birds fed aflatoxin, suggesting a relationship between PCV and iron absorption.


Efficacy of Stenorol (halofuginone). I. Against recent field isolates of six species of chicken coccidia. The efficacy of Stenorol (halofunginone) was tested against six species of chicken Eimeria in a series of four battery experiments utilizing 3- to 4 1/2-week-old Cobb color-sexed broiler chickens. There were five replicates of eight chickens per replicate for each treatment of an experiment or a total of 1080 birds used in the study. The isolates were predominantly E. tenella, E. maxima, E. acevulina, E. necatrix, E. brunetti, or E. mivati and had previously been proven partially to totally resistant to several commercially available anticoccidial drugs. Halofunginone, at 3 ppm in the ration, was highly effective (P less than .01) against all six isolates as measured by weight gain at D+6 or +7and D+12 or +14 postinoculation; feed efficiency at D-2 to D+12 or +14; morbidity; mortality; dropping score; lesion score (D+6 or +7); and oocyst production during 4 or 5 days postinoculation (D = day of inoculation). The drug was not as effective against E. acervulina as against the other species, and increasing halofuginone to 4 ppm failed to improve activity of the drug signif;cantly against this isolate. However, 3 ppm of drug was effective against two other isolates of E. acervulina (from Alabama and Mississippi); 4 ppm was quite effective (P less than .01) in reducing dropping and lesion scores, but not significantly better than 3 ppm as measureed by other parameters. No relapse occurred after drug withdrawal and halofuginone was found to be cidal rather than static.


Efficacy of Stenorol (halofuginone). II. Plus roxarsone or bacitracin MD against selected strains of chicken Eimeria. A total of 879 broiler strain chickens ranging from 2 1/2- to 7 1/2 weeks of age was utilized in four battery experiments to determine whether Roxarsone and/or bacitracin MD added to halofuginone were compatible and beneficial in reducing the effects of coccidial infections. The additives were generally beneficial as measured by weight gain and feed efficiency but not as measured by other parameters such as dropping score, lesion score, or oocyst production. The addition of 200 g of bacitracin/ton of feed did not give an additional response above that from 50 g/ton. Roxarsone in the ration was more effective in younger chickens (2 1/2 week old) than older ones (6 weeks, 2 days and 7 weeks, 3 days).


Efficacy of Stenorol (halofuginone). III. for the control of coccidiosis in turkeys. Halofuginone at 3 ppm in the ration was tested against turkey coccidial infections caused by four species, in a series of eight battery trials of 16 days duration. The drug was evaluated against infections caused by Eimeria meleagrimitis, E. adenoeides, E. gallopavonis, and E. dispersa. As measured by livability, weight gain, feed efficiency, morbidity, dropping score, lesion score, and oocyst production the drug was highly effective in Beltsville Small White turkeys. The drug at 3 ppm appeared to be about equally effective against all four species and almost completely prevented infection or the effects of infection in some experiments, except when the challenge was too severe.


An application of response surface methodology to research in poultry nutrition. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) is an experimental procedure for exploring and examining the nature of responses obtained from the simultaneous variation of quantitative factors. The method has been used only to a limited extent in poultry research. Statistical procedures were discussed for fitting a response surface to experimental data. An outline was made of the mathematical process for finding the stationary point, yield at the stationary point and nature of the response surface. A poultry example was given which involved the investigation of the protein and energy requirements of Japanese quail. The advantage of RSM was shown when it was determined by RSM procedures that the optimum response for body weight was out of the exploratory region covered in the first trial. A second trial was then conducted based on the levels of protein and energy predicted to give an optimum body weight. Optimum responses were shown for both body weight and feed conversion. Examination of the responses by three dimensional figures and computer plotting of contours was shown. The RSM procedure appears to offer an efficient method for examining the requirements and relationships of nutrients for poultry.


The phosphorus excretion pattern and balance during one egg cycle of the laying hen fed a phosphorus deficient diet with or without a single dose of phosphoric acid. A balance trial was conducted to study the phosphorus excretion pattern of laying hens in relation to egg cycle. Excreta were collected quantitatively at 4, 8, 12, and 24 hr after oviposition. The amount of feed consumed corresponding to the excreta collected at a specific time interval was calculated using chromic oxide as a marker. The percent recovery of chromic oxide with laying hens was 73.97 +/- .56%. The maximum apparent digestibility of the dietary phosphorus, all of plant origin, was estimated to be 28.9 +/- 3.1% during 0 to 4 hr after oviposition when the endogenous excretion of phosphorus was theoretically minimized. Laying hens fed a diet containing .30% phosphorus excreted 24.3 mg less phosphorus than intake during the day, indicating that hens had to withdraw approximately 100 mg of phosphorus from their body to produce an egg. These hens excreted 63.1 +/- 27.0 mg of endogenous phosphorus during the 24 hr period, most of which was excreted during the period between 12 to 24 hr after oviposition of the previous egg. The excretion pattern of phosphorus was closely related to the egg laying cycle of the hen. Hens dosed with 100 mg of phosphorus, as a phosphoric acid solution, excreted more phosphorus than the undosed control birds. Approximately 45 mg of 100 mg of the phosphorus dose were excreted during the 24 hr period. At least 84.8 mg of the dosed phosphorus were absorbed within 12 hr and a part of it was excreted during the later period. Data indicated that the true absorption rate of the dosed phosphorus might have been much faster.


Reduction of hepatic lipid deposition in laying hens by dietary selenium-yeast interaction. Experiments were conducted to study the effect of chromiun and selenium on liver lipid deposition and incidence of liver hemorrhage in caged layers. Commercial strains of layers were fed ad libitum equicaloric and isonitrogenous diets. Corn-torula dried yeast diets containing added selenium (.1 microgram/g) with or without supplementary chromium (10 microgram/g) significantly reduced total liver lipid and liver hemorrhage. The effects of protein source (soybean meal vs. yeast) and selenium were separated in a factorial experiment which showed that the hepatic lipid response to selenium results from an interaction of selenium with an unidentified factor in torula yeast. The addition of selenium to diets with each protein source significantly elevated glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activity. Inclusion of 5% brewers yeast in the corn-soy diet or vitamin E (50 IU/kg) to the corn-torula dried yeast reduced liver lipid similar to that seen in birds fed the torula-yeast diet containing .1 microgram Se/g. Comparison of oral glucose tolerance of birds fed corn-soy and corn-soy brewers yeast diets showed no significant difference. None of the dietary treatments significantly altered body weight, egg production, egg weight, or feed consumption. The results indicate that the metabolic role of selenium in relation to its role in hepatic lipid metabolism is mediated through an interaction with a dietary factor(s) present in yeast.


The effect of rapeseed meal and methimazole on levels of plasma hormones in growing broiler cockerels. The effects of feeding a heat treated rapeseed meal, which has goitrogenic properties, on the concentrations of plasma pituitary and thyroid gland hormones was investigated in broiler cockerels of between 3 and 10 weeks of age. For purposes of comparison, two other groups were included in the study; one was fed the goitrogen, methimazole, and the other a normal control diet. The hormones measured were thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), growth hormone (GH), prolactin, and luteinizing hormone (LH). In birds fed methimazole the thyroid glands were greatly enlarged, the concentrations of plasma T4 and T3 were depressed and the concentrations of growth hormone, prolactin, and LH were elevated. The high level of plasma LH in the birds fed methimazole was not due to the absence of sufficient concentrations of plasma testosterone to exert a negative feedback effect. Although the inclusion of rapeseed meal in the diet caused the thyroid glands to enlarge, the concentrations of all the hormones studied, with the exception of T3, were similar to those in the control birds. However, there was a tendency, which was more pronounced in birds of between 3 and 5 weeks of age, for rapeseed meal to depress the concentrations of plasma T4, GH, and LH and to increase the concentration of plasma prolactin. The most significant observation was that between 3 and 5 weeks of age the inclusion of rapeseed meal in the diet significantly (P less than .001) depressed the concentration of plasma T3.


Cardiopulmonary responses to inhaled sulfur dioxide in the chicken. Selected cardiopulmonary variables were measured in anesthetized, male, White Leghorn type chickens before, during, and after 60 min exposure to various inhaled SO2 concentrations ranging from 0 to 5000 ppm. In one series of experiments, birds breathed through their nostrils and mouth; in a second series they breathed through a tracheal cannula. Exposure to 5000 ppm SO2 rapidly caused death in all birds with cannulated tracheae and in 4 of 5 birds with an intact respiratory system; one bird in each series of experiments died when exposed to 1000 ppm. Inhaling 100 ppm SO2 did not alter heart rate, blood pressure, tidal volume, respiratory frequency, or arterial blood gases and pH. Airway resistance was decreased by inhaling 500 ppm SO2 and was initially decreased but later greatly increased by inhaling 1000 ppm. Respiratory frequency and minute volume were decreased and PaCO2 was increased by inhaling 1000 ppm. The cardiopulmonary responses to inhaling 5000 ppm were generally augmentations of those responses which occurred when 1000 ppm was inhaled. The SO2 could not be detected in caudal thoracic or abdominal air sac gas at any concentration inhaled but vascular congestion and areas of brown discoloration appeared in the lungs of all birds that inhaled 5000 ppm and some that inhaled 1000 ppm. Mucous secretion in the trachea increased in some birds that inhaled 500 ppm SO2 and in most that inhaled higher concentrations. Chickens appear to have more tolerance for inhaled SO2 than most mammals but the pollutant gas at high concentrations detrimetally affects the cardiopulmonary system.


Serum and body characteristics of laying hens with fatty liver syndrome. Commercial laying hens with Fatty Liver Syndrome had greatly elevated levels of serum calcium and cholesterol. Most of the hens with the elevated serum calcium and cholesterol were out of production, but some were still in production. Hens with elevated calcium and cholesterol levels had extremely large combs and excessive deposits of fat in the abdomen.


Effect of L-dopa on the ovary of aged hens. Daily subcutaneous injection of L-dopa for 4 weeks into 2-year-old low egg production hens resulted in a lightening of feather color to snow white and increased oviduct and ovary weights and the development of well developed follicles. However, the rate of egg production during administration did not increase.


[Biosynthesis of citric and isocitric acids by the wild-type and mutant strains of Candida lipolytica in media containing different carbon sources]. Experiments were carried out to examine the capacity of two strains of Candida lipolytica, producing citric and isocitric acids in the alkane and glucose containing media, to grow on different two- and three-carbon compounds. The strains did not grow on oxalate, glyoxalate, glycolate, malonate or propionate. When cultivated in the media containing acetate, ethanol, glycerol, glucose or hexadecane, supersynthesis of the acids started after complete consumption of the nitrogen source and resultant delay of the culture growth. Either strain discharged the two acids in a proportion that depended on the strain nature and the type of the carbon source. The mutant strain produced only citrate while the wild-type synthesized both citrate and isocitrate, the ratio of which was related to the nature of the carbon source utilized.


[Identification of the limiting component of the medium during microbial continuous cultivation]. The paper presents a method allowing a rapid identification of the growth limiting component of the medium. This is done with respect to the fast change in the low inertial parameter of fermentation (rate of titration or oxygen consumption) in response to an insignificant variation of the concentration of the growth limiting nutrient component in the fermentation medium.


[Synthesis of tyrosine and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine by bacteria Citrobacter freundii]. Among facultative-anaerobic bacteria utilizing formic acid, a large number of strains having tyrosine phenol lyase were found. The enzyme can catalyze synthesis of tyrosine and 3,4-dihydroxy phenyl alanine (DOPA) from pyruvate, ammonium and, accordingly, phenol and pyrocatechol. These strains were identified as Citrobacter freundii. Cell suspensions of the most active strains synthesized up to 75 g/l tyrosine for 12 hr, up to 86 g/l tyrosine for 24 hr, and up to 29 g/l DOPA for 42 hr. A medium containing yeast autolysate grown on hydrocarbons can be recommended to produce cells having a high tyrosine phenol lyase activity.


[Effect of cultivation temperature on thermal stability of lipolytic enzymes of the fungus Rhizopus microsporus, UzLT-1]. The yield, activity and thermal stability of lipolytic enzymes obtained from the culture fluid filtrates of Rhizopus microsporus, UzLT-1, cultivated at 28, 38 and 48 degrees C (preparations I, II and III, respectively) were investigated. Maximal lipolytic activity was found in Prepartion II, and maximal yield and thermal stability in Preparation III. By disc electrophoresis and DEAE-cellulose chromatography, the presence of three lipolytically active enzymes in the preparations was demonstrated.


[Relationship between the content of grisine components with a different chain length]. The study has demonstrated a certain relationship between the content of grisine components with a different length of the polypeptide chain. The relationship allows an assay of the content with respect to the ratio of areas of chromatographic peaks of the short-chained components F and D. This procedure shortens the time spent on an identification of grisine components almost two-fold. It is concluded that the proportion depends on the kinetics of the linear process of the sequential elongation of the component chain.


[Determination of cytochromes in chloroplasts of Chlamydomonas reinhardii mutants]. A method for qualitative determination of cytochromes of the wild-type and mutant strains of Chalmydomonas reinhardii was developed. The effect of different techniques of cell disruption (ultrasound, Triton X-100, acetone, etc) on detection of cytochrome maxima in the oxidized minus reduced difference spectra was studied on a comparative basis. The development of the stable difference spectrum of the disrupted cell suspension was shown to be a function of incubation time in the presence of an oxidizing or a reducing agent. Cytochromes of the wild-type and 10 nonphotosynthesizing mutants were determined. Four mutants with lesions in cytochromes B559 and C553 were detected. Mutants with lesions in the reaction center of photosystem 2 were found to have a substantially reduced content of cytochrome B559, whereas those with normal photosystems--of cytochrome C553.


[Stabilization of dextranase from Penicillium funiculosum and Fusarium solani during heating and freeze-drying]. Freeze-drying of highly purified dextranse from Penicillium funiculosum and Fusarium solani was accompanied by 90% losses of enzyme activity and solubility. Many carbohydrates were tested as stabilizers, e.g. glucose, maltose, lactose, polyglucine, dextranase hydrolyzate of polyglucine as well as mannitol and ammonium sulfate. Polyglucine, its hydrolyzate, and glucose proved most effective stabilizers. The stabilizing effect of polyglucine hydrolyzate of dextranase during its heating and freeze-drying was compared. The effective concentration of the stabilizer during freeze-drying was 10 times lower than during heating.


[Detection of the complex of chromatin DNase-tRNA by gel filtration]. By gel filtration on Sephadex G-100, the formation of the complex of chromatin DNase-tRNA has been detected. The complex is reactivated after RNase treatment. The molecular weight of the enzyme-inhibitory complex is estimated to be 85,000.


[Examination of sterols from milk fat].

[Examination of sterols from milk fat]. By gas-liquid chromatography, it was demonstrated that the content of beta-sitosterol made 0.3--0.4% of its cholesterol complex in summer milk fat. Emergence and accumulation of beta-sitosterol in milk were not associated with the content of oil-cake and meal but depended on the content of green mass in the cow's diet.


[Changes in respiratory metabolism of rice seeds of varying viability]. Respiratory metabolism in germs of rice seeds of varying germinative power was measured manometrically with the aid of inhibitors. Swelling of caryopses of high germinative power was accompanied by activation of the system glycolysis--Krebs cycle--respiratory chain and increase in the level of oxidation--phosphorylation coupling. Seed aging was associated with an enhancement of the phosphate respiratory pathway and a decrease in the rate of glycolysis during swelling and germination. Sensitivity to inhibitors of the mitochondrial electron transport chain was increased and oxidation--phosphorylation coupling decreased. In non-viable germs oxidation and phosphorylation were completely uncoupled.