[Primary hypertension of the lesser circulation]. The article presents a survey of the literature data and findings of the author's own investigations concerning various aspects of primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH). PPH -- is a polyentiological suffering. As a nosological form it was described in the fifities. There are two forms of PPH: congenital and acquired. In its turn, the congenital form comprises two variants of anomalies of the pulmonary vessels: the retnetion of the fetal structure of the pulmonary arteries and an anomaly at the level of intraorgan vascular anastomoses. Constant morphological characteristics of the two forms of PPH are as follows: endosclerosis of major branches of the pulmonary artery and focal sclerosis of their tunica media; a considerable degree of hypertrophy of the right ventricle usually not observed in other diseases. The acquired PPH may develop as a result of exposure to drugs, in thromboembolism, under high mountain conditions, etc. A question arises, whether it is justifiable to call as "primary" the acquired forms of pulmonary hypertension, since in the majority of cases their secondary nature is evident. Thus, the term "primary pullomonary hypertension" should be applied only to congenital forms of the disease. Possible in order to single out this group of desorders it would be reasonable to devise a more suitable name, for instance, "isolated pulmonary hypertension" which will render a broader sense to this polyetiological suffering.


Gelatin implants in scleral buckling procedures. In 375 scleral buckling procedures, an absorbable gelatin implant (Retina Gelfilm) was used. This series included 192 trapdoor and scleral pouch procedures, and 183 operations in which a gelatin implant was used beneath a silicone rubber implant. Two thicknesses of gelatin implants were used, 0.5 mm and 0.75 mm. Absorption time varied from 2 to 24 months, depending on the thickness of the implant and whether it was used alone or beneath a silicone rubber implant. Gelatin is an excellent absorbable implant when used alone or under a silicone rubber implant in selected patients with retinal detachment to produce a temporary elevation or posterior extension of the buckle, or both.


Periodontal considerations in the restoration of non-vital teeth. Periodontal status is considered in relation to the construction of post core retained restorations. The surgical management of those problems apical to the gingival tissues is discussed in detail.


[Experimental anti-arrhythmic action of perhexiline]. The antiarrhythmic action of Perhexiline phosphate, in doses of 3 and 6 mg/kg on various experimental cardiac arrhytmias and on the physiological properties of the atrial myocardium has been studied in the anesthetized dog. Its action in concentrations of 3 and 6 mcg/ml on the transmembrane action potentials in isolated Purkinje fibers has also been analyzed. The activity of perhexiline is comparatively greater in the circus movement atrial flutter and in the arrhythmias caused by ouabain and by barium chloride intoxication than in the atrial tachysystolia caused by the local application of aconitine. Perhexiline prolongs the wave length (refractory period times conduction velocity) of the atrial impulse and depresses atrial excitability. These effects may explain its action on experimental atrial flutter. In isolated Purkinje fibers, perhexiline reduces the maximum velocity of depolarization, the overshoot, the amplitude of the action potential and its duration, measured at 50% of its repolarization phase. The relation of these electrophysiological effects of perhexiline to the genesis of each type of arrhythmia may explain its different type of activity in the experimental models studied.


Location of a high-sulphur protein in developing wool follicles using peroxidase-labelled antibody. Antiserum to a high-sulphur protein (SCMK-B2) from wool was purified to obtain the immunoglobin G fraction, and this was labelled with horse-radish peroxidase. The labelled antibody was then applied to sections of sheep skin embedded in glycol methacrylate in order to locate the distribution of high-sulphur protein within the lower hair shaft. Regions containing the highest concentration of high-sulphur protein were the cuticle of the hair shaft and the keratogenous zone of the cortex.


Abnormal "activated" rosette formation in patients with gastrointestinal cancer. The mean percentage of peripheral blood lymphocytes forming fast spontaneous rosettes with sheep red blood cells was estimated in 40 patients presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms suggestive of cancer. Patients who were eventually diagnosed as having cancer had significantly lower numbers (P less than 0.01 Mann Whitney Test) of rosette forming cells than patients who had gastrointestinal tumours successfully removed, or patients with other gastrointestinal diseases. The use of this test as an aid to the diagnosis of gastrointestinal malignancy and its possible application to the detection of recurrences of cancer after surgery are discussed.


Systemic herpes simplex infection with fulminant hepatitis post-transplantation. Immunosuppression for renal transplantation is associated with the risk of severe overwhelming infection with ubiquitous but normally relatively harmless micro-organisms. In recent years a number of adult cases of fatal hepatitis due to herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection have been reported. Nearly always immune deficiency was a significant factor. A case of fatal HSV infection with hepatitis following transplantation is reported. The case failed to respond to infusion with the antiviral agent cytosine arabinoside. The presentation, diagnosis and treatment of HSV fulminant hepatitis is discussed.


Infection in the intensive care unit.

Infection in the intensive care unit. An epidemic of infection associated with Serratia marcescens and other Gram-negative organisms resistant to aminoglycosides and other chemotherapeutic agents occurred in the Intensive Care Unit, and spread to other areas of the hospital. This paper describes the problems of sepsis in the critically ill patient, outlines the occurrence of organisms in the patients concerned in this epidemic, and discusses the policies adopted to control the incidence of life-threatening infection caused by bacteria resistant to all other agents.


Prevalence of urinary tract infection in adult women. Five hundred adult women of Sylhet town of different socio-economic status were screened to detect urinary tract infection by a random "door-to-door" survey. Significant bacteriuria was considered as an important criterion in the diagnosis of urinary tract infection. Pyuria with bacteriuria was, but without bacteriuria was not, considered a good evidence of infection. The ratio between the asymptomatic and symptomatic bacteriuria was found to be 7:1. The significance of asymptomatic bacteriuria in preventive medicine has been stressed.


Application of stereologic methodology to inflammatory infiltrates residing in oral mucous membrane lesions. Structural and morphometric comparison of benign mucous membrane pemphigoid and reticular lichen planus. In the present study, stereologic procedures are employed to estimate quantitatively the composition of chronic connective tissue infiltrates characterizing various oral mucous membrane diseases. One case each of benign mucous membrane pemphigoid (BMMP) and reticular lichen planus (RLP) served as examples to demonstrate the applicability of this methodology. In both lesions which are described clinically, histologically and on the ultrastructural level and which display a markedly different infiltrate composition, fibroblasts were affected and either proliferated (BMMP) or became cytopathologically altered (RLP). The quantitative data presented, besides providing new information, argue in favour of the stereologic approach.


[Lability of the products of mitochondrial protein synthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeasts]. Estimation of the rate of degradation of the products of mitochondrial protein synthesis in S. cerevisiae cells is reported. The method developed for this purpose is based on pulse incorporation of a labeled amino acid in the presence of an inhibitor of cytoplasmic protein synthesis and allows one to monitor postincorporation of the label. The label incorporated is shown to be rapidly released from mitochondria. Its content is decreased 2-fold during 20-30 min at the beginning and 50-60 min at the end of the exponential phase of growth. The label is detected in cytosol proteins and the TCA-soluble fraction of mitochondria, which is indicative of possible proteolysis of mitochondrial membrane proteins. Since release of the label does not undergo inhibition by specific inhibitors of yeast cell proteinases (pepstatin and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride), it may be assumed that these proteinases are either not involved in the digestion of the products of mitochondrial protein synthesis or do not represent a rate-limiting step of the process.


[Rate of ribosome movement along messenger RNA in E. coli under normal and inhibited translation]. Considerable decrease of polysome number (22% as compared with 48% in normally grown culture) was observed under methionine starvation of E. coli Hfr (Met-)culture . At the same time the amount of 70S ribosomes increased up to 32%, while it was 2--6% in the control, the content of free ribosome subunits (50S+30S) being stable. The number of polysomes was the same (congruent to 50%) both in the control culture and under inhibition of protein synthesis in E. coli Hfr(Met-) cells with chloramphenicol, the content of 70S ribosomes was increased (30%) like in the case of methionine starvation, and the amount of free ribosome subunits was decreased (24% as compared with 46% in the control). The rate of ribosome movement in polysomes in the presence of chloramphenicol is comparable with that in the control. The rate of ribosome movement along mRNA under methionine starvation in 1.6 times lower than in normally grown E.coli culture. The level of (14)C-leucine incorporation into newly synthesizing polysome proteins under chloramphenicol inhibition of protein synthesis and methionine starvation comprised 20% and 12% of the incorporation level inthe control respectively. It suggested that ribosomes under inhibition of protein synthesis by chloramphenicol or amino acid starvation continue their movement along mRNA with the rate comparable with that in the control. However in this case no peptide bonds are formed ("abortive" translocation).


[Fractionation and amino-acid composition of acid-soluble trypsin of inclusion bodies protein of nuclear polyhedrosis virus of moth, Galleria mellonella]. A mixture of pH 3.5-soluble trypsin peptides of inclusion bodies proteins of moth nuclear polyedrosis virus was fractionated by means of ionic exchange chromatography on Dowex 50X2 and purified by paper electrophoresis-chromatography. 32 peptides are isolated, their amino acid composition being studied.


[Some peculiarities of transfer RNAs hydrolysis by exonuclease A5]. Unusual kinetics of the hydrolysis of the baker's yeast total tRNA and tRNA1Val by exonuclease A5 was found (two stages of the reaction; low initial velocity and still lower velocity of the second reaction stage; high Km values). These peculiarities were shown to be due to the three-dimensional structure of the substrate, which makes a large part of the tRNA molecule resistant to the exonuclease A5 attack. The exhaustive tRNA hydrolysis observed in the presence of very large doses of exonuclease A5 may be explained by a slight (less than 1%) endo-RNAase contamination in the exonuclease A5 preparation. The hydrolysis conditions become optimal, i.e. the exhaustive hydrolysis proceeds most rapidly, when the amount of endo-RNAase admixture reaches 20--30%. The artificial enzyme mixture of such a composition is a convenient reagent for RNA and expecially for tRNA hydrolysis under mild conditions to 5'-mononucleotides. The considerable resistance of tRNA to pure exonuclease A5 action will make it possible porbably to use tRNA instead of circular nucleic acids for endonuclease admixtures estimation in enzyme preparations.


Human centromere mapping using teratoma data. Under the assumption that benign ovarian teratomas arise parthenogenetically from a germ cell by suppression of the second meiotic division, the proportion gamma of heteratomas collected from heterozygous hosts is a measure for the distance between the corresponding gene and its centromere. For proportions gamma less than or equal to 0.3, the mapping function x = gamma/2 applies, where x is the map distance in Morgans.


[Distribution of lysotypes and study of antibiotic sensitivity of Shigella flexneri 2 isolated in Iran]. 152 strains of Shigella flexneri 2 isolated from the stools of patients having sporadic bacillary dysenteria have been studied for their phage types as well as for the presence of transferable resistance factor. The distribution of the phage types has shown a high predominance of lysotype 12 (67%). Proportion of Shigella flexneri 2 strains resistant to one or several antibiotics has been highest in the years 1968 and 1973. The most frequent transferable resistance pattern was found to be (Tc, Cm, Sm, Su) and the most successful transfer method was the celophane technique. Resistance loss varied according to the resistance pattern of the strains. Total loss of the resistance to Tc, Cm, Sm, Su occurred in  0,2-2 % only. Very often strains resistant to Tc, Cm, Sm, Su lost their resistance factor to Tc and Cm keeping the resistance factors for Su, Sm.


[Fluorescent antibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid and serum of patients suspected of cerebral malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum]. The authors report the results of indirect immunofluorescent technique used for detecting malarial antibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid and serum of 126 African patients suspected of cerebral malaria from infection with Plasmodium falciparum. Almost all of them were less than 15 years old and were living in urban unstable hypoendemic areas. Malarial antibodies, mainly IgG, were found in about 25 0/0 of cerebrospinal fluid samples, whether the patients were admitted for malaria or for any other disease. Malarial antibodies were more frequently found in cerebrospinal fluid of patients over 2 years old and in those not treated with antimalarial drugs before hospitalization. No correlation was found between serum antibody level, parasitemia, splenomegaly, clinical form, precocity of blood collection and malarial antibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid. The results concerning serum antibodies corroborate previous works.


Tissue iso-renins.

Tissue iso-renins. 1. Several extrarenal tissues contain enzymes which are similar to kidney renin: they hydrolyse angiotensinogen to form angiotensin I; they have characteristic substrate specificity; the physicochemical properties of kidney renin and of extrarenal tissue iso-renin are similar. 2. Results indicate that tissue iso-renins are part of a complex enzyme system with mainly local function. A possible biological role has been demonstrated in brain, adrenal gland and tissue culture.


Plasma renin concentration and the hypotensive effect of bendrofluazide and of atenolol. 1. The anti-hypertensive effect of atenolol was greater than that of bendrofluazide. 2. The change in systolic blood pressure caused by bendrofluazide showed a significant inverse correlation iwth the plasma renin concentration (r=-0-47; P less than 0-01). 3. The correlation between the change in systolic blood pressure caused by atenolol and the plasma renin concentration was not significant (r =0-28; 0-1 greater than P greater than 0-05). 4. Plasma renin concentration was unaffected by atenolol.


Plasma renin activity, plasma angiotensin II and extracellular fluid volume in patients after renal transplantation. 1. Patients with cadaveric renal transplants and plasma creatinine less than 177 micronmol/l who had their own kidneys removed were studied. 2. The renin-angiotensin system appeared to behave in a normal fashion in response to alterations in sodium intake and posture. 3. The renin-angiotensin system had no major role in the establishment or maintenance of hypertension. 4. Mean arterial pressure was directly related to expansion of the extracellular fluid volume.


Brain-stem structures and catecholamines in the control of arterial blood pressure in the rat. 1. Noradrenaline, adrenaline and alpha-methylnoradrenaline administration into the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) of anaesthetized rats decreased blood pressure and heart rate in a dose-dependent fashion. 2. Bilateral injections were effective in lower doses than unilateral administration. alpha-Methylnoradrenaline given bilaterally produced hypotension in a dose of 0-08 nmol whereas after unilateral injection a dose of 0-32 nmol was needed to obtain the same degree of hypotension. 3. Electrical stimulation of the NTS caused hypotension and bradycardia. Conversely, bilateral electrolytic lesions or deafferentation of the NTS led to acute hypertension. Chronically such lesions caused neurogenic hypertension. 4. In spontaneously hypertensive rats increased concentrations of noradrenaline, adrenaline and dopamine were measured in the part of the NTS located just caudal to the obex (A2 region).


Pharmacokinetics in patients with cardiac failure. Cardiac failure is often associated with disturbances in cardiac output, autonomic nervous system activity, central and systemic venous pressures, and sodium and water metabolism. These disturbances influence the extent and pattern of tissue perfusion, may lead to tissue hypoxia and visceral congestion, and may alter gastrointestinal motility. By these mechanisms, cardiac failure potentially affects absorption and disposition characteristics of drugs, which may necessitate adjustment in dosage regimen for optimum therapy. Lignocaine is the drug which has been studied most extensively in cardiac failure. Volumes of distribution and clearance are decreased. As a drug whose metabolism is largely limited by liver blood flow, decreased blood flow to the liver accounts for some of the change in clearance, but impaired hepatic metabolism appears also to play a role in some patients. Accumulation of active metabolites of lignocaine and procainamide in patients with cardiac failure can influence therapeutic and toxic effects. Theophylline metabolism, which is largely independent of blood flow, appears to be reduced significantly in patients with severe cardiac failure and necessitates reduction of dosage. In the presence of severe cardiac failure, digoxin clearance may be less than anticipated on the basis of estimates of renal function. Quinidine plasma levels may be higher after single doses due to reduced volume of distribution. Quinidine metabolites are believed not to be pharmacologically active but may create confusion with nonspecific assays. Specific assays are recommended in cardiac failure, especially complicated by renal insufficiency. Data are lacking relating pharmacokinetic alterations to haemodynamic measurements in patients with cardiac failure. Whereas the direction of change in pharmacokinetic parameters may be predicted, variability in the magnitude of change is so great that determination of drug concentration in blood remains as essential adjunct to therapy.


The role of noradrenaline and other transmitter hormones in the pathogenesis of hypertension. 1. Studies with a sensitive radioenzymatic assay for plasma noradrenaline suggest there is a selective overactivity of the sympathetic nerous system in essential hypertension. 2. Serotonin turnover in the mesenteric vessels is approximately twice that of noradrenaline and it is suggested that serotonin may interact with noradrenaline to maintain vascular resistance. 3. Methodology which allows the study of local sympathetic turnover in nuclei of the central nerous system and in peripheral blood vessels is decribed. This approach has been used to study non-innervated sympathetic turnover observed in phaceochromocytoma.


Interaction of dopamine, methyldopa and reserpine in the sympatho-adrenal system in essential hypertension. 1. The interactions of dopamine, reserpine and methyldopa on blood pressure of normal subjects and of those with essential hypertension were examined. 2. When biosynthesis of noradrenaline from dopamine was blocked by reserpine, dopamine induced a prominent depressor effect in essential hypertension. 3. The long-term treatment with methyldopa induced a marked potentiateion of the pressor action of domapine in hypertension, although no significant pressor response was found in normal subjects. 4. It is suggested that methylnoradrenaline may accumulate in peripheral nerve endings of patients with essential hypertension in comparison with normal subjects, and this accumulated methylnoradrenaline potentiates the pressor response to dopamine in essential hypertension.


Pharmacologically active drug metabolites: therapeutic and toxic activities, plasma and urine data in man, accumulation in renal failure. Drugs that are administered to man may be biotransformed to yield metabolites that are pharmacologically active. The therapeutic and toxic activities of drug metabolites and the species in which this activity was demonstrated are compiled for the metabolites of 58 drugs. The metabolite to parent drug ratio in the plasma of non-uraemic man and the percentage urinary excretion of the metabolite in non-uraemic man are also tabulated. Those active metabolites with significant pharmacological activity and high plasma levels, both relative to that of the parent drug, will probably contribute substantially to the pharmacological effect ascribed to the parent drug. Active metabolites may accumulate in patients with end stage renal disease if renal excretion is a major elimination pathway for the metabolite. This is true even if the active metabolite is a minor metabolite of the parent drug, as long as the minor metabolite is not further biotransformed and is mainly excreted in the urine. Minor metabolite accumulation may also occur if it is further biotransformed by a pathway inhibited in uraemia. Some clinical examples of the accumulation of active drug metabolites in patients with renal failure are: (a) The abolition of premature ventricular contractions and prevention of paroxysmal atrial tachycardia in some cardiac patients with poor renal function treated with procainamide are associated with high levels of N-acetylprocainamide. (b) The severe irritability and twitching seen in a uraemic patient treated with pethidine (meperidine) are associated with high levels of norpethidine. (c) The severe muscle weakness and tenderness seen in patients with renal failure receiving clofibrate are associated with excessive accumulation of the free acid metabolite of clofibrate. (d) Patients with severe renal insufficiency taking allopurinol appear to experience a higher incidence of side reactions, possibly due to the accumulation of oxipurinol. (e) Accumulation of free and acetylated sulphonamides in patients with renal failure is associated with an increase in toxic side-effects (severe nausea and vomiting, evanescent macular rash). (f) Peripheral neuritis seen after nitrofurantoin therapy in patients with impaired renal function is thought to be due to accumulation of a toxic metabolite. The high incidence of adverse drug reactions seen in patients with renal failure may for some drugs be explained in part, as the above examples illustrate, by the accumulation of active drug metabolites. Monitoring plasma levels of drugs can be an important guide to therapy. However, if a drug has an active metabolite, determination of parent drug alone may cause misleading interpretations of blood level measurements. The plasma level of the active metabolite should also be determined and its time-action characteristics taken into account in any clinical decisions based on drug level monitoring.


The anti-hypertensive efficacy of combined alpha- and beta-adrenoreceptor blockade with phentolamine-oxprenolol or with labetalol (AH 5158). 1. The interaction of phentolamine with the beta-receptor blocker oxprenolol was studied in a controlled trial. 2. The combination was generally well tolerated. 3. Oxprenolol alone produced modest but significant reductions in supine, standing and post-exercise blood pressures. Small reductions were seen only with sustained phentolamine administration. 4. The combined effect of the two drugs appeared to be additive only at the lower doses of oxprenolol. 5. Labetalol produced significantly greater reductions in supine and standing blood pressure than combined oxprenolol-phentolamine. At a daily dose of 400 mg, postural hypotension was not seen, though transient symptoms were frequent.


Clinical evaluation of atenolol in hypertension. 1. Atenolol (ICI 66.082, Tenormin) is a new beta-adrenoreceptor-blocking agent, devoid of intrinsic sympathomimetic and membrane-stabilizing properties. It does not cross the blood-brain barrier. 2. Atenolol given to hypertensive patients in initial open trials reduced arterial blood pressure significantly. 3. A double-blind comparison between atenolol and placebo in forty-five patients with essential hypertension demonstrated that atenolol gave a statistically significant reduction of blood pressure (delta 28/15 mmHg, P less than 0-005). 4. The optimum anti-hypertensive dose of atenolol in patients with mild to moderately severe essential hypertension was 200 mg daily. 5. Atenolol was compared with propranolol in thirty patients with essential hypertension. No statistically significant differences of anti-hypertensive effect were observed between the two drugs. 6. Long-term results (up to 2 years) in 117 hypertensive patients indicate that drug tolerance is good. No serious toxic effects were observed. 7. In four of twelve hypertensive patients with obstructive airways disease atenolol had to be withdrawn owing to deterioration of ventilatory function.


Quantitative effects of timolol and hydrochlorothiazide on blood pressure, heart rate and plasma renin activity: results of a double-blind factorial trial in patients with essential hypertension. 1. The anti-hypertensive actions of timolol and hydrochlorothiazide were analysed in a double-blind 2 x 2 factorial trial in twenty patients with essential hypertension. Each patient went through four phases of 8 weeks in randomized order, receiving timolol alone, hydrochlorothiazide alone, timolol plus hydrochlorothiazide, and placebo. 2. Supine mean arterial pressure fell from 119 mmHg in the placebo phase, to 110 mmHg during the thiazide phase, 106 mmHg during the timolol phase, and to 101 mmHg during the combined timolol plus hydrochlorothiazide phase. 3. Factorial analysis revealed that the hypotensive actions of the beta-receptor-blocking drug and the diuretic were additive, without any synergism or antagonism. 4. Plasma renin activity measured in ng 3 h-1 ml-1 rose from 5-02 in the placebo phase to 9-54 in the diuretic phase, but fell to 1-79 in the beta-receptor blockade. It was unchanged in the combined therapy phase, despite the greater drop in blood pressure. These results suggest that the fall in plasma renin activity during beta-receptor blockade is of little importance in the hypotensive action of beta-receptor-blocking drugs.


A controlled study on the anti-hypertensive effect of a new beta-adrenoreceptor-blocking drug, metoprolol, in combination with chlorthalidone. 1. A double-blind cross-over evaluation of the anti-hypertensive effect of metoprolol vs placebo was carried out in a series of twenty-three patients with mild or moderate essential hypertension who were receiving 25 mg of chlorthalidone daily as their basic treatment. An individually determined dose of metoprolol (75-300 mg) was used. 2. Metoprolol, as compared with placebo, produced a statistically significant reduction of blood pressure, both in supine and standing positions. 3. During the double-blind cross-over study mild side effects were more common at the beginning of metoprolol/chlorthalidone treatment than during placebo/chlorthalidone, but these tended to diminish or disappear with time. 4. Metoprolol in combination with chlorathalidone appears to be an effective and well-tolerated treatment for mild and moderate hypertension in patients not responding to chlorthalidone alone.


Clinical and haemodynamic study of atenolol (Tenormin) in essential hypertension. 1. The beta1-adrenoreceptor-blocking agent atenolol was studied in the treatment of twelve out-patients with essential hypertension. 2. With a mean dose of 110 mg of atenolol daily (range 75-200 mg/day) we observed a pronounced decrease in blood pressure. 3. Only minimal side effects were seen. 4. Cardiac output decreased from 4-6 to 3-4 l/min during treatment. This decrease did not correlate with the decrease in blood pressure but correlated well with the changes in calculated total peripheral resistance.


Evaluation of the effect of timolol alone and in combination with hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride in the treatment of mild to moderate arterial hypertension: a double-blind, controlled study. 1. The effects of timolol alone and in combination with a fixed dose of hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride have been studied in a double-blind, controlled study in fifty-four patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. 2. After a 4 weeks placebo period patients were randomly assigned to enter groups receiving timolol alone (group A), hydrochlorothiazide + amiloride (group B) or timolol + hydrochlorothiazide + amiloride (group C). Each treatment was carried out for 6 weeks. 3. The use of timolol (10 mg), hydrochlorothiazide (25 mg) and amiloride (2-5 mg) in a combination tablet given twice daily gave better control of blood pressure in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension than did equivalent dosages of timolol alone or of hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride. 4. Clinical and laboratory side effects were minimal.


Differential effects of acute and chronic beta-adrenoreceptor blockade on blood pressure and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in essential hypertension. 1. Serial measurements of plasma renin activity (PRA), plasma aldosterone concentration (PA) and blood pressure were performed overnight in patients with borderline (group 1) and sustained essential hypertension (group 2) before and after acute and chronic administration of either propranolol or pindolol. 2. Group 1 patients exhibited a typical rhythm of recumbent PRA with low values before midnight and large increases early in the morning. 3. In contrast, no rhythm and very low PRA values were observed in patients of group 2. Blood pressure was higher in group 2 than in group 1. There was a significant correlation between the hyporeninaemic and hypotensive effect of either acute (r = 0-79) or chronic (r = 0.4) beta-receptor blockade. 4. In group 1, after beta-receptor blockade the day-night profile of renin was similar to that observed in group 2 before treatment. Thus, in this latter subgroup, low-renin profiles  might reflect reduced beta-adrenoreceptor activity. 5. Plasma aldosterone was lower in group 2 but appeared to be inappropriately high relative to renin. 6. The data suggest that in hypertensive patients classified according to their blood pressure and recumbent PRA profiles a significant relationship exists between changes in PRA and arterial pressure. Thus patients with high PRA respond better to treatment than patients with low renin. We conclude that in the patients studied sympathetic nervous system activity mainly determined renin values as well as anti-hypertensive effectiveness of the beta-blocking drugs.


Medical Research Council's Treatment Trial for mild hypertension: an interim report. The pilot phase of the British multicentre randomized controlled trial of treatment for mild hypertension has shown: (1) that unselected subjects, aged 35-64 years, with mild hypertension are willing to enter and remain in a long-term trial even though asymptomatic; (2) that the differences of mean systolic and mean diastolic pressure achieved between treated and control subjects is sufficient to produce the expected difference in terminating events with the 18000 patients calculated as needed for the full-scale trial; (3) that side effects with the two selected active primary regimens (bendrofluazide and propranolol) are common but mild (no serious side effects or toxic reactions have been reported); (4) that the work load imposed by the trial, though considerable during screening and the initiation of patients into the trial, can largely be taken by specially trained nursing staff, and when screening is completed the trial does not impose a heavy burden of follow-up examinations; (5) that there are no adverse psychological effects caused by alerting asymptomatic people to their raised pressure and enrolling them into a prolonged programme of clinical attendance; (6) that the total costs of carrying out a full-scale trial--estimated at about lb.2m ($U.S. 4m)--are commensurate with the potential annual savings in health service expenditure whether the trial shows treatment to be effective or unwarranted.


A within-patient comparison of bethanidine, methyldopa and propranolol in the treatment of hypertension. 1. A within-patient comparison showed that bethanidine, methyldopa and propranolol produced similar control of the blood pressure. 2. Unlike bethanidine, propranolol did not produce postural and exercise hypotension; methyldopa was intermediate in effect. 3. Overall side effects were of a similar incidence though there were differences in incidence of particular side effects.


Treatment of severe and moderate hypertension with minoxidil: experience in twenty-eight patients. 1. Twenty patients with severe or moderate hypertension were treated with minoxidil for 284 patient-months. 2. The blood pressure was controlled in all patients, including those refractory to maximal doses of conventional anti-hypertensive agents. 3. In patients with moderate hypertension control with minoxidil was achieved earlier and more easily than with hydrallazine. 4. Three patients developed secondary resistance and required addition of guanethidine or increased doses of diuretics. 5. Fluid retention and hypertrichosis were the main side effects with minoxidil.


Clinical and haemodynamic study of a new vasodilator drug L6150 (3-[bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]-6-hydrazinopyridazine) in man. 1. L6150 is a highly effective vasodilator which produces an acute reduction of blood pressure when administered intravenously. 2. This is due entirely to a decrease in total peripheral vascular resistance. 3. On oral administration it can effectively lower blood pressure in mild hypertension and is effective in combination with other hypotensive agents with different mechanisms of action.


A cross-over study between hydrallazine and prazosin. 1. In a cross-over study between hydrallazine and prazosin in fifteen patients, also treated with the beta-receptor-blocking agent propranolol, 1 mg of prazosin was found to be equipotent with 30 mg of hydrallazine. 2. All patients were known to tolerate dydrallazine. In one patient prazosin treatment was discontinued because of severe headache. In four patients minor, non-persistent initial side effects were found. These might have been avoided by using a smaller starting dose. One patient fainted on the second day of prazosin treatment, probably from a micturition syncope. 3. Prazosin may be used as an alternative to hydrallazine. 4. The final status of prazosin as an anti-hypertensive drug is uncertain.20


Effect of centrophenoxine on cyclophosphamide concentration in blood. In order to clarify the mechanism of potentiation of cyclophosphamide activity by centrophenoxine, blood concentration of total and activated cyclophosphamide was examined. Blood concentration of cyclophosphamide increased by the compound and biological half-life of activated cyclophosphamide was markedly increased to 30 min from 18 min in intraperitoneal administration. At the same time, concentration of active form in ascites fluid was also increased and biological half-life of the active form was increased to 50 min from 18 min. Similar increase in blood level of active form was also shown by p-chlorophenoxyacetic acid and probenecid, but concentrations at early stages after injection was not increased. As a result, potentiation of cyclophosphamide activity by centrophenoxine was found to be due to maintenance of active form in both blood and ascites fluid at higher levels than those in the control.


Enhancing effect of a modified yeast mannan on antitumor activity of mitomycin-C. A synthetic stearolymannan phosphate designated as SMP-Fr. I-d, consisting of three components, fatty acid, polysaccharide, and phosphate, enhanced the therapeutic effect of Mitomycin-C in mice implanted with 1 x 10(7) cells of Ehrlich carcinoma ascites form. Namely, 50% of the mice survived more than 60 days when ineffective doses of 0.5 mg/kg of Mitomycin-C and 50 mg/kg of SMP-Fr. I-d were administered intraperitoneally once daily for 7 days. SMP-Fr. I-d was found to be virtually non-toxic even in a dose of 1,000 mg/kg intraperitoneally in mice.


[Candida albicans and intestinal involvement]. In the present study we compared different media for diagnosis of Candida albicans in the faeces to know the importance of the nonascosporic yeasts in alvine disorder. The first property was to find which field, among those known in literature, was more suitable in laboratory practice, for identification of the fungi. Among the cultural tested fields, the best results were obtained by Pagano Levin Base, adding 2-3-5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride and Neomicina. The most frequently found yeast in the patient's faeces with alvine disorders resulted C. albicans. Therefore, patients having correlation C. albicans-alvine disorders were submitted to a treatment with Nystatin. Most cases verified the regularization of the alvine disorder and the same time the disappearance of the yeast.


A simple method for detection and analysis of carcinogenic nitrofuran compounds and their metabolites by combining chromatography and spot mutation tests. A simple, sensitive, and convenient method combining thin-layer chromatography and a spot test for mutagenicity of Salmonella typhimurium TA100 was utilized for the analysis of urine of rats fed N-[4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl]-formamide (FANFT), a potent experimental urinary bladder carcinogen. Three metabolites of FANFT were detected in urine, and one of these, accounting for 33% of the urinary metabolites of FANFT, was identified as 2-amino-4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)thiazole (ANFT). ANFT was the only urinary metabolite that clearly demonstrated mutagenic activity, suggesting that ANFT may be a proximate vesical carcinogen of FANFT.


Thermal and ultraviolet inactivation of plaque purified measles virus clones. Three plaque-purified measles virus clones exhibited remarkable differences in their kinetics of inactivation only after heating at 45 degrees C and none after UV-irradiation. A hypothesis is discussed of the possible dependence, in fast inactivating populations, of thermolability on a relative incompleteness of the virions.


[Oral immunization of human adult volunteers using a trivalent coli-vaccine]. Oral vaccination of 19 human adult volunteers with a killed trivalent E. coli vaccine induced an antibody response detectable either in sera and feces. Production of specific IgA immunoglobulins in the intestine was also observed. Antibody titres reached the highest levels 5-10 days after vaccination and were still detectable in the majority of volunteers about 2 months later.


[Manufacture and possibilities of use of antisera against solubilized human erythrocyte membranes]. Antisera produced in rabbits against Triton X-100 solubilized human erythrocyte ghosts formed several several precipitation lines in immunoelectrophoresis and immunodiffusion tests against the solubilized ghosts. The antisera were used for detecting several membrane components during chromatographic separation. A membrane component was partially isolated using gel filtration on SEPHADEX G-200 (fraction F1/F2). Spectrin (Tektin A) was shown to be the main moiety of these fractions. Associated proteins (haemoglobin, GAPD) could not be detected by the antisera against whole ghost solubilisate.


Effect of E 600 and Toxobidin on the behavious of cholinesterases in mouse skeletal muscles in the course of experimental trichinellosis. Experiments were carried out on mice between the 14th and the 19th day following the infection with Trichinella larvae. E 600 was given in the lowest lethal dose (0-8 mg/kg) and Toxobidin in a curative dose of 15 mg/kg. The activities of AChE and PChE were examined with the use of the substrates of acetylthiocholine and butrylthiocholine iodides (Koelle-Friedenwald's method in Gomori's modification). Toxobidin was found to influence significantly restitution of AChE activity. The mice which had received E 600 under the protection of Toxobidin exhibited but a slight degree of inhibition of AChE activity. However, Toxobidin was not observed to exert a substantial effect on restitution of PChE activity. It is also worthy of note that Toxobidin has a great protective power. No animal died in the experimental group treated with E 600 under the protection  of Toxobidin. On the other hand, in the group which had received E 600 only, all animals died within 10 to 15 minutes.


A hot wire device for cutting tissue culture flasks. A small hot wire device for cutting plastic culture was can be constructed of steel rod, brass screws, nichrome wire and acrylic plastic sheeting and tubing. The nichrome wire is heated using a variable power transformer. Four sequential cuts are made in the culture flask bottom and the bottom separated from the remainder of the flask. Cultures can be stained, air-dried and cover slips affixed with PVP or epoxy resin. This method of cutting culture ware avoids the formation of small bits of polystyrene generated by rotating discs or saws.


The role of receptors for T cell products in antibody formation. Immunocompetent cell interactions are achieved via direct contact between functionally different cell types or via interactions between soluble factors elaborated by regulatory T cells and specific receptors on responding cells for the T cell factors. In either case, there exist certain restrictions with respect to the effective interactions, which depend on the state of differentiation and genetic background of the responding cell type. Such restrictions are considered to be mainly determined by the development and nature of the receptor site on responding cell types for different T cell factors, which is now refered to the "acceptor" for the T cell factors. The presence of such acceptor sites on different populations of both T and B cells has been demonstrated in various experimental systems, and they are now considered to be the site by which responding cells receive appropriate signal for destination of their further differentiation. We have tried to review the nature and possible role of acceptor sites on both B and T cells for different T cell factors with respect to the induction and regulation of immune responses. A special emphasis was put on the genetic nature of the acceptor site. The observed genetic restrictions in the acceptance of T cell factors by responding cells suggest that such restrictions are needed for meaningful and unmistakable communications between funcionally different immunocometent cells. Furthermore, the presence or absence of acceptor sites for certain T cell factors is supposed to be a very important factor for determination of the immune responsiveness of animals against certain antigens, and thus in some cases the Ir gene effect may predominantly affect the expression of acceptor site. Possible implications of acceptor site in the regulation of antibody response and in the network of immunocompetent cell interactions are discussed.


Membrane receptors on neutrophils.

Membrane receptors on neutrophils. Neutrophils recognise humoral immunologic reactants through 'receptors' on their surface membrane. Most widely studied and probably of greatest biologic significance are the immunoglobulin (Fc), and complement (primarily C3b and C5a) receptors which enable the cell to ract with, and be stimulated by, antigen-antibody, or antigen-antibody-complement complexes and their products. This interaction with the putative receptors and the consequent cell activation occurs most optimally on surfaces and plays a critical role in the mammalian host defense system.


Cell surface receptors and lymphocyte migration. Lymphocyte subpopulations show a marked specificity in their distribution in various parts of the lymphoid system. It has been suggested that specific localization of lymphocytes depends on the presence of homing" receptors on their cell surface. The present paper summarizes some of the approaches used in the study of cell surface receptors involved in the migration and localization of lymphocytes. The effect of exposure of lymphocytes to antibodies, enzymes or lectins, on their capacity for localization is described. It is concluded that the experimental procedures employed do not provide conclusive evidence as to the mechanisms of lymphocyte localization, and that the role of homing receptors is still far from clear.


IgD receptors of lymphoid cells.

IgD receptors of lymphoid cells. While present in normal human serum in very low amounts and undetectable in sera of non-human primates as well as of mice, IgD is found on the surface of the majority of B lymphocytes in all the above mentioned species. Lymphocytes which carry IgD on their membrane also have IgM. The two molecules are present in relative amounts that can be very different in different cells. Both IgM and IgD of a single cell are the actual product of the cell itself. They have the same light chain and, more importantly, the same combining site and idiotype. IgD/IgM bearing lymphocytes are the majority of all B lymphocytes in spleen, lymph nodes and Peyer's patches, whereas in bone marrow they account for half of the immunoglobulin positive cells. Although the percentage of double IgD/IgM cells is very similar in different tissues, the total amount of IgD, as well as the relative amounts of IgD and IgM as detected by biochemical methods varies. In fact, lymph nodes, and even more Peyer's patches are much richer than spleen in cells having levels of IgD higher than those of IgM; conversely, in the bone marrow, all the positive cells have very low levels of IgD. In ontogeny, as in evolution, IgD appears after IgM: in human foetuses IgD bearing cells are not detectable before 13 weeks of gestation, and in the mouse they appear only after birth. IgD receptors seem to disappear from B cells which undergo maturation to secretion, as indicated by the fact that only a proportion of IgM secreting plasma cells show membrane IgD. IgD is never found on the membrane of IgG-containing cells, and also lymphocytes bearing simultaneously IgD and IgG are very rare, and it might well be that for these cells, the double expression for short periods of time does not actually correspond to simultaneous synthesis.


T-lymphocyte receptors for alloantigens. Recent developments in research on T-cell receptors for alloantigens have been reviewed. Recognition of these antigens is T-cell dependent and, when measured in the PAR test, can be shown to take place with receptors present on T cells, with those shed spontaneously from T cells and also with "recognition structures" of as yet unknown origin and structure present in post-transplantation alloantiserum but absent from B-cell induce alloantiserum. All recognizing structures of parent T-cell origin mentioned above also induce formation of anti-T cell receptor antisera when injected into appropriate F1 hybrid animals. The highly specific inhibitory activity of the sera can be demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo, and the most fascinating aspect constitutes cytotoxic elimination of T cells bearing receptors for a given alloantigenic specificity without harming T cells with other alloreceptors. The biochemical nature of T-cell receptors is not known and, depending on the physical form in which it is investigated, high molecular weight as well as considerably lower molecular weight structures have been found. It has, on the other hand, become quite clear that the antigen-binding region of B- and T-cell receptors shows idiotypic similarity and it is, therefore, likely that this part of the receptor molecule of both lymphocyte classes is similar if not identical


A correlation between the genome compositions of bacteriophages and their hosts. The base composition of the genomes of bacteriophages and other viruses is, in a very general way, related to the base composition of the genomes of their hosts by the statistically significant linear regression: (phage GC%)=9.12 + 0.74 (host GC%). The significance and possible use of this relationship is discussed.


The effects of inhibitors of nucleic acid and protein synthesis on the replication of Spodoptera frugiperda nuclear polyhedrosis virus in cultured Spodoptera frugiperda cells. The effects of inhibitors of nucleic acid and protein synthesis on the replication of Spodoptera frugiperda nuclear polyhedrosis virus have been determined. Two inhibitors of protein synthesis-cycloheximide and puromycin-were irreversible inhibitors of virus multiplication. Three inhibitors of nucleic acid synthesis-actinomycin D, cytosine arabinoside and camptothecin- prevented virus multiplication; only camptothecin was reversible. Rifampicin had no effect on virus multiplication.


Wilhelm Dilthey forerunner of humanist social thought. Humanist sociology is as a meadow in the forest of positivist science. Much of this space was cleared by Wilhelm Dilthey, not only through his attack on the fundamental assumptions of positivism, but also through his formulation of a critical method by which the works of free human consciousness could be understood. The first tenet of positivism is that the world is made up of "out there" objectively knowable "facts". Dilthey undercut this notion by asserting that the subject matter of the human studies was not mere "facts" of nature, but rather objectified expressions and the human mind. The second central assumption of positivism is that these "facts" are explainable or determined by general casual laws. In contrast, Dilthey asserted that, while we can explain the natural world, human action must be understood through an interpretive rather than a casual logic. In demonstrating and specifically describing such an interpretive procedure, Dilthey provided an epistemiological and methodological grounding for a humanistic science of man.


Presence of histones in Aspergillus nidulans. Five major histone proteins have been extracted from chromatin isolated from purified nuclei of the fungus, Aspergillus nidulans. These proteins had chromatographic properties which were similar to reference calf thymus histones and were purified to electrophoretic homegeneity by gel chromatography of Bio-Gel P10, Bio-Gel P60, and Sephadex G-100. Electrophoresis of these proteins in three different systems (urea-starch, urea-acetic acid polyacrylamide, and discontinuous SDS polyacrylamide) showed that the A. nidulans histones H3 and H4 were nearly identical to calf thymus H3 and H4 with respect to net charge and molecular weight criteria, whereas the fungal histones H1, H2a and H2b were similar but not identical to the corresponding calf thymus histones. Amino acid analysis of A. nidulans histones H2a, H2b, and H4 showed them to be closely related to the homologous calf thymus histones. The mobility patterns of A. nidulans ribosomal basic proteins in three different electrophoretic systems were distinctly different from those of the fungal histones.


Automated electro-oculography.

Automated electro-oculography. Automation of the EOG has the chief advantage that the clinician is relieved of the normal complexities and the time demands of this test. He needs only to be concerned with the interpretation of the final outcome for diagnosis. The expense of this method, relative to the standard techniques, must be assessed according to the circumstances of the clinical setting. At present it certainly cannot be justified in the private clinical practice due to its low level of utilization. However, in a college or large clinic, where a general purpose minicomputer is available, automated control of the EOG test may be the most economical in terms of the additional expenditures required for equipment and manpower.


Bone grafts.

Bone grafts. Bone grafts are of three types--autogenous (from the same individual), homogenous (from the same species), and heterogenous (from a different species). They have many uses--to bridge joints and provide arthrodesis; to fill defects resulting from an osteotomy, excision of a tumor, or a loss of bone: and to provide bone blocks and promote union. The most important single factor in the success of a bone graft is the response and vitality of the host bed, and the most favorable conditions for survival of transplants are autogenous transfers to a well prepared host bed.


Mutagenesis in the strains E. coli K-12 with different ability to genetic recombination. Data on the role of recombination in spontaneous mutagenesis in E. coli K-12 are presented. On the basis of these data it can be presumed that such mutagenesis results from errors in spontaneous recombination. The study of the dependence of mutagenesis induced by mitomycin C, nitrosoguanidine and ethylmethanesulphonate has revealed that only mutagenesis induced by mitomycin C depends on the recombination ability of the cells. Mutagenesis induced by mitomyin C results from errors in the recombinative restoration of damages to DNA induced by this mutagen.


Inducing effect of cortisone and insulin on the activity of beta-galactosidase in the E. coli strains K12. Individual and combined effects of cortisone and insulin on the synthesis of beta-galactosidase in the strains E. coli K 12 200 PS/Flac and M-308 and the possiblity of cortisone uptake by the bacterial cell under different temperature conditions were investigated in their dynamics. When insulin and cortisone are applied simultaneously in doses showing individually the greatest stimulative effect on the synthesis of beat-galactosidase, no summation of the effect of the hormones occurs in the strain E. coli 200 PS/Flac in the presence of IPTG while in the strain E. coli ML-308 simultaneous application of insulin and cortisone induces a negligible increase in the activity of beta-galactosidase. Tests for the incorporation of [3H] cortisone into the strains E. coli 200 PS/Flac and ML-308 have shown that the hormone is taken up by the bacterial cell immediately after its addition to the incubation medium, reaching its maximum after 5 min of incubation and maintaining the same level in the subsequent 30 min. The incorporation of [3H] cortisone at a temperature of 37degrees C is markedly higher than at 4degrees C. Preliminary incubation of the cultures with unlabelled cortisone and insulin resulted in a decrease in the uptake of [3H] cortisone by the bacterial cell.


[Excretion of catecholamines and their precursors after heterotopic heart allotransplantation in rats]. The urine content of catecholamines and their precursors was studied in lineal rats subjected to heterotopic heart allotransplantation, the dynamics being traced from 3 days preoperatively and throughout the period of transplant function (6.8 +/- 0.8 days, on the average). Heterotopic heart allotransplantation was shown to activate the sympathetic link of the sympathoadrenal system.


Some immunologically based reactions that can cause the regression of large tumor masses. A widely held view is that the immune reactions of the host directed against tumor-specific membrane antigens can only eliminate a relatively small number of tumor cells. There are, however, some therapeutic maneuvers, that under some conditions can cause the regression of large tumor masses to which immune factors make a critical contribution. Among these are the injection of complement, administration of double stranded RNA and endotoxin, and the induction of inflammation.


[Artificial "membranous lung"].

[Artificial "membranous lung"]. The paper reviews and anlyses the most widespread up-to-date designs of membranous oxygenators. On an example of some types of membraneous oxygenators and their functional characteristics basic parameters for a comparative evaluation and choice of the "membranous lung" and its effective utilization have been deduced, viz. the circulation rate, the rate of the oxygen and carbon dioxide transport (per 1 m2 of the oxygenating surface), pressure differential, primarily filled up volume and oxygen consumption. The authors underline the need for determining the efficiency of the oxygenator with reference to O2 and CO2 and standard values of unsaturated blood indices. With due regard for promising trends in the future development of artificial "membranous lungs" features that may be of use in the classification of membraneous oxygenators have been systematized.


Neoplastic disease and tumor immunology from the perspective of host-parasite relationships. Neoplasia is considered within the biologic framework of host-parasite relationships, and the arguments favoring this perspective are discussed. By viewing neoplastic processes as dynamic interactions between transformed clones, host defense mechanisms, and the environmental circumstances impinging directly on the neoplastic event, the experimentalist and clinician are better prepared conceptually for a balanced assessment of all factors determining the development and outcome of confrontations with neoplastic clones. The frame of reference placing progressive neoplasia into the category of host-parasite associations also prepares the ground for techinical approaches to the study and observation of oncologic phenomena appropriate to their essential nature. The correct evaluation and most promising future development of the current emphasis on immunologic parameters of neoplasia demands especially an awareness of the role of immunologic variables in other host-parasite relationships.


Spontaneous regression of genitourinary cancers. In genitourinary cancers, spontaneous regression has occurred in few instances and for reasons unknown. Although it cannot be denied that nephrectomy may have promoted regression of distant metastases in some cases, this is an unproved relationship and, in any event, an extremely rare sequence.


Spontaneous regression of breast cancer. The dramatic but rare regression of a verified case of breast cancer in the absence of adequate, accepted, or conventional treatment has been observed and documented by clinicians over the course of many years. In my practice limited to diseases of the breast, over the past 25 years I have observed 12 patients with a unique and unusual clinical course valid enough to be regarded as spontaneous regression of breast cancer. These 12 patients, with clinically confirmed breast cancer, had temporary arrest or partial remission of their disease in the absence of complete or adequate treatment. In most of these cases, spontaneous regression could not be equated ultimately with permanent cure. Three of these case histories are summarized, and patient characteristics of pertinent clinical interest in the remaining case histories are presented and discussed. Despite widespread doubt and skepticism, there is ample clinical evidence to confirm the fact that spontaneous regression of breast cancer is a rare phenomenon but is real and does occur.


["Pyrasanone" in dentistry and oral surgery]. Oedema due to postoperative or post-traumatic infection or injury is noted in odontostomatological patients and its symptoms require prompt treatment. A new anti-inflammatory drug (Carudol) was experimented in association with antibiotics in two groups of patients, one admitted for diseases of the mouth, the other for surgery. Either 300 mg capsules or 425 mg suppositories were used. The results obtained were significant when compared to those offered by other anti-inflammatory drugs.


Spontaneous regression in gynecologic neoplasia. As I have tried to tabulate and evaluate the cases of spontaneous regression of gynecologic malignancy, several facts stand out: 1) They were infrequent. 2) The tumors most commonly undergoing spontaneous regression were the germinal epithelial tumors of the ovary; there was not any case of spontaneous regression of any other variety of ovarian neoplasm. 3) There was not one legitimate case of spontaneous regression of an invasive epidermoid carcinoma of the vulva, vagina, or uterus.


Spontaneous regression of cancer and the importance of finding its cause. A few years ago Everson and I assembled all the examples of spontaneous regression in the world medical literature from 1900 to 1960 and added numerous cases from expriences of our friends. Our figure was 176. We excluded squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, and a large number of cases that did not fulfill the prerequisites of confirmed diagnosis and no significant treatment. The four most common examples of regression were carcinoma of the kidney (31), neuroblastoma (29), malignant melanoma (19), and choriocarcinoma (19); these constituted more than half the group. We did not require that the regression be permanent because it appeared that the explanation of temporary regression would be just as important as the cause of permanent regression. There was no proven specific cause of the regression, but the following mechanisms had a possible relationship: immunologic action, elimination of carcinogens, trauma (altering the antigen-antibody relationship), hormones, irradiation, infection and/or fever, and drugs or chemicals. The most applicable of these is elimination of the carcinogen. Immunologic reactions seem to offer the best explanation, and the potential of humoral immunity is more impressive than that of cellular immunity.


Spontaneous remission in Burkitt's lymphoma. Three cases of spontaneous regression of Burkitt's lymphoma are reviewed and additional clinical and laboratory observations relevant to the role of host defenses are summarized. Spontaneous regression of Burkitt's lymphoma provides compelling evidence for antitumor immunity.


Spontaneous regression of malignant melanoma: a review of the literature on incidence, clinical features, and possible mechanisms. A review of the clinical features of spontaneous regression of malignant melanoma was undertaken. Thirty-three patients with total regression of primary melanoma ("primary regressors") and 40 (13 of whom were somewhat doubtful) with regression of metastatic disease were reviewed in detail. These patients appeared to represent a typical age incidence of melanoma but the primary regressors showed an unexpected predominance of male over female patients. A variety of unique clinical features of the histories of the patients were noted, but none appeared to explain the regression with any degree of predictability. Cutaneous metastases constituted the most common site of regression, followed, in order, by lymphatic, pulmonary, and hepatic metastases. About 40% of patients with spontaneous regressions appeared to have "spontaneous cure," which implies that the disease had not relapsed either during a long period of follow-up or until death from some other cause. Mechanisms that possibly relate to spontaneous regression of melanoma fall into the following general categories: immunologic, endocrine, pigment metabolic, intracellular, nutritional, and carcinogenic. Further quantitative studies of patients acutally undergoing spontaneous regression or the development of a model of spontaneous regression may be a key to our understanding of this interesting "experiment of nature."


Immunotherapy in malignant melanomaa.

Immunotherapy in malignant melanomaa. Accumlated evidence suggests that human neoplasms contain antigens that elicit humoral and cellular immunity in the immunocompetent host. A recent summary report showed that Stage II melanoma patients with metastases to regional lymph nodes had a lowered incidence of recurrence and a higher incidence of survival following surgery and postoperative BCG immunotherapy. To verify these findings, clinical trials are now under way in which we radomized melanoma patients into groups to compare treatment by surgery alone with surgery and BCG only, or surgery and BCG in combination with allogeneic melanoma cell vaccine. Serum samples from each patient are monitored by in vitro techniques to define those methods which best correlate to clinical course. Hopefully, such correlations can be used to monitor response to immunotherapy before disease is clinically apparent. Although immunotherapy does not cause regression of far advanced disease, it undoubtedly will be beneficial against subclinical, microscopic tumor.


Nonspecific antigen reactions.

Nonspecific antigen reactions. Cell-mediated immune challenge reactions to a number of antigens at tumor sites resulted in regressions of various types of benign, premalignant, and malignant lesions in man. Regressions varied from partial to complete and lasted from several months to more than 10 years. Increased levels of cell-mediated immunocompetence were attained by several means, including reduction of tumor burden, immunopotentiation, or transfer of immunity. Antitumor activities of immune challenge reactions are selective for tumor cells and appear to be independent of the nature of the antigens used or the type of neoplasm. Combinations of immunotherapy with other treatment modalities resulted in augmentation of antitumor effects. Preliminary studies indicate that cellular and noncellular mediators of delayed hypersensitivity induce antitumor activities that may be significant in the regressions of neoplasms induced by cell-mediated immune challenge reactions. Since cell-mediated immune reactions are frequent occurrences, they may be a factor in apparently spontaneous regressions of neoplasms.


[Sciatica and occult sacral meningocele]. The authors present the case of a 43-years-old man who had suffered from back pain for 7 to 8 years followed by sciatic. X-rays showed an abnormal sacral cavity extending from S1 to S3. Wtih the suspicion of an occult sacral meningocoele, Dimer X radiculography showed a cystic formation at S2 which only partially filled the sacral cavity. There was also an L5-S1 disc protrusion. At operation, after exploration of the roots on both sides, it was possible to remove a disc herniation at L5-S1 on the right. Laminectomy of S1 and opening of the posterior wall of the sacral canal at S2 and S3 revealed a large cyst of epidural location, touching both S1 roots superiorly and situated behind the communicating cystic cavity seen at radiculography. Histological examination of the sacral cyst showed it to be a dura mater structure, in fact anon-communicating meningocoele.


Cytoplasmic and nuclear receptor-estradiol complex in the hipothalamus and pituitary: relationship with pituitary sensitivity to gonadotropin releasing hormone and gonadotropin secretion in the rat. S.c. introduction of silastic capsules containing estradiol-17beta (E2) in the ovariectomized rat causes a surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) on the following day. The levels of cytoplasmic and nuclear E2 receptor complex were measured in the pituitary and hypothalamus at 0, 9, 24 and 33 h intervals after placing the E2 implant. The pituitary sensitivity to exogenous gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) with respect to LH release in vitro was also measured. The results suggest that: (1) the pituitary sensitivity to exogenous GnRH remained higher 9, 24, and 33 h after placing the implant; (2) the circulating LH level decreased at 24 h and then increased at 33 h; (3) the pituitary and hypothalamic E2 receptor levels show striking differences during E2-induced LH release. Thus, the relationship between pituitary sensitivity to exogenous GnRH and the E2 receptor level in the pituitary and hypothalamus is complex.


Spatial organization at the cell surface. Approaches are described for analysis of spatial organization of cell surface structure. Extraction of cells with nonionic and ionic detergents, chelating and chaotropic agents, salts, and reducing agents results in selective solubilization of surface proteins. Bisimidate disulfide-containing crosslinking reagents produce complexes containing surface proteins which can be analyzed by subsequent dissociation of the complexes. Disulfide-bonded complexes are also found without addition of crosslinkers, and reducing agents aid in extracting surface proteins. These results suggest a possible role for disulfide bonds in cell surface organization. Immunofluorescent staining of cells with antisera to LETS protein and to actin reveals fibrillar structures which survive NP40 extraction. These results indicate a complex organization at the cell surface which is amenable to analysis by permutations of the methods described.


Cellular interactions in the metastatic process. Tumor metastasis is a multistep process which is dependent on both host and tumor properties. It is proposed that the interaction of normal host blood and endothelial cells with circulating malignant cells result in tumor cell arrest leading to subsequent metastases at specific secondary sites. In experimental animal models the frequency and location of metastatic foci can be manipulated by repeated in vivo selection for tumor cell variants showing altered preference for organ-specific implantation and survival. These tumor cell variants can be used to determine the cell surface structures and enzymes involved in the various steps of the metastatic process.


[The immunofluorescence technique detecting antibody-coated bacteria for diagnosis of site of UTI (author's transl)]. The immunofluorescente technique detecting antibody-coated bacteria for diagnosis of site of UTI has been applied to 52 urine samples coming from : 11 patients with clinical diagnosis of pylonephritis, 21 infections of the lower urinary tract, 8 asymptomatic bacteriurias and 2 samples of urine obtained directly by pyelocentesis. The technique confirmed to be specific and sensible: strongly fluorescent germs were observed only in samples coming from pyelonephritis or urine from pyelocentesis. Repeatedly, from single samples were isolated more bacterial strains; only one of them was present in significant quantity. The some observation has been made also in 5 patients clinically affected with P.N., where 2 strains were isolated from each sample. In only one sample both strains were fluorescent, white in the remaining 4 samples the strain present in insignificative quantity was fluorescent. These observations, rather than a double localization (pyelo-renal and lower urinary tract) with different aetiologic agents, were interpreted to be the outcome of repeated antibiotic treatments. It is possible that they could have reduced the fluorescent "bacterial load" of the pyelo-renal region under significant number, simultaneously facilitating the emergence of superinfecting germs at the level of the lower urinary tract. We discuss the therapeutic involvements for a proper antibiotic treatment and the usefulness of flanking the test at the quantitative urine culture.


[Selective deficiencies of phagocytosis and opsonization towards Staphylococcus aureus. 1. Preliminary study in normal humans and patients with debilitating diseases]. We studied simultaneously the bactericidal activity (BA) and the serum opsonic capacity (OC) towards S. aureus and Escherichia coli during 2 hours of phagocytosis in vitro. The PMNs and the sera from 17 seriously ill patients and from 10 normal individuals were tested. Both BA and OC towards E. coli were the same for all patients and controls. The BA for one patient and the OC for three other patients were found to be diminished significantly. The last three patients had infectious complications due to S. aureus only. The selective deficiency of OC towards S. aureus in these three patients may be connected with the pathogenesis of their infectious complications.


The effect of colostrum or past colibacillosis on the adhesion of Escherichia coli to the small intestine of the pig. Nursing litters of vaccinated (K88 antigen) and non-vaccinated gilts as well as weaned piglets, which had recovered from natural colibacillosis, were exposed to Escherichia coli O149: K91(B), K88ac(L) orogastrically and 3-4 h after exposure a proportion of each group was killed for adhesion studies; others were kept for clinical observations. From killed piglets duodenal contents were collected and after washing of the duodenum by standardised techniques it was homogenised. Viable counts of E coli O149 in these specimens were carried out and compared. Colicounts in the duodenal contents and in the homogenate of washed duodenum of naturally infected piglets were also compared. There was less than tenfold difference in counts of K88-positive E coli between duodenal contents and washed duodenum of piglets which were (A) naturally infected, (B) colostrum deprived and experimentally infected, or (C) were from colostrum fed groups where those litter mates which were kept for clinical observation died of colibacillosis. There was 10(3)-10(5)-fold difference in E coli O149 counts between comparable specimens from piglets which (a) recently recovered from K88-positive E coli infection at the time of oral challenge or (b) were from colostrum fed groups where those litter mates which were kept for clinical observation survived oral challenge. It is concluded that adhesion of K88-positive E coli to the epithelium of the anterior small intestine of the pig is a feature of natural as well as experimental colibacillosis. Such adhesion may be prevented by (i) earlier natural infection of K88-positive E coli or (ii) by the ingestion of colostrum of K88 antigen vaccinated dams.


A comparison of the role of kinins and serotonin in endotoxin induced fever and Trypanosoma vivax infections in the goat. Goats were infected with Trypanosoma vivax or inoculated with a low pyrogenic dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) obtained from Escherichia coli or Salmonella typhimurium in order to obtain evidence about the role of kinins and serotonin in the pathogenesis of trypanosomiasis and in endotoxin induced ruminal stasis. The following conclusions were made: (1) whole blood serotonin and bradykinin-like activity levels and clinical symptoms during fever, induced by LPS E coli or T vivax infection are not comparable. (2) There is no good correlation between the changes in heart rate and the temperature rise during fever, evoked by LPS E Coli or T vivax infection. (3) No change of whole blood serotonin level was found during LPS induced fever and only a small increase in the whole blood bradykinin-like activity could be detected. These data suggest that the inhibition of the extrinsic ruminal contractions and the bradycardia followed by a biphasic increase in heart rate during LPS induced fever are not mediated by these substances. (4) The peaks of parasitaemia during the acute phase of T vivax infection are associated with increases in whole blood bradykinin level. However, the high blood bradykinin-like activity did not cause an inhibition of the extrinsic ruminal contractions. (5) The slightly raised bradykinin-like activity during the chronic phase of T vivax infection suggests that bradykinin is not a major factor in the pathogenesis of chronic T vivax infection. (6) The fluctuations of the blood serotonin level during temperature peaks, associated with peaks of parasitaemia and the presence of many platelet thrombi in goats dying during overwhelming parasitaemia suggests a correlation between T vivax, platelet aggregation and blood serotonin decrease.


Experimental infections of sheep with Salmonella typhimurium. Twenty-two-six-to nine-month-old lambs were infected orally with Salmonella typhimurium at levels varying from 2 x 10(13) to 1 x 10(9) and serially slaughtered to determine the pathogenesis of infection and to evaluate the efficacy of diagnostic procedures. Infection resulted in a severe fatal or potentially fatal clinical disease in lambs receiving 2 x 10(13) organisms. Observations were made on the clinical pathology, bacteriology and serology during the course of infection and extensive bacteriological examinations were undertaken at autopsy.


Determination of the cardiac output of anaesthetised pigs using a dye dilution method. Cardiac output was measured in Pietrain and Large White pigs by the indocyanin green dye dilution method. Ventilation was controlled to ensure adequate oxygenation and normocardia. The cardiac output was lower than recorded by other workers in anaesthetised spontaneously breathing pigs.


Serum gastrin levels in patients with renal failure on maintenance haemodialysis and after successful kidney transplantation. Chronic renal failure in man is associated with a hypergastrinaemia which is not corrected by haemodialysis. Serum gastrin concentrations were measured in 66 patients on maintenance haemodialysis and in 27 patients after successful kidney transplantation. The basal gastrin levels distinguished 2 groups of patients on maintenance haemodialysis: a first group with gastrin values less than or equal to 120 pg/ml (mean 58+/-29.88 pg/ml) and a second group with gastrin values greater than 120 pg/ml (mean 295+/-257 pg/ml). The onset of urine output after kidney transplantation was associated with a dramatic fall in gastrin concentration (3 patients studied in the early post-transplant period). 24 patients with stabilized transplant function had serum gastrin levels less than 120 pg/ml (mean 21.33+/- 17.29 pg/ml). The gastrin response to a standard protein meal depended on the basal gastrin concentration and was different in patients with renal failure on maintenance haemodialysis and those with a successful kidney transplantation.


B and T cell surface markers on peripheral lymphocytes from diabetic patients. A study of T and B cell surface markers was carried out on peripheral blood lymphocytes from diabetic patients, employing immunofluorescent staining for membrane Ig, and the E rosette test. According to the immunofluorescent studies the % of sIg bearing lymphocytes decreases with age; this trend is more evident in healthy individuals. Lymphocytes from diabetic patients posses a higher amount of membrane IgG than age-matched controls. It was only in the younger diabetic patients that a definite decrease was observed in the % of IgM bearing lymphocytes. The evaluation of E rosette-forming lymphocytes revealed a similar age-associated reduction both in diabetics and in controls. Some common features of the pattern of T and B cell markers on lymphocytes from younger diabetic patients and older controls suggest that the former undergo, at least from the immunological standpoint, a more precocious ageing process. It is possible that some metabolic disorders in lymphocyte activity may play a role in this, resulting in a deficiency in the control of immunological mechanisms.


[Considerations on the possible fate and effect of administered exogenous phospholipids (oral and parenteral way) (author's transl)]. Phospholipids are receiving a burst of increasing interest in biological and medical sciences. The change in perspective toward these compounds is largely due to the better knowledge we now have on biological membranes and to the increased technical tools available.


[Water activity and food stability. I. Effects on viability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells (author's transl)]. Biological activity of microorganism is related to water activity (aw). In this paper the effect of glicerol as humectant on Saccharomyces cerevisiae viability was considered. The irreversible loss of viability was observed only for values inferior than 0,75. The K+ presence promoted an increasing of cell viability and growth. We have evaluated the changes of the most important components of cell poll; the increasing of glicerol amount of the system induced a drastic fall of aminoacids, purines and K ions content, but it increased the Na ions content. The exposure of cells to increasing glicerol concentrations, caused an aminoacids and purines excretion related to contact time; after a few hours this material was readsorbed by cells.


[Histoimmunofluorescent demonstration of Br. suis in necropsy material]. Use was made of the direct immunofluorescence method for the demonstration of Brucella suis bacteria in paraffin and frozen histosections following the respective handling. The method was tested on necropsy material from experimentally infected test animals and spontaneously infected swine embryos. Compared with the cultural and serologic methods the histoimmunofluorescence one showed far better diagnostic possibilities. The use of the histoimmunofluorescence method is suggested along with the remaining routinely employed techniques in the laboratory practice. It will raise the effectiveness of the investigations for the demonstration of Brucella suis bacteria.


[Localization and persistence of strain K in swine vaccinated against plague]. Pigs vaccinated with the lapinized K strain were studied by the immunofluorescence method, through bioassay on rabbits, and histopathologically. It was found that virus K is retained up to the 12th day post vaccination. If later on the presence of a virus was demonstrated it was believed that a wild virus participated. The virus was found in the spleen, lymph nodes, tonsils, and occasionally in the kidneys. Histologically, there were changes in the central nervous system under the form of nonsuppurative meningoencephalitis, dystrophic and fibroblastic proliferations in the kidneys, and necrobiotic and necrotic areas in the liver. They proved analogous to the changes found in spontaneously affected pigs; it was believed that there was no difference in the tropism of the vaccinal and the wild virus of swine fever. The results obtained improve the laboratory diagnostics of the classic form of swine fever.


[Studies of the etiology of cystopyelitis in hybrid swine]. Studies were carried out on the etiology, clinical picture, morphologic changes, and methods of prophylaxis of the cystopyelitis in hybrid pigs. It was established that in the cases studied the etiologic part is most probably played by Escherichia coli having pronounced virulence for albino mice. Clinically the disease was manifested with hematuria--the cardinal diagnostic symptom; histologically there were nephritis, pyelonephritis, and strong edemas on the wall of the bladder. When hematuria appeared the affected pigs died (at the rate of 100 per cent) as a result of acute anemia. Prophylactic measures have been especially successful with the use of streptomycin to which the isolated coli strains proved sensitive.


[Properties of the contagious ecthyma virus used for vaccine production]. Experiments were carried out to establish the effect of some antibiotics and merthiolate on the vaccinal Phylaxia strain of ecthyma contagiosa. Besides, followed up was the effect of these antibiotics on concomitant microflora that had multipled in the virus suspension. Trials were also made to titrate the vaccinal strain on lambs through scarification. Titration was carried out by the method of Schmidt. Virus dilutions of 10-1 were applied following scarification on the the thighs and fore limbs of two lams. A scarified site was also left without application to check up the effect. Each treatment needed two lambs. It was found that the antibiotics nistatin, kanamycin, oxacillin, tetraolean, oleandomycin, oxitetracyclin and chloramphenicol did not lower the activity of the vaccinal virus Phylaxia. The antibiotics tested at the respective concentrations had no sterilizing effect on the crust media regard to the concomitant bacteria. It is pointed out that the method of virus treatment can be employed to determine the biologic potential of productional batches of ecthyma contagiosa vaccine.


[Effect of some reactivators on cholinesterase activity in the chromodacryorrhea test in rats]. Studied was the activity of low concentrations --- 1-10-12, and 1.10-18 -- of the specific reactivators of the enzyme cholinesterase (ChE): 2-PAM, TMB-4 Toxogonin, HS-3, and HS-6, in a chromodacryorrhea test (ChDT) with rats, daily (in the course of 30 days -- 1 ml/100 g), twice (at an interval of 10 days -- 1 ml/100 g) and once (5 mg/kg) at subcutaneous application. Described is an activating affect (observed for the first time in vivo) on ChE preduced by low and very low concentrations of reactivators of the group of oximes. HS-3 produced best activating effects. The low concentrations of the specific oxime ractivators of ChE, followed up by ChDT, can be used as sensitive quantitative indicators of the activity of ChE. They can also serve to specify the mode of action power and term of effectiveness of these reactivators.


[Enzyme splitting S-adenosylmethionine in the cells of Escherichia coli CK infected with phage CD]. Extract of normal Escherichia coli CK cells methylated DNA of Cd phage in vitro in presence of 3H-S-adenosyl methionine, although in vivo methylation of viral DNA did not occur. Extract of cells, infected with Cd phage, also was unable to methylate the DNA in vitro due to de novo synthesis of the enzyme splitting S-adenosyl methionine to 5'-methyl thioadenosine and homoserine. The enzyme was not found in cells, infected with the phage in presence of chloramphenicol. The activity of the S-adenosyl methionine splitting enzyme was shown to be maximal between the fourth and fifth min of infection. This suggests that the enzyme is synthesized under control of the virus genome, it belongs to the early virus-specific proteins and inhibits the methylation of the phage DNA in vivo. In unpurified extracts of Escherichia coli CK the methylating activity was completely inhibited by 10(-5) M S-adenosyl homocysteine.


[Messenger RNA metabolism in E. coli under amino acid starvation conditions]. In E. coli Hfr Kavalli (met-) turnover of mRNA was studied in normal state and in methionine deficiency. This strain of E. coli was shown to have the 'loose' type of regulation of RNA synthesis (RC-). Without methionine in E. coli Hfr the rate of the protein synthesis was about 7-8% of that found in the control culture. In studies of the total mRNA turnover the half-life of matrices was equal to 2 min at 37degree, if a medium did not contain methionine; the same value was observed in the control culture. At the same time in methionine starvation an increase in amount of rapidly labelled RNA was observed; the RNA remained stable under simultaneous effect of actinomycin D. This rapidly labelled, stable RNA was the messenger-RNA, associated with cytoplasmic membranes. The hypothesis is advanced that membrane-associated and cytoplasmic RNA are those two types of matrices, which differed in their stability when the protein synthesis was inhibited.


Effect of endotoxin on the peritoneal mast cells in mice. Endotoxin administered intraperitoneally has been found to decrease the absolute and relative number of the peritoneal mast cells in mice. The number of peritoneal mast cells showed a dose-dependent biphasic response to endotoxin. Maximal and more consistent decrease in the peritoneal mast cell count was observed at about 24 h and lasted for at least 4 days. Mast cell damage also occurred. The possible mechanism of this phenomenon is discussed.


Functional differentiation of the FSH-synthesizing cells in the pars distalis of the fetal pituitary gland of the rat. The onset of FSH synthesis in the embryonic pituitary gland of the rat was studied by a peroxidase-labelled antibody method. The first FSH-containing cells appeared on the 20th day of embryonic life. From that day onwards, FSH cells increased rapidly in number. It was found that in adult animals some pituitary cells reacted with both anti-HCG and anti-FSH sera, indicating the simultaneous presence of LH and FSH in the same cell.


[Possibilities of vascular surgery in urology and nephrology]. The vascular surgical procedures most frequently applied in urology and nephrology are described. The urological aspects of the various methods are stressed and cases suitable for joint urological and vascular surgery are presented. With respect to the occlusion of the renal artery the difference between the recanalization of this vessel and of the peripheral vessels is pointed out and the importance of preserving the kidney is emphasised. The hope is expressed that by the increasing use of vascular surgical methods a more effective therapeutical possibility will be available to increasing numbers of urological-nephrological patients.


Electron microscopic observations on the interaction of the myosin head subunit with actin in myofibrils. Glycerol-extracted rabbit psoas muscle fibres were treated with a solution containing the head subunits of myosin. Interaction of the isolated myosin heads with actin filaments in situ was indicated by an increase in the density of the I-band and by an increased diameter of actin filaments alongside their whole length. We conclude that actin filaments are able to interact with a considerably larger number of myosin molecules than that available in the myofibril under in vivo conditions.


Generalized transduction Of shigella flexneri by converting phage PE5. Phage PE5, responsible for the conversion of type V antigen in Shigella flexneri, has the ability to produce generalized transduction. The correlation between phage multiplicity and the number of transductants, the specific inhibitory activity of anti-PE5 serum, and the lack of transduction in PE5 resistant recipients, indicate the role of phage PE5 in generalized transduction. Transduction of the R100-1 factor resulted in a non-transmissible tetracycline resistance segragation. The characteristics of the tetracycline resistance determinant suggest the possibility of integration.


Immunity of the guinea pig's eye after vaccination with Shigella sonnei phase I antigen. A total of 8 doses, each containing 10(9) live or heated cells of pure phase I antigen of Shigella sonnei and Plesiomonas shigelloides, was administered into the conjunctival sac of guinea pigs during a 3-week period. The eyes were challenged with virulent S. sonnei. The vaccines protected the eyes in 50-80% to the minimum infecting dose andin 20-50% to 3 MID. The peak of immunity began to decrease after the 26th day and on the 56th day it was practically nil. Vaccination caused histological changes in the conjunctiva but not in the cornea.


The role in sporadic enteritis of facultatively enteropathogenic Escherichia coli serogroups. During a two-year period, 2411 faecal specimens and 514 throat swabs were cultured from 1674 persons, mainly infants and children. Of 31 Escherichia coli serogroups considered to represent facultatively enteropathogenic agents, the following were encountered: O4, O18a,b, O18a,c, O19, O20, O25, O28a,b, O32, O51, O53, O75, O78, O79, O105, O112a,c, O114, O115, O117, O129, O143, O145, O148. There was no significant difference in the incidence of the organisms and their serogroup distribution between patients with enteritis, patients with extraintestinal diseases and healthy individuals. A rise of antibody titre in some of the patients indicated an association with enteritis in case of serogropus O4, O18a,c, O19, O25, O75, O78 and O117. It has been assumed that the presence in faeces of a facultatively pathogenic E. coli serogroup does not necessarily prove its aetiological relationship to the disease.


The social value of fluphenazine decanoate. The Medical Research Council (England) conducted a double blind placebo controlled trial of fluphenazine decanoate as a form of maintenance therapy for schizophrenic out-patients. The results clearly demonstrated the clinical and social value of the drug in minimizing positive psychotic features, in preventing relapse and thereby alleviating distress amongst the parents of single patients and the wives of married patients. The drug allows the patients to fulfill normal social role expectations.


[Re-issue of "From Anguish to Ectasy"].

[Re-issue of "From Anguish to Ectasy"]. Pierre Janet noteworthy works keep, after half a century, its interest and originality. Through his writings, he gives the main character of an unique system including all the psychopathology. An important place is given to the feelings and their psychological rules, this in a genetical context. Pierre Janet does not accept to give to the traumatic events a main importance, his conception is this of a unity of the mental pathology. Conception which is built on an innovation giving all the attract of this work: the notion of belief, the distinction between its structure and its object, the explanation of its importance in genetical evolution and in psychopathology. Pierre Janet shows by this research an unexplored way which can constitute a new phase in the modern psychopathology.


[Estimation of FSH and LH before and after stimulation with LH-RH in male sterility and hypogonadism]. Plasma levels of FSH and LH, in 232 subjects examined for sterility or hypogonadism, have been assessed vefore and after stimulation by LH RH (100 microng IV). In excretory azoospermia, the basal levels as well as the response to LH RH of FSH as well as LH are normal. In early testicular damage (constitutional or acquired); basal FSH levels are elevated (91% of the cases) as well as the FSH response to LH RH (78%); basal LH levels are either normal (66% of the cases) or elevated (34%). An augmentation of the LH response has been found in 92% of the cases. In hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism (n = 12) 3 types of responses have been noticed : absence of response of FSH and of LH (7 cases); normal FSH response, no LH response (2 cases); exaggerated FSH and LH response (2 cases). In idiopahtic oligospermia (n = 84); basal FSH levels are elevated in 24 cases but normal in the rest. There is a highly significant correlation between basal FSH and its response to LH RH injection (r = 0.73, t = 9,67 p less than 0,001); basal LH levels are normal, except in 5 cases where a definite increase has been noted. The response of LH is exaggerated in 36 cases which includes the 5 showing enhanced basal LH levels. There is a highly significant correlation between FSH response and LH response (r = 0,55; t = 5,94; p less than 0,001). Exploration of patients with varicocoele intact or operated show no difference from those suffering from idiopathic oligospermia. From a practical point of view, the LH RH test enables : a distinction between excretory azoospermia and secretory azoospermia with normal testicular volume, without recourse to testicular biopsy; affirmation, in 36% of cases with idiopathic oligospermia of the early damage to spermatogenesis, thus contra-indicating any treatment involving testicular stimulation. From the physico-pathological point of view : the early damage to spermatogenesis is characterized by an elevation in basal FSH and its response to LH RH injection. The significance of the augmented Lh response, which often accompanies an augmentation in FSH response but incertain cases is isolated, is discussed.


Polyamines, equilibrium between ribosomal particles and protein synthesis in bacteria. When putrescine is added to polyamine starved cultures of an E. coli strain difficient in the biosynthesis of putrescine, the protein synthesis is enhanced almost immediately and the ribosomal pattern changes concomitantly, increasing the ratio 70S monomer/ribosomal subparticles. Studies with cell-free systems derived from polyamine starved or unstarved bacteria show that the translation of synthetic and natural mRNAs is several fold higher in system prepared from cells grown in the presence of polyamines. This effect depends on the ribosomal particles and more specifically on the 30S subunit. The results on association of ribosomal subunits strongly suggest that polyamines are involved in this reaction occurring in vivo.


The stringent control mechanism. Binding of uncharged tRNA and stringent factor to Escherichia coli ribosomes. The mechanism of the interaction of uncharged tRNA and stringent factor with the ribosomes during the in vitro synthesis of guanosine polypnophates (pppGpp and ppGpp) was studied. 70S ribosomes lacking proteins L7 and L12 were able to bind radioactive stringent factor but not EF-Tu or EF-G. In addition, ribosomes carrying EF-Tu, GMPPCP and Phe-tRNA bound as much stringent factor as 70S ribosomes alone. This evidence suggests that the stringent and elongation factors recognize nonidentical site (s) on the ribosomes. When a 70S - poly U - tRNA complex was formed in the absence of stringent factor and was subsequently incubated with Nac-Phe-tRNA or Phe-tRNA only the binding of Nac-Phe-tRNA to the complex was inhibited. However, when the 70S-poly U-tRNA complex was formed in the presence of stringent factor and then was incubated with Nac-Phe-tRNA or Phe-tRNA only the binding of Phe-tRNA was inhibited. These results indicate that the stringent factor directs uncharged codon-specific tRNA into the acceptor site of the ribosome.


[Morphology of the endocrine portion of the reptile pancreas]. The endocrinous part of the pancreatic gland of reptiles Lacerta agilis, Agama sanguinolenta, Varanus griseus, Testudo horsfieldi and Clemmus Caspica is formed by A-, B- and D-cells. The main form of its structural organization is pancreatic islands. In adition to them, remnants of the "external epithelium" are found in Varanus griseus and A-cells disposed outside of the pancreatic islands in Testudo horsfieldi and Clemmys caspica. As compared with amphibia, reptiles have a better developed counterinsular component (A-cells) of the endocrinous part of the pancreas. The acino-island cells of "A" and "D" types are also found in the pancreas of reptiles, "A"-type cells being predominant among them.