Glutamine transport and metabolism by mitochondria from dog renal cortex. General properties and response to acidosis and alkalosis. Mitochondria from dog renal cortex were incubated with L-[14Cglutamine. Glutamate metabolism was prevented by inhibitors so that glutamate accumulated either in the mitochondrial matrix space or in the medium. The formation and accumuation of glutamate formed from glutamine and the distribution of glutamine in the mitochondrial fluid spaces were studied. In the matrix space glutamate rapidly reaches levels over 5 times that of glutamine in the medium. A more gradual accumulation occurs in the medium as glutamate is transported out of the mitochondria. Addition of an energy source such as succinate to the medium accelerates glutamate formation. A Km of 0.6 mM appears to govern the reaction at low concentrations of glutamine; at about 4 mM an abrupt change kinetics occurs with a Km of 5 mM above that level. Both NH4+ and glutamate inhibit glutamine metabolism and phosphate stimulates it, but little effect glutamate or phosphate occurs at low levels of these substances. The pH optimum of the reaction is between 7.4 and 7.8. Mersalyl and p-chloromercuribenzoate strongly inhibit glutamate formation; N-ethylmaleimide and bromcresol green have weaker inhibitory actions, and borate increases the reaction rate. In the presence of mersalyl, glutamine is striclly confined to the outer space of mitochondria and none is detectable in the matrix space. Similarly at ) degrees glutamine is confined to the simultaneously determined sucrose or mannitol spaces...


Bronchoprovocation: effect on priming and desensitization phenomenon in the lung. Priming, or increased sensitivity to antigen, has not been demonstrated in the lung and could play a role in asthmatic symptomatology during seasonal pollen exposure. It is also an important consideration in the design of any experimental protocol requiring serial bronchoprovocations with antigen. Thirteen patients with a history of asthma symptoms during the pollen season and a positive skin test to ragweed extract were selected. Patients were given bronchial challenge out of season on 4 successive days with stepwise inhalations of antigen, and airways conductance was monitored in the body plethysmograph. Antigen dose-response curves were drawn, and the cumulative dose required for a 35% reduction in specific airway conductance was calculated and designated Provocation Dose (PD35). No regular trend toward either priming or desensitization was noted. The daily changes in antigen sensitivity did not correlate with daily variation of baseline pulmonary function. To determine if there was any priming due to natural exposure to pollen, 9 patients were brought back and rechallenged during the pollen season with no significant increase in bronchial sensitivity to ragweed extract. The PD35 method provides figures useful for comparing dose-response curves and shows a one-log variation from day to day. Any evaluation by bronchial challenge of antigen sensitivity or drug efficacy must take into account such variation.


The pharmacokinetics of dihydroxypropyltheophylline: a basis for rational therapy. Dihydroxypropyltheophylline (dyphylline) was administered in a single dose on 7 different days to 7 normal subjects; 5 mg/kg was given by intramuscular injection and oral tablet; 10 mg/kg was given by these routes and also in 3 different liquid formulations. Dyphylline is rapidly absorbed, and bioavailability is independent of route of administration or formulation. The pharmacokinetics of dyphylline do not appear to be dose-dependent in the dosage range studied. The mean half-life of dyphylline is 2.11 +/- 0.36 hr; because of its short half-life and unproved efficacy, current dosage recommendations for dyphylline must be revised greatly. Further efficacy trials utilizing the pharmacokinetic data from this study are essential.


Detection of IgG antibody to deoxyribonucleic acid by the radioallergosorbent test. IgG antibodies to heat-denatured calf thymus deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) single-stranded DNA:ss-DNA) in the sera of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) could be detected by means of solid-phase radioimmunoassay. Single-stranded DNA coupled covalently to microcrystalline cellulose and 125I-labeled anti-human gamma chain were used for this test. The principle of this test is known as the radioallergosorbent test (RAST). This paper describes the usefulness of the RAST for the detection of human IgG antibody. Specificity of this test was examined by an inhibition test using ss-DNA and double-stranded DNA (ds-DNA). A trial for the detection of IgM and IgA antibodies to ss-DNA was also attempted.


Biphasic local reaction to a new insulin (U-100). The phenomenon of localized insulin reaction is described and illustrated by the report of a case. The patient's unusual response consisted of an "early" and a "late" phase to single-peak and single-component insulins. No definite immunologic mechanism was established on the basis of immunologic studies or from histologic examination of skin biopsies.


A mathematical model of aging processes. III. Comments on the relative importance of serum cholesterol and blood pressure levels on mortality. The distributions of serum cholesterol, blood pressure, and their values added together, were examined on a cross-sectional basis for a Montreal population. The results showed that all three distributions seem to be represented better by a log normal than by a normal distribution; but in each case, there was no pronounced increase in the skew with age. The distribution of the systolic blood pressure values exhibited an increasing variance with age, whereas the distribution of the serum cholesterol values remained approximately similar with age. The distribution of the two parameters added together also did not alter significantly with age. These results are consistent with the assumption that, if the serum cholesterol value of an individual changes, the individual will be placed at a substantially greater risk than if changes occur for blood pressure levels. Subpopulations of particular concern, with respect to changes in serum cholesterol levels, are those which undergo weight changes and those which smoke cigarettes.


Protective effects of atromid-S in vivo on mitochondrial stability in tissues of aged hamsters. Atromid-S and nicotinic acid (hypocholesterolemic agents) were tested in vivo for their effects on mitochondrial yields and oxidative phosphorylation in tissues of aging hamsters. It was observed that atromid-S increased mitochondrial yields from both heart and skeletal muscle (39 and 64%, respectively), while nicotinic acid increased the yield only from skeletal muscle (97%). Efficiency (P:0 ratios) and rates of oxidative phosphorylation remained unchanged by drug treatment. Atromid-S treatment only partially protected against loss of controlled phosphorylation on prolonged storage of heart and skeletal muscle mitochondria of aging hamsters. It appeared that atromid-S may produce its effects on mitochondrial yields by decreasing the fragility of the mitochondria from the aging animals. The effects of the drug were not permanent, and values returned to control levels after 3 weeks from cessation of treatment.


The pathogenesis of hypophyseal fibrosis in aging: its relationship to tissue iron deposition. An investigation was made of 101 hypophyses from male and female human subjects dying from unrelated diseases. Careful microscopic examination revealed that fibrous replacement of the gland begins after the fourth decade. There is a gradual increase in iron deposition in this connective tissue after the 4th decade. It is suggested that the fibrous replacement of the hypophysis is a consequence of repeated bouts of passive congestion with diapedesis of red cells through the walls of anoxic capillaries. This pattern is akin to that of brown induration of the lung. In this manner, the active cells of the hypophysis may gradually be replaced by collagenous tissue. Because of the inherent slowness of this process, the gland seems to adapt quite well to a reduction in functional elements, thus circumventing significant clinical effects.


Human growth hormone and cortisol response to insulin stimulation in aging. The influence of age on plasma growth hormone (HGH) and cortisol response to i.v. insulin (0.1 U/kg of body weight) was evaluated in 32 healthy subjects whose ages ranged between 20 and 84 years. A significant reduction in HGH response to insulin was observed with aging. In the young (20-34 years), middel-aged (35-49 years), and elderly (53-84 years) groups, average HGH peaks were 46.51 +/- 7.37, 29.95 +/- 5.35, and 14.31 +/- 2.39 ng/ml while average HGH areas were 2.911 +/- 0.484, 1.654 +/- 0.316, and 0.699 +/- 0.149 mug-min, respectively. Since insulin's hypoglycemic effect became less rapid with aging, this could, in part, explain the progressive decline in the HGH response to insulin. This phenomen may also be attributed to histological changes occurring in the pituitary with aging. Moreover, cortisol response was similar to all three age groups. These findings suggest that, while HGH response to insulin is correlated with age, adrenal response does not show any important modifications with aging.


Acute drug reactions among the elderly.

Acute drug reactions among the elderly. Research in the field of social gerontology has not examined rug use and abuse amont the aged despite the potential significance of this issue to many students of gerontology. This report, based on an analysis of the records of patients who were treated for acute drug reactions at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida, during 1972, examines characteristics of acute drug reactions among a sample of 60 elderly patients and compares these characteristics with those of other age cohorts. The findings show that acute drug reactions were more likely to occur among whites and females, that a substantial number of the reactions followed the ingestion of two or more substances, that roughly one-third of the admissions were directly related to suicide attempts, and that the vast majority of acute drug reactions among the elderly admissions involved the ingestion of legally manufactured and distributed drugs.


Dementia in the elderly--a search for treatable illnesses. Forty patients with senile dementia were evaluated prospectively with laboratory and radiologic investigations, including computerized axial transverse tomography. Five patients were believed to have potentially treatable illnesses causing the dementia. After treatment, the dementia in one patient with hypothyroidism was completely resolved. One patient with pernicious anemia was markedly improved, and a second patient with hypothyroidism was somewhat improved. One patient with a brain tumor was not treated, and a severely demented patient with possible normal pressure hydrocephalus died shortly after shunting without improvement. The discovery of these unsuspected illnesses and the gratifying response to treatment in some suggests the importance of systematic evaluation in all patients with senile dementia.


Response of institutionalized geriatric mental patients to a twelve-week program of regular physical activity. Twenty-three geriatric patients from a mental institution were randomly assigned to three groups-a social group, an exercise group, and a control group. Subjects participated in the study for 12 weeks. Heart rate at rest, exercise and recovery, balancing ability, total daily activity level (diary method), and a self-care inventory were recorded for analysis. Data were collected at the start, the 8th and 12th weeks of the study, and 4 weeks after the termination of treatment. A Groups X Sex X Measurement Period factorial design, using multivariate analysis of variance tested the effect of the three factors. The trials effect was significant, as were several univariate tests for the sex effect and group by sex interaction. Data were discussed in terms of programmed physical activity for geriatrics, its value, and the limitations of evaluating such behavior in geriatric populations.


Qualitative vocabulary test responses and age. Vocabulary test responses, as traditionally scored were compared to these same responses when scored for finer nuances of understanding, as determined by the criterion of superior synonyms. It was hypothesized that the latter would be more related to age in a deficit pattern than the former. The results partly supported the hypothesis and partly not. In the context of the positive results, it is not clear whether the aged cannot, or simply do not, give synonym responses as readily as the young. It may be more of a cohort preference not to, rather than an age limitation of intellectual ability.


The effect od differential reinforcement of cautiousness in intellectual performance among the elderly. The effects of differential reinforcement of cautiousness upon intellectual performance in the elderly were investigated employing 56 females and 32 males with a mean age of 73 years. Cautiousness was manipulated by systematically varying pre-test instruction conditions involving the reinforcement of two levels of risk and of response omission when taking the Primary Mental Abilities Test (PMA). Results suggest that performance in intelligence tests is much influenced by situational variables involving motivational components. Subjects exposed to low-risk conditions performed significantly better on cognitive tasks than those exposed to high-risk conditions only when they were able to exercise the option of responding or not responding to individual task items. Implications for a reconstruction of conventional intelligence measures are discussed.


Aging as exchange: a preface to theory.

Aging as exchange: a preface to theory. After a brief review of the major concepts and propositions of the social-psychological theory of exchange, a view of aging as exchange is developed. Drawing upon the previous work of Blau and Emerson, problems of aging are seen as problems of decreasing power resources. Because power resources decline with increased age, older persons become increasingly unable to enter into balanced exchange relations with other groups with whom they are in interactions. From this view, the process of disengagement is the result of a series of exchange relations in which the relative power of the aged vis-a-vis their exchange partner increasingly deteriorates. An imbalanced exchange ratio consequently results in which the aged are forced to exchange compliance--the most costly of all generalized reinforcers--for their continued sustenance. The retirement phenomenon is specified as illustrative of the aging as exchange process.


The efficacy of preretirement preparation programs for industrial workers. The ability of preretirement programs to generate changes which will facilitate the transition to retirement was investigated. A research design incorporating two experimental groups and one control group was employed to evaluate a group discussion program and an individual briefing program. Questionnaire data were collected prior to the programs and 1 mo. after program completion. Over 70 hourly and salaried male workers, age 60+, participated in the project. The group discussion program was effective in increasing knowledge of retirement issues. Participants felt better prepared for retirement and evidenced less uncertainty about the future. They also exhibited a significant increase in the number of preparation activities undertaken and the prevalence of retirement plans. Effectiveness of the individual briefing program was relatively minimal. This study indicated that a comprehensive preretirement program can produce favorable changes in retirement-related knowledge, attitudes, and behavior.


Housing characteristics and the well-being of elderly tenants in federally assisted housing. The relationship between sponsorship, community size, building size (number of dwelling units) and height of building, on the one hand, and six indices of well-being of elderly tenants, on the other, was examined in a study of 2457 subjects from 154 federally-assisted housing projects. Control was exercised on a variety of personal variables prior to the examination of the environmental relationships to well-being. Private nonprofit sponsorship was associated with higher friendship scores and greater activity participation. Tenants in smaller communities had higher friendship scores, greater housing satisfaction, and greater activity participation. Housing satisfaction was greater in projects that were smaller in terms of total number of units but was not related to size when size was defined in terms of elderly-designated units. Thus, only marginal support for Barker's undermanning hypothesis was found. Greater height of building was associated with lower housing satisfaction and less neighborhood motility.


Maintenance of function in relocation of community-dwelling older adults. Relocation is often seen as a high-risk stress for the elderly. The present study compared relatively healthy older people moving voluntarily with nonmovers. An examination of behavioral test performance in a pre-post design revealed no decrement in function among those who changed residence. The proscription against relocation of older adults would appear to best be tempered with a careful examination of the conditions surrounding the move and the particular population involved. If there is indeed risk in the relocation of the institutionalized aged, there appears to be no necessary comparable risk among the noninstitutionalized old.


A component of fluid absorption linked to passive ion flows in the superficial pars recta. We studied salt and water absorption in isolated rabbit superficial proximal straight tubules perfused and bathed with solutions providing oppositely directed transepithelial anion gradients similar to those which might obtain in vivo. The perfusing solution contained 138.6 mM Cl- 3.8 mM HCO-3 (pH 6.6) while the bathing solution contained 113.6 mM Cl- and 25 mM HCO-3 (pH 7.4); the system was bubbled with 95% O2-5% CO2. At 37 degrees C, net volume absorption (Jv nl min-1 mm-1) was 0.32 +/- 0.03 (SEM); Ve, the transepithelial voltage (millivolts; lumen to bath), was +3.1 +/- 0.2. At 21 degrees C, Ve rose to +3.7 +/- 0.1 and Jv fell to 0.13 +/- 0.01 (significantly different from zero at P less than 0.001); in the presence of 10(-4)M ouabain at 37 degrees C, Ve rose to +3.8 +/- 0.1 and Jv fell to 0.16 +/- 0.01 (P less than 0.001 with respect to zero). In paired experiments, the ouabain- and temperature-insensitive moieties of Jv and Ve became zero when transepithelial anion concentration gradients were abolished. Titrametric determinations net chloride flux at 21 degrees C or at 37 degrees C with 10(-4) M ouabain showed that chloride was the sole anion in an isotonic absorbate. And, combined electrical and tracer flux data indicated that the tubular epithelium was approximately 18 times more permeable to Cl- than to HCO-3. We interpret these results to indicate that, in these tubules, NaCl absorption depends in part on transepithelial anion concentration gradients similar to those generated in vivo and in vitro by active Na+ absorption associated with absorption to anions other than chloride. A quantitative analysis of passive solute and solvent flows in lateral intercellular spaces indicated that fluid absorption occurred across junctional complexes when the osmolality of the lateral intercellular spaces was equal to or slightly less than that of the perfusing and bathing solutions; the driving force for volume flow under these conditions depended on the fact that sigmaHCO3 exceeded sigmaCl.


Light-induced changes of sensitivity in Limulus ventral photoreceptors. The responses of Limulus ventral photoreceptors to brief test flashes and to longer adapting lights were measured under voltage clamp conditions. When the cell was dark adapted, there was a range of energy of the test flashes over which the peak amplitude of the responses (light-induced currents) was directly proportional to the flash energy. This was also true when test flashes were superposed on adapting stimuli but the proportionality constant (termed peak currently/photon) was reduced. The peak current/photon was attenuated more by brighter adapting stimuli than by less bright adapting stimuli. The peak current/photon is a measure of the sensitivity of the conductance-increase mechanism underlying the light response of the photo-receptor. The response elicited by an adapting stimulus had a large initial transient which declined to a smaller plateau. The peak current/photon decreased sharply during the declining phase of the transient and was relatively stable during the plateau. This indicates that the onset of light adaptation is delayed with respect to the onset of the response to the adapting stimulus. If the adaptational state just before the onset of each of a series of adapting stimuli was constant, the amplitude of the transient was a nearly linear function of intensity. When the total intensity was rapidly doubled (or halved) during a plateau response, the total current approximately doubled (or halved). We argue that the transition from transient to plateau, light-elicited changes of threshold, and the nonlinear function relating the plateau response to stimulus intensity all reflect changes of the responsiveness of the conductance-increase mechanism.


A further study of the fine structure and membrane properties of neuroglia in the optic nerve of Necturus. The optic nerve of Necturus maculosus consists of a homogeneous population of astroglia and bundles of unmyelinated axons. The glial cell processes ramify within the nerve roughly delineating fascicles of axons and come together at the periphery to form a complete external limiting membrane interrupted only by narrow clefts between adjacent processes. They are frequently "attached" to one another, forming specialized junctions. Blood vessels are entirely outside the nerve which is surrounded by a basal lamina. The temperature dependence of the glial membrane potential is accurately predicted by the Nernst relation. The membrane potential is unaffected by changes in Cl, Na, Li, and guanidinium which are apparently impermeant. The permeability of the glial membrane to other cations is in the sequence Tl greater than K greater than Rb greater than Cs greater than NH4. This suggests that the chemical nature of the site of potassium permeability in glial cells is similar to that in the neuron.


Voltage clamping with a single microelectrode. A technique is described which allows neurons to be voltage clamped with a single microelectrode, and the advantages of this circuit with respect to conventional bridge techniques are discussed. In this circuit, the single microelectrode is rapidly switched from a current passing to a recording mode. The circuitry consists of: (1) an electronic switch; (2) a high impedance, ultralow input capacity amplifier; (3) a sample-and-hold module; (4) conventional voltage clamping circuitry. The closed electronic switch allows current to flow through the electrode. The switch then opens, and the electrode is in a recording mode. The low input capacity of the preamplifier allows the artifact from the current pulse to rapidly abate, after which time the circuit samples the membrane potential. This cycle is repeated at rates up to 10 kHz. The voltage clamping amplifier senses the output of the sample-and-hold module and adjusts the current pulse amplitude to maintain the desired membrane potential. The system was evaluated in Aplysia neurons by inserting two microelectrodes into a cell. One electrode was used to clamp the cell and the other to independently monitor membrane potential at a remote location in the soma.


Compartmental analysis of compliance and outflow resistance of the cerebrospinal fluid system. The distribution of compliance and outflow resistance between cerebral and spinal compartments was measured in anesthetized, ventilated cats by analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure response to changes in CSF volume. Cerebral and spinal compartments were isolated by inflating a balloon positioned epidurally at the level of C-6. The change of CSF volume per unit change in pressure (compliance) and change of CSF volume per unit of time (absorption) were evaluated by inserting pressure data from the experimental responses into a series of equations developed from a mathematical model. It was found that 68% of total compliance is contributed by the cerebral compartment while the remaining 32% is contained within the spinal axis. The cerebral compartment accounted for 84% of total CSF absorption. The mechanism for spinal absorption appears to be similar in that no differences were obvious on the basis of pressure dynamics.


Micro- and macrovascular changes as the direct cause of parenchymal destruction in congenital murine hydrocephalus. Microangiotomography was used to identify the normal and pathological pattern of cerebral vessels in the hy-3 murine mutant mouse (normal and hydrocephalic) at various developmental stages from birth through 21 days of life. The technique employed allows resolution, in the range of 7 to 10 mu of the surface and intraparenchymal (perforating) microvasculature. Ventricular enlargement causes displacement of primary cerebral arteries, followed by both stretching and a decrease in the caliber of primary, secondary, and tertiary vessels (arterial and venous). Ultimately, there is a reduction in the number and caliber of the microvasculature, resulting in diminished cerebral blood flow and cerebral edema. Tissue destruction leading to ependymal rupture, parenchymal cavitation, and the formation of porencephalic cysts within the edematous parenchyma ensues. External ventricular drainage, by decompressing the ventricles, resulted in rapid restoration of the filling of the primary and secondary vessels, thereby suggesting the primary role of vascular changes in the production of brain damage. This study offers experimental evidence that early diversion of the cerebrospinal fluid interrupts this chain of events in congenital murine hydrocephalus.


Clinical manifestations of aqueductal stenosis in adults. The authors review 17 cases of aqueductal stenosis in adults and describe five modes of clinical presentation. The average duration of symptoms was 6 years. Dementia was infrequent. Skull x-ray films frequently demonstrated some degree of cranial enlargement and signs of chronic increased intracranial pressure. Characteristic alterations of the sella included elongation of the anterior wall and flattening, erosion, and anterior displacement of the dorsum. Aqueductal configurations as defined by ventriculography and pneumoencephalography in all cases, and the angiographic findings in seven cases are described. Most of the patients improved substantially after shunt insertion. The clinical findings suggested that aqueductal narrowing and associated hydrocephalus had been present in most of these patients since early life.


Agenesis of arachnoid granulations and its relationship to communicating hydrocephalus. The authors discuss reabsorption of cerebrospinal fluid in relation to the post-mortem findings in two children, one with total agenesis of the Pacchionian system accompanied by hydrocephalus, and the other with a subtotal agenesis and no hydrocephalus. Case 1 is the only known documented case of total agenesis of the Pacchionian system and gives credence to the idea that an impaired reabsorption of cerebrospinal fluid at the level of the Pacchionian system is a cause of hydrocephalus. The patient in Case 2 showed only two small areas of arachnoid granulations containing a few flattened, microscopic villi of normal cellularity.


Anatomical mapping of the cerebral nervi vasorum in the human brain. The authors present an anatomical study of the vascular nerve fiber distribution to the human intracranial arteries. These fibers are abundant in the circle of Willis and its neighboring arteries, but there are no vascular nerves in small pial arteries over the convexity. These nerve fibers are provided with a cluster of synaptic vesicles as they approach the smooth muscle cells of the media. Adrenergic axons are also found in these fibers.


Ultrastructural observations of the capsule of chronic subdural hematoma in various clinical stages. The authors used light and electron microscope to examine the capsules of chronic subdural hematoma in 33 cases. In cases with neurological deficits, capillary endothelial cells in the capsule had many cytoplasmic protrusions and fenestrations, suggesting high permeability of the capillary wall. Endothelial degeneration was also observed in these cases. These morphological changes were reversed by osmotherapy. Formation of collagen fibrils from fibroblasts in the hematoma capsule was frequently observed in the cases treated by osmotherapy.


Indications for surgical treatment of intracerebral hemorrhage. The authors report a series of 71 patients with intracerebral hemorrhage: 57 underwent surgery and 14, although suitable candidates for surgery, refused operation. The results are assessed in relation to the site of the hemorrhage, mode of onset, and interval between accident and operation.


Temporal-lobe seizures with additional foci treated by resection. The authors describe the use of temporal lobectomy following careful and repeated electroencephalogram (EEG) evaluation (with implanted electrodes in otherwise unresolvable cases) in the epileptic group characterized by automatisms (psychomotor seizures) with temporal epileptiform activity complicated by EEG foci in the opposite temporal lobe or by extratemporal activity. They found that this can render a significant number of patients (between 25% and 50%) either seizure-free or with significant and useful reduction in their seizure frequency. The cure and improvement rates of cases followed up after temporal resection with or without prior study with implanted electrodes were approximately equal. However, the implanted electrodes permitted surgical treatment of certain cases which would have been rejected on the basis of evidence derived from the scalp recordings alone. Of 28 of these 34 patients with persisting EEG epileptiform activity in the postoperative period, only one had such activity in a different location in a follow-up period of 6 years. No evidence of spreading epileptic activity or appearance of "mirror foci" was seen during a follow-up period averaging 8.2 years. Seizure remission up to 15 years with eventual recurrence of the original seizure type may occur following surgical therapy. Follow-up studies of surgical epileptic treatment of less than 3 to 5 years are of doubtful value.


Neurinomas of the facial nerve. Report of three cases. Three cases of neurinomas of the facial nerve are reported. Two of them originated from the labyrinthine portion of the nerve and the other from the vertical portion. Neurinomas of the first part of the facial nerve can be suspected preoperatively since they seem to give rise to specific clinical and radiological manifestations that can be distinguished from tumors of other portions of the nerve, the petrous bone area, or the cerebellopontine angle. The reported cases of neurinomas of the facial nerve are reviewed and analyzed.


Intrathalamic epidermoid tumor. Case report. A case of an intrathalamic epidermoid tumor is reported, and the literature is reviewed with regard to the incidence, location, and etiology of intracerebral epidermoid tumors. The high frequency of mental symptoms associated with these tumors is also discussed.


Embolic posterior cerebral artery occlusion secondary to spondylitic vertebral artery compression. Case report. The authors report a case of isolated homonymous hemianopsia secondary to embolic occlusion of the posterior cerebral artery. The cause of embolism was demonstrated to be spondylitic vertebral artery compression. The importance of arteriography is emphasized since the clinical syndrome may be nonspecific and myelographic or plain x-ray changes may be minimal. Surgical therapy is also discussed.


Superimposed chronic subdural hygromas. Report of two cases. Two cases are reported of separate but superimposed chronic subdural collections occurring over one cerebral hemisphere convexity. It is suggested that this phenomenon may account for some apparent recurrences of chronic subdural collections after simple burr-hole evacuation.


Pneumocephalus following ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Case report. The authors describe a case of massive pneumocephalus following ventriculoperitoneal shunting for hydrocephalus. After multiple diagnostic and surgical procedures, congenital defects in the tegmen tympani of both temporal bones were identified as the sources for entry of air. A functioning shunt intermittently established negative intracranial pressure and allowed ingress of air through these abnormalities; when the shunt was occluded, air did not enter the skull, and there was no cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Repair of these middle ear defects prevented further recurrence of pneumocephalus.


Collagen sponge for surface brain protection. Technical note. The authors discuss the properties, use, and advantages of collagen sponge as a microneurosurgical adjunct. Experience with the material in over 300 operative cases has demonstrated its value for protecting the surface of the brain during exposure and retraction in neurosurgical procedures.


The effects of l-propranolol and practolol on atrial and nodal transmembrane potentials. Effects of l-propranolol, racemic propranolol and practolol have been determined on transmembrane potentials recorded in guinea-pig left atrium and in sinoatrial and atrioventricular nodes of the rabbit heart. In addition to the voltage -time recording of the action potential, its first time derivative was displayed as a function of membrane voltage, forming a phase-plane trajectory. A number of parameters of the action potential were determined from this trajectory. At the concentrations used the beta adrenoceptor blocking agents reduced the maximum rate of rise of the atrial action potential and slowed repolarization. The velocity of the propagated spike was reduced, and the maximum ionic conductance was also reduced. The excitation potential of the propagated spike was unaffected. The membrane effects were markedly dependent on the frequency of stimulation. The beta adrenoceptor blocking agents were without effect on either the sinoatrial or atrioventricular nodes. Since the spontaneously active right atrium beats more slowly than the heart of the intact rabbit, the atrioventricular node was electrically stimulated at 5 to 6 Hz. Neither drug affected the ability of the node to follow these stimulation frequencies. The importance of these effects in the control of cardiac arrhythmias is discussed.


Rate of onset of cardiotonic steroid-induced inotropism: influence of temperature and beat interval. Isolated rabbit atria were employed to examine the rate of onset of inotropism of two glycosides (strophanthin and ouabain) and aglycones (acetylstrophanthidin and ouabagenin) under a variety of conditions of temperature and beat interval. The rate of onset of glycoside-induced inotropism was found to be highly and directly dependent on temperature between 27 and 37 degrees C at a beat interval of 10 seconds. At a beat interval of 1 second the rate of onset of glycoside effect was faster than at a beat interval of 10 seconds and was not dependent on temperature. At 32 degrees C the rate of onset of glycoside-induced inotropism was inversely related to beat interval (the faster the stimulation rate, the faster the onset). The rate of onset of aglycone-induced inotropism was not dependent on temperature at a beat interval of 1 or 10 seconds. At 32 degrees C the rate of onset of aglycone effect was not dependent on beat interval except at beat intervals of less than 1 second. Depending on experimental conditions, increased temperature and/or myocardial activity increases the rate-limiting step for the onset of effect of cardiac glycosides. Rapid myocardial activity increased, but neither moderate myocardial activity nor increased temperature increase the rate-limiting step for the rate of onset of effect of aglycones under our experimental conditions. The results are interpreted by postulating that the digitalis inotropic receptor is located in a membrane-limited compartment to which aglycones may gain access via passive diffusion but to which glycosides gain access mainly via a carrier mechanism.


Neurogenic release of purine compounds in blood vessels. The isolated thoracic aorta, ear artery and portal vein of the rabbit concentrated tritiated material on exposure to tritiated adenosine, adenine and its nucleotides. 3H-adenosine was transformed and retained predominantly as 3H-adenosine triphosphate in the portal vein and aortic adventitia, but to a lesser extent in the aortic medial or muscle layer. On transmural stimulation, portal vein and aortic adventitial strips pretreated with 3H-adenosine released tritiated material, which was recovered mainly as tritiated adenosine and nucleotides. Guanethidine abolished this release in the aortic adventitia and greatly diminished it in the portal vein. Both the release and vasodilation induced by transmural stimulation in the portal vein were abolished by tetrodotoxin. It is suggested that purine compounds are released locally within vascular walls from both the adrenergic and nonadrenergic nerves. The results are compatible with the view that adenosine triphosphate or a related compound may function as an inhibitory modulator in association with the adrenergic nerves and as a vasodilator transmitter of the non-adrenergic nerves in the portal vein.


Pharmacodynamic analysis of substrate stimulation of p-aminohippurate transport by newborn rabbit kidney. Penicillin pretreatment of 2-week-old New Zealand White rabbits significantly increased the ability of renal cortical slices to transport p-aminohippuric acid (PAH). The PAH slice/medium ratio increased with dose to a maximum at 90,000 I.U. of procaine penicillin G. Sodium penicillin G (180,000 I.U.) produced no greater increase. Stimulation was maximal after four penicillin injections at 12-hour intervals. The maximal response was observed 24 hours after the final injection, whereas after 72 hours the capacity of slices from treated animals to transport PAH was no different than control. To determine the effect of a maximal substrate challenge on the development of transport capacity, pregnant does were treated with 90,000 I.U. of procaine penicillin i.m. twice daily through the last half of gestation. Young animals received four penicillin injections before sacrifice. The PAH slice/medium ratio from pups 3 days, 1 and 2 weeks old were not significantly different from that normally observed at 4 weeks. Animals 4 weeks old did not respond to penicillin treatment. Thus, intrinsic transport capacity for PAH is mature at 4 weeks of age. Only before this age may transport be enhanced by substrate. Maximal enhancement of PAH transport capacity occurs when four injections of 90,000 I.U. of procaine penicillin G are administered at 12-hour intervals followed by sacrifice 24 hours after the final injection.


Daunorubicin metabolites in human urine. We studied the human metabolism of daunorubicin (D) by isolating and identifying metabolites from urine which retained the specific fluorescence properties of D. Metabolites were extracted by adsorption to polystyrene polymeric sorbants, separated on silicic acid columns and purified by thin-layer chromatography. Structures were determined by comparative chromatography, infrared, fluorescence and mass spectroscopy, and enzymatic and chemical degradation. D metabolites identified were daunorubicinol, daunorubicinol aglycone, deoxydaunorubicin aglycone, deoxydaunorubicinol aglycone, demethyl deoxydaunorubicinol aglycone, deoxydaunorubicinol aglycone 13-O-beta-glucuronide, demethyl deoxydaunorubicinol aglycone 4-O-sulfate and demethyl deoxydaunorubicinol aglycone 4-O-beta-glucuronide. Other metabolites have been purified but not identified. Human metabolism of D involves carbonyl reduction, reductive glycosidic cleavage, O-demethylation, O-sulfation and O-glucuronidation. Since daunorubicinol has biochemical properties similar to D, the metabolites may contribute to the pharmacologic and toxicologic effects credited to D.


The metabolic disposition of 14C-azathioprine in the dog. The metabolic disposition of the methylnitroimidazole moiety of azathioprine, labeled with 14C in carbons 4 and 5 of this imidazole ring, was investigated in the dog. The administration of the radioactive drug (10 mg/kg p.o.) was followed, after absorption, by a rapid uptake of the radioactivity into the blood cells, with subsequent redistribution to the plasma. The total urinary excretion of 14C was 41.6% in 32 hours. Anion exchange and high-pressure liquid chromatography of the urine revealed a large number of 14C-containing metabolites. These included unmetabolized azathioprine, 1-methyl-4-nitro-5-(N-acetyl-S-cysteinyl)imidazole, 1-methyl-4-nitro-5-thioimidazole and several compounds with ultraviolet absorption spectra similar to 5-substituted amino-1-methyl-4-nitroimidazoles. The most prominent of these was a highly acidic metabolite which was found to be identical in chemical, chromatographic and spectral properties with N,N'-[5-(1-METHYL-4-NITRO)IMIDAZOLYL]CYSTINE. This metabolite as well as 1-methyl-4-nitro-5-(N-acetyl-S-cysteinyl)imidazole and 1-methyl-4-nitro-5-thioimidazole were also identified in the urine of a dog given 1-methyl-4-nitro-5-(S-glutathionyl)-imidazole (10 mg/kg i.v.) suggesting that the latter compound is an intermediate in the formation of these urinary metabolites. The profile of the methylnitroimidazole urinary metabolites in the dog was similar to that in man and different from that in the rat. A metabolic pathway for the formation of these metabolites in the dog is proposed.


Further studies using carbamate esters as model compounds to investigate the role of lipophilicity in the gastrointestinal absorption of foreign compounds. In order to examine the validity of models proposed previously for the gastrointestinal absorption of foreign compounds, the absorption behavior of a series of N-methylated carbamates has been studied in the rat. An optimal partition coefficient for the intestinal absorption of these compounds was demonstrated but this value was approximately one order higher than that reported earlier for a related series of unsubstituted carbamates. It is suggested that this difference is due to the modification in hydrogen bonding arising from N-methyl substitution. In contrast, an optimal partition coefficient for gastric absorption could not be demonstrated within the range of the apparent partition coefficient studied. The absorption behavior of the N-methylated carbamates tends to confirm the different trends previously observed between drug absorption from the intestine and that from the stomach.


Azolimine: a nonsteroidal antagonist of the effects of mineralocorticoids  on renal electrolyte excretion. Azolimine, CL 90,748, an imidazolidinone, displayed the capacity to antagonize the effects of mineralocorticoids on renal electrolyte excretion in several animal models. Although large doses of azolimine produced natriuresis in adrenalectomized rats in the absence of exogenous mineralocorticoid, its effectiveness was greater in the presence of a steroid agonist. However, in conscious dogs given an infusion of saline plus dextrose, azolimine was only effective when desoxycorticosterone (DCA) was administered. The drug, therefore, may not be a pure competitive antagonist of mineralocorticoid, but its greater efficacy in the presence of mineralocorticoid distinguishes it from noncompetitive mineralocorticoid antagonists as amiloride and triamterene. Azolimine significantly improved the urinary Na/K ratio when used in combination with thiazides, furosemide and other classical diuretics both in adrenalectomized, desoxycorticosterone-treated rats and in sodium-deficient rats.


Diphenylhydantoin potency and plasma protein binding. Rats were given diphenylhydantoin (DPH) orally, and its potency in protecting against maximal electroshock seizures was determined. The effect of an intravenous dose of 100 mg of phenylbutazone per kg 1 hour before testing on the potency and on the total and unbound plasma concentration of DPH was then measured. Phenylbutazone treatment increased the potency of DPH in terms of dose and total drug concentration but did not affect the potency of unbound DPH. The anticonvulsant action of DPH depends upon the concentration of unbound drug in plasma and not upon total plasma concentration nor upon dose.


Effect of methamphetamine on norepinephrine metabolism in various regions of brain. The effects of methamphetamine on tritiated and endogenous norepinephrine metabolism was examined in various regions of brain. In acute experiments, 30 minutes or 5 hours after methamphetamine i.p., 3H-norepinephrine was injected into the cisterna magna. In chronic experiments, rats were administered increasing doses of methamphetamine twice a day for 17 days, then 18 hours after the last dose of methamphetamine, 3H-norepinephrine was injected intracisternally. All rats were killed 5 minutes after the intracisternal injection and their brains removed, dissected into five parts and assayed for endogenous norepinephrine, 3H-norepinephrine and its metabolites. In rats treated acutely, methamphetamine caused a significant block in uptake of 3H-norepinephrine and a marked increase in the content of 3H-normetanephrine in all regions except the cortex. Five hours after methamphetamine administration, increased levels of 3H-norepinephrine occurred in the pons-medulla, whereas endogenous norepinephrine content tended to decrease in most regions. In rats treated chronically, enhanced accumulation of 3H-norepinephrine was also confined to the pons-medulla region, whereas endogenous levels of norepinephrine were high in the pons-medulla and low in the hypothalamus and cortex. These data suggest that chronic administration of methamphetamine affects either catecholaminergic nerve cell bodies or nerve terminals in the pons-medulla differentially, as compared to other regions studied.


Increased analgesia and alterations in distribution and metabolism of methadone by desipramine in the rat. Treatment of rats with desipramine (DMI) 1 hour before the subcutaneous administration of methadone increased the intensity and prolonged the duration of methadone analgesia, as determined by the hot plate method. DMI significantly reduced the analgesic ED50 of methadone from a control value of 3.4 to 1.6 or 0.5 mg/kg in rats treated with 20 or 30 mg/kg of DMI, respectively. DMI treatment also significantly reduced the LD50 of methadone. DMI (20 mg/kg i.p.) was given 1 hour prior to administration of 14C-methadone (5 mg/kg s.c.) and the distribution of total 14C, unchanged methadone and methadone metabolites in various tissues was studied. DMI treatment greatly increased the brain uptake of 14C and the methadone brain/plasma concentration ratios for up to 3 hours. The concentrations of 14C and unchanged methadone were higher in kidneys and lower in lungs of DMI-treated rats as compared to controls. However, the ratios of unchanged methadone to its metabolites in kidneys and lungs were not changed significantly by DMI treatment. The level of unchanged methadone in liver was markedly elevated by DMI treatment at 45 and 90 minutes (190 and 183% of controls, respectively). The level of a water-soluble glucuronide metabolite of methadone was significantly decreased at 45-, 90- and 180-minute intervals (37, 36 and 54% of controls, respectively.) However, the total 14C in liver and the concentrations of two N-demethylated metabolites of methadone were not changed significantly. In vitro addition of DMI to liver microsomal incubations resulted in inhibition of the N-demethylation of methadone. It is suggested that DMI potentiated and prolonged methadone analgesia by increasing the brain concentration of methadone and by inhibiting metabolism of methadone in the liver.


The effects of 5-bromo-2-thienyl-ethyl-ketone thiosenicarbazone on ovarian cyclicity and ovulation in the rat. Pseudopregnant and cyclic rats were injected for 5 to 26 days with daily doses of 5 and/or 3 mg of 5-bromo-2-thienyl-ethyl-ketone thiosemicarbazone (70026) starting on Day 0 (the day of oestrus). The vaginal smear cytology, record of ovulation and ability to breed and conceive were compared with the results for corn oil-injected controls. Both doses of 70026 were found to cause a reappearance of pro-oestrous and/or oestrous vaginal smears within 4 to 6 days in the pseudopregnant rats, but ovulations did not occur. The 5-mg dose of 70026 inhibited ovulation and interrupted the oestrous cycle in cyclic rats, even though the daily 3-mg dose seemed to have little effect on ovulation, ovarian cyclicity, breeding or conception. In spite of the absence of an ovulation accompanying the induced pro-oestrous and/or oestrous vaginal smears in the pseudopregnant rats, the pattern of the vaginal smears suggested the occurrence of a 'delayed pseudopregnancy' in most of the pseudopregnant rats treated daily with 3 mg, but in few of those treated with 5 mg, 70026.


The influence of feed restriction and subsequent re-feeding on gonadotrophin secretion and serum testosterone levels in male rats. Male rats at 3 months were fully fed or were restricted to 50% of normal feed intake for 10 or 20 days. Underfeeding for either period resulted in reduced (P less than 0-05) body weight and pituitary weight but did not affect testicular weight. Underfeeding for 20 days resulted in reduced (P less than 0-05) weights of the seminal vesicles and ventral prostate. The serum concentration of LH was depressed (P less than 0-05) after 10 days of underfeeding and the pituitary concentration of LH was elevated (P less than 0-05) after 20 days of underfeeding. Neither serum nor pituitary concentration of FSH was influenced by feed level. Serum testosterone concentration was reduced in rats underfed for 20 days. In a second study, 2-month-old males were fully fed, underfed (15 days) or underfed and then re-fed (full feed) for 1, 2, 3 or 7 days. Underfeeding produced effects similar to those noted in the first experiment. Re-feeding of underfed rats resulted in body and ventral prostate weights returning to levels similar to those of fully fed controls by Day 7. The serum level of FSH was elevated (P less than 0-05) above the control level on Days 1, 3 and 7 of re-feeding, while the serum level of LH appeared to return to the control level. Serum testosterone level rebounded and exceeded (P less than 0-05) the control level on Days 1 and 2 of re-feeding.


Developmental changes of free amino acids in bovine fetal fluids with gestational age and the interrelationships between the amino acid concentrations in the fluid compartments. Thirty ninhydrin-positive compounds were determined in the sera, amniotic fluid, stomach content and allantoic fluid from 29 bovine fetuses of various gestational ages. Fetal serum was found to contain about 3-fold higher concentrations of free amino acids (FAA) than maternal serum, and allantoic fluid contained about 3-fold higher concentration of FAA than fetal serum. Decreasing concentrations of FAA were found in serum as a function of the crown-rump length for the amino acids taurine, aspartic acid, threonine, serine, ornithine and lysine. Decreasing concentrations of FAA in allantoic fluid were found for threonine, alanine and ornithine, whereas increasing concentrations were found for phosphoserine and methionine as a function of the crown-rump length. Correlations were found between the concentrations of most amino acids in amniotic fluid and stomach content, but fewer correlations were found between the other fluid compartments. The transport of amino acids between compartments is discussed.


Total unconjugated oestrogen and progesterone concentrations in peripheral blood during pregnancy in the dog. Daily blood samples were withdrawn from three bitches throughout gestation and at intervals during parturition. The highest mean oestrogen value of 26-1 +/- 6-0 pg/ml was detected on the last day of pro-oestrus, and a lower post-oestrous peak occurred shortly after the maximum progesterone value of 17-0 +/- 1-0 ng/ml which was recorded 18 days after first service. No oestrogen rise was detected before parturition, and progesterone could not be detected after the end of parturition.


Possible mechanisms of cadmium fetotoxicity in golden hamsters and mice: uptake by the embryo, placenta and ovary. Pregnant golden hamsters and mice of different gestational ages were injected intravenously with 109CdCl(2). The whole animal or the uterus and embryos were submitted to autoradiography. Cadmium administered on the 8th day accumulated in the primitive gut of the embryos. No cadmium was detected in the embryos after administration on or after the 9th day (hamster) and 11th day (mouse). This finding can be explained by the ability of cadmium to pass from the yolk-sac cavity into the primitive gut (where it is absorbed) before the closure of the vitelline duct but not later. This uptake by the embryo might explain the severe malformations produced by cadmium given on the 8th day as compared with the 9th day in the hamster. Cadmium is also heavily accumulated in the decidua (mainly the antimesometrial part), the yolk sac, the ectoplacental cone, and later in the chorioallantoic placenta-possibly disturbing the maternal-embryonic relationship and fetal nutrition. A high accumulation in the CL and the follicles and in the pituitary may also disturb reproductive function.


Stimulatory effect of the lysosomal stabilizer, chloroquine, on the respiration and motility of fresh and aged bovine spermatozoa. The lysosomal stabilizer and anti-malarial agent, chloroquine, stimulated the respiration and motility of fresh and aged bovine spermatozoa stored in vitro. Duplication of these effects by the phosphodiesterase inhibitors, theophylline and caffeine, suggested that enhancement of sperm activity by chloroquine may be mediated by cyclic AMP.


The recognition and incidence of haploid and polyploid spermatozoa in man, rabbit and mouse. The existence of polyploid mammalian spermatozoa has been inferred from studies of Feulgen-DNA absorption. Rabbit spermatozoa fell into two discrete groups with mean absorptions close to a 1:2 ratio (inferred to be haploids and diploids respectively); simple visual appraisal of the size of the head or nucleus gave an identical classification. The incidences of ploidy classes were 98-94% haploid, 1-06% diploid, 0-00% higher than diploid (N = 3010; from DNA measurements and visual appraisal of the size in a rabbit chosen to have a high incidence of diploids) and, correspondingly, 99-691%, 0-308%, 0-001% (N = 138001; from sixty-nine unselected rabbits, scored by visual appraisal of the size of the sperm head). In man also, virtually discrete groups with absorptions close to a 1:2 ratio existed and were inferred to be haploids and diploids respectively. A few human spermatozoa were found with absorptions corresponding to a ploidy of three and/or four. Visual appraisal of the size of the human sperm nucleus as Small, Medium or Large was only a partial guide to ploidy. All Small human spermatozoa measured for DNA absorption were found to be haploid. About two-thirds of Medium human spermatozoa were found, however, to be haploid, and some Large spermatozoa were haploid or diploid. The incidences of ploidy classes in the human were 99-37% haploid, 0-56% diploid, 0-07% higher than diploid (N = 5554; with consistency between duplicate slides and between two subjects; from DNA measurements and visual appraisal of nuclear size). The estimated incidence of diploid human spermatozoa is consistent with the known incidence oftriploid fetuses. In a mouse with a putatively high incidence of diploids, all 1000 DNA measurements were nevertheless within the haploid range, with one diploid encountered outside the main sampling.


Termination of pregnancy after accelerated lactation in the rat. II. Relationship to number of young, day of pregnancy and length of nursing. Pregnancy is terminated in rats that have mated at the postpartum oestrus if they are allowed to suckle a large litter after implantation. For consistent termination, the number of sucking young must be at least nine, the accelerated lactation must be begun before Day 10 of pregnancy, and must be continued for at least 2 days.


Termination of pregnancy after accelerated lactation in the rat. IV. Relationship to 20alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity and plasma progesterone concentration. The activity of 20alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20alpha-HSD) was assayed in the ovaries of rats after accelerated lactation to determine its relationship to the decrease in progesteron secretion that occurs. When rats were sjbjected to accelerated lactation on Day 9 of pregnancy, activity of the enzyme was only slightly increased by Day 10, but had risen to twice the control level by Day 11, and three times the control level by Day 12. Administration of LH or progesterone prevented the increase in enzyme activity. Progesterone concentration had decreased considerably before the time at which any significant increase in 20alpha-HSD activity was detected. These findings are discussed in relation to the role of 20alpha-HSF in regulating progesterone levels in the rat.


Inhibition of zona shedding of rabbit blastocysts in culture by the presence of a mucin coat. Rabbit ova, with and without mucin coats, were cultured to the expanding blastocyst stage. The presence of a mucin coat appeared to inhibit shedding of the zona pellucida by the expanding blastocysts.


Maternal nest-building performance and fetal number in Rockland-Swiss albino mice. A significant correlation was shown in Rockland-Swiss albino mice between the number of fetuses and maternal nest-building performance as assessed by the amount of nesting material gathered into the cage. The greater the number of fetuses, the more nesting material was gathered. A significant correlation first appeared on Day 4 and was maintained until Day 18 of gestation.


Adpatations for urinary marking in rodents: prepuce length and morphology. Urine marking was examined in house mice, deermice, gerbils and hamsters. The frequency of urine deposition varied with the species, and a correlation is suggested between the propensity of males to mark in this fashion and prepuce length and morphology. We postulate an adaptational advantage for a long penis sheath and for a particular configuration of the prepuce; i.e. to act as a wick for the deposition of urinary pheromones.


Induction of multiple ovulation in the cow with single injections of FSH and HCG. A gonadotrophin regimen was developed to induce a high incidence of double and triple ovulations in the beef cow using a single injection of FSH on Day 16 followed by a low dose of HCG on the day of oestrus. Conception rate was not affected by gonadotrophin treatment and 1/9 cows experiencing multiple ovulations gave birth to twin calves.


Seasonal changes in plasma LH levels in domestic ducks. Seasonal changes in plasma LH concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay every month for 1 year in nine Khaki Campbell drakes kept under natural lighting conditions in Kiel, Germany. The LH levels rose in all the birds in March and April and reached a mean (+/-S.E.) maximum of 2-4 +/- 0-2 ng/ml early in May. Thereafter, LH levels remained high in three drakes, but decreased in the other six to between 0-9 and 0-4 ng/ml early in June and/or July and rose to about 2-5 ng/ml by the beginning of August. Plasma LH levels started to fall in all nine drakes in September and by early October had reached winter values of about 1-2 to 1-5 ng/ml. A small transient increase in the level of circulating LH was observed in most drakes during November or December.


Study of U.S. medical school applicants, 1973-74. This annual study reports applicant, application, and enrollment statistics for the 1973-74 entering class of the 114 U.S. medical schools in comparison with previous years. National totals in all categories are larger than ever before, but the annual rate of increase is declining. Traditional tables reflect five years of historical data (1969--70 through 1973--74), while new features for the 1973 study concentrate on: (a) acceptance success for first-time and repeat applicants, (b) rankings of state acceptance ratios, and (c) ability levels by acceptance success and by application frequency. The study concludes with an outline of specific efforts by the Association of American Medical Colleges to assist medical schools in coping with the continuing three-to-one imbalance between numbers of applicants and numbers of first-year places.


Analysis of a medical internship.

Analysis of a medical internship. Considerable discussion concerning the fate of the internship within the postgraduate period of physicians' training has taken place. Some specialty boards have eliminated the requirement of a free-standing internship. However, no replicable study findings defining exactly what an intern does have been reported in the literature. By analyzing the patient experiences that a straight medical intern encountered, the authors of this paper illustrate what many persons have previously said: the traditional internship is unrealistic with respect to the practice of medicine. The intern described here assumed care for acutely ill persons to the exclusion of all other responsibilities. The importance of objective and reproducible record-keeping is emphasized for both established and newly created programs in the primary care specialties.


A longitudinal study of medical specialty choice and certainty level. Two successive classes of entering medical students at the University of Colorado participated in a longitudinal study on the development of medical specialty choice. Students indicated specialty choices and their degree of certainty about them in the freshman, sophomore, and senior years. Results indicated that students were highly uncertain of their choices at the beginning of medical school but became very certain by graduation. Nearly three-fourths switched specialties between freshman and senior years. In general, there was no relationship between degree of certainty and switching. The exception occurred in family practice. The least specialty switching occurred with internal medicine and the most with psychiatry. Increasing numbers of students chose internal medicine over the four years.


The development of an education program in the pediatric emergency department. The pediatric emergency department is a major educational resource in ambulatory pediatrics. A literature review indicates a lack of programs based on the identification of specific educational objectives in this setting. A model educational program for third-year pediatric clinical clerks and pediatric level I and II house officers is presented. Learning is defined in three areas: patient management, behavioral care needs, and hospital and community health care needs. Information on specific educational goals and objectives, learning experiences derived from them, and methods for evaluation of learning is provided.


Experimental cretinism in lambs: an intrauterine model with thyroid evaluation in surviving lambs. The experiments in this article were designed to establish an animal model analogous to human athyrotic cretinism without altering maternal thyroid status and subsequently to observe the natural course of the disorder. The effect of ovine intrauterine fetal thyroidectomy during the second trimester was assessed by following maternal thyroid function and amniotic fluid T4 by column [T4(C)], T3 by radioimmunoassay (T3RIA), and ovine TSH (oTSH). Maternal serum T4(C) rose during pregnancy but unexpectedly both T3RIA and oTSH decreased. In amniotic fluid, T4(C) and oTSH values were lower than maternal serum values and T3RIA was not detectable. Amniotic fluid T4(C) at Cesarean section was identical in cretin lambs and twin controls and was thus not a useful diagnostic tool. Athyrotic lambs showed gross physical, behavioral, and pathologic changes of cretinism and expired during the first day of life. At birth, cretin serum T4(C) and T3RIA were markedly decreased and oTSH was elevated. Normal lambs had a gradual decline in T4(C) levels until 10 weeks of age, but T3RIA values changed erratically. In addition, one cryptocretin with a thyroid remnant had a high normal T4(C) and elevated T3RIA and oTSH at birth. Her course was normal until 7 months of age when hypothyroidism suddenly developed. These observations could prove relevant in the interpretation of thyroid function of normal versus partially or completely athyrotic human infants.


Electrophoretic study of human ribosomal core proteins: evidence for selection against variation. Ten human ribosomal core proteins examined electrophoretically showed significantly less polymorphic variation than expected on the basis of other protein systems studied. This implies that selective forces may restrict variation at these loci. Variation in common multigenic traits must be determined by a combination of common alleles. If there is restriction of variation at certain types of loci, a limit is placed on the number of loci which can play a role in multigenic inheritance. Surveys for polymorphism in groups of proteins with similar structural or functional roles will further define these limits.


Assessment of maternal health care quality: conceptual and methodologic issues. Past efforts in assessment of the quality of maternity care have been analyzed in order to develop an evaluation framework that will have utility and applicability beyond a specific program, population, or health discipline. Presently available evaluation approaches have focused attention on either "high risk" populations or upon women experiencing a complicated pregnancy or delivery. Quality has been defined as the extent to which normative or empirically derived standards of obstetrical care have been applied. An alternative approach is suggested which conceives of the pregnancy as a normal physiological event but with the potentiality of either causing or exacerbating social or health problems. Maternity care quality is viewed as the application of those necessary health and health-related services that are required to safeguard the health of the mother and offspring, minimize the noxious consequences of pre-existing or concurrent health hazards or conditions, and upgrade the health and social functioning of those women who require it. Additionally, the system of services should be functionally organized to optimize care. Indicators of quality are suggested which incorporate structural, process, and outcome variables, and which link medical and consumer criteria in a comprehensive community level approach to quality assessment.


Practice characteristics and quality of primary medical care: the doctor-patient relationship. Physician and practice characterisitics were reviewed in relation to the quality of the doctor-patient relationship in primary medical care. This relationship was defined in terms of communication between physicians and patients, patient satisfaction with care, and physician awareness of patient concerns. The study subjects were mothers of infants and pregnant women, identified from the offices of a random sample of primary care physicians is a single community. The patients of 49 physicians, 363 pregnant women and the mothers of 523 infants were the subjects of the study. When controlled for patient characteristics, communication was better for pediatricians with mothers of infants and for obstetricians with pregnant women as compared with other physicians. Mothers of infants were more highly satisfied with care provided by residency-trained physicians; pregnant women were more satisfied with non-Board certified physicians.  Physician awareness of patient concerns presented a mixed pattern of associations with several physicians and practice characteristics. These findings suggest that physician credentials are not consistently associated with the three identified dimensions of the doctor-patient relationship.


An adaptive social systems model of a prepaid group practice plan. In the present study, an adaptive social systems model is developed and utilized to examine the dynamic properties of a health services delivery system. The model employs a Markov chain as a structure for analyzing the utilization of physician services both inside and outside of a prepaid plan. Four system states are defined, namely, no use, inside use, outside use, and both inside and outside use of physician services. Subscribers are considered to be in one of these states on each episode of illness. Transition probabilities are estimated from data collected from a sample of subscribers to a university health plan using a regression approach that permits a heterogeneous population to be examined within a Markovian framework. This framework is used to examine factors that account for differences in utilization patterns among individual subscribers and to examine overtime changes in the transition probabilities resulting from population shifts on specific demographic and health-related attributes. Based on the assumption that individual subscribers rather than the population as a whole follow a Markov process, the k-step transition matrix is constructed for the heterogeneous subscriber population and is used to examine the long-run effects of particular utilization patterns on the functioning of the prepaid plan.


Making sense out of utilization data.

Making sense out of utilization data. Health care utilization studies often reach conflicting conclusions about the appropriate measures of utilization and the relationships between such measures and the explanatory variables. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate why such ambiguities exist, provide empirical tests of different models, and suggest an appropriate analytical framework. A household survey of a rural California community was used to collect both family and individual data on utilization, "need," accessibility, attitudes, and demographics. A number of possible utilization models are presented, each containing alternative sets of dependent and independent variables. Multiple regression analysis is applied to each model, providing considerable insight into the roles of specific independent variables in explaining alternative utilization measures. The omission of certain variables, such as health status (or "need"), can result in an incorrect interpretation of the results.


Malpractice and employment of allied health personnel. Increased costs of malpractice insurance and physician fear of involvement in malpractice suits have been suggested as inhibiting greater employment and utilization of allied health personnel in physicians' offices, since physicians are liable for acts of negligence by their employees. However, data obtained from a survey conducted by the American Medical Association in 1971 suggest that malpractice insurance expenses vary within only a relatively narrow range with the number of allied health personnel employed by physicians. Thus, malpractice insurance expense per se is probably not a significant factor in influencing physicians' decisions to hire aides. On the other hand, nonpecuniary aspects of the malpractice situation may still be an important deterrent to greater employment of allied health personnel.


[Tuberculin allergy in BCG-vaccinated children (author's transl)]. Frequency, duration and intensity of tuberculin allergy was tested in 431 children, vaccinated as neonates, and compared with the data of 400 non-vaccinated children, and 30 children with tuberculosis. When tested with 100 TE, 59% of the vaccinees showed a positive reaction at the age of 5 years, still 36% reacted positively in the 7th year. 4,7% of the non-vaccinated children were tuberculin-positive in 7--9 years old. Near half of the children reacting positively to tuberculin without suffering from tuberculosis reacted to 100 TE, nearly all tuberculous children already reacted positively to a lower dose. The overall rate of protection against tuberculosis was more than 90% in the first 5 years of life. Miliar-Tb. or Tb-meningitis was not seen in vaccinees, but 4 times in non protected children. General BCG-vaccination in newborns is recommended.


[Measurements of blood volume in children with orthostatic syndrome (author's transl)]. The blood volume in 12 children with primary orthostatic syndrome was determined. For six cases it was measured in vertical and horizontal position of the body. Plasma volume was measured by 125J human albumin, erythrocyte volume by 51Cr erythrocytes. In seven cases the values of total blood volume were below the normal values of 68--80 ml/kg body weight when determined in horizontal position. Diminished values were found especially in children suffering from severe orthostatic syndrome. The results indicate the diminution of total blood volume to be an important pathogenetic factor in orthostatic syndrome. In primary orthostatic syndrome it should be differentiated between a hypovolemic type, and a type of predominantly vascular dysregulation. It is suggested that the development of blood volume regulation is delayed. The reduced capacity of the vascular system associated with reduced physical activity could be an additional factor. The active total blood volume increased in all six cases with the change from an upright to a recumbent position. The mean of the difference (3.8 ml/kg body weight) was found to be lower than that in adults. This suggests that sequestration of blood volume is of no evident significance in childhood.


[A new in vivo method for the detection of carriers of haemophilia (author's transl)]. We examined 14 carriers of haemophilia A with the "Haemorrhagometer". The cold tolerance test (at 17 degrees C) revealed that 9 out of 10 proven and 3 out of 4 probable carriers had a pathologically prolonged bleeding time. Accordingly blood loss was pathologically elevated in 9 out of 10 proven and 2 out of 4 probable carriers. At room temperature the difference between normal control persons and carriers of haemophilia A was not as pronounced. 5 of 8 proven and 3 of 4 probable carriers showed pathologically elevated bleeding intensity, only 1 of 8 proven and none of 4 probable carriers showed abnormally prolonged bleeding time. Haemorrhagometry at 17 degrees C (cold tolerance test) may be helpful to ascertain whether or not a woman is a carrier of haemophilia A.


DDT residues in starlings, 1974.

DDT residues in starlings, 1974. In the preceding issue of this journal, the authors suggested that the mean level of DDT plus metabolites in starlings should drop below 0.1 ppm for the 1974 collection. They based their prediction on an analysis of the relationship between mean levels of DDT and its metabolites in starlings and estimates of domestic disappearance of DDT. The present brief summarizes initial findings from the 1974 starling collection. Authors indicate that their eariler estimates for disappearance of total DDT were optimistic: the geometric mean for 1974 was 0.282, a 36 percent reduction from the 1972 mean of 0.442.


Mercury concentrations in fish, North Atlantic offshore waters--1971. Mercury concentrations were determined in muscle and liver of 41 species of fish and a limited number of plankton, sediment, and invertebrate samples collected from North Atlantic offshore waters in 1971. The average mercury concentration in fish muscle was 0.154 ppm with a standard deviation of 0.124. Invertebrate samples had mercury concentrations which were generally less than 0.1 ppm. In a single lobster sample, however, 0.31 ppm mercury was found in the tail muscle and there was 0.60 ppm in the liver. Mercury levels in all 9 plankton and 10 sediment samples taken were less than 0.05 ppm.


Distribution of organochlorine pesticides in an agricultural environment, Holland Marsh, Ontario--1970-72. Analaysis of organochlorine pesticides in soil, fish, and human blood samples from Holland Marsh, Ontario, indicates that although total DDT is present in detectable amounts, it does not constitute a hazard to human health and longevity. Among soils tested, residues were highest in surface samples. DDT levels in human blood samples were similar to those in U.S. and British studies.


Organochlorine pesticide residues in a farming area, Nova Scotia--1972-73. Soil, silt, and water samples from the Habitant Creek water-shed, Nova Scotia, a tobacco-growing area, have been monitored for organochlorine insecticides. Most samples contain measurable quantities of many persistent pesticides used in farming during the past decade. Sediment levels indicate that residues settle in sluggish parts of the stream. Drainage ditches show highest residual content caused in part by mass transport of soil in runoff. Residue content of water samples is normally one-tenth to one-hundredth that of silt, but is much higher during periods of heavy runoff. Levels vary with the seasons and are highest in the fall, decrease through the spring and summer, and are lowest in the winter. Although samples of well water taken fairly close to the stream showed virtually no residual content, a natural drainage reservior had a pesticide content similar to that in the stream.


Chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides and mercury in coastal biota, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands--1972-74. Baseline levels of mercury and chlorinated hydrocarbons were determined for Caribbean coastal biota as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estuarine monitoring program. Forty-one percent of the 150 environmental samples taken had significant levels of these compounds. Concentrations of chlorinated hydrocarbons suggest spatial and temporal variations within the plant or animal. In some cases residues in biota could be related to the land-use practices in the sampled watershed.


Total mercury in water, sediment, and selected aquatic organisms, Carson River, Nevada--1972. A 1971-72 study of the Nevada Carson River drainage system by the Geological Survey, U.S. Department of Interior, revealed substantial amounts of mercury from pre-1900 gold and silver milling operations of the Comstock Lode. A monitoring survey was initiated to determine the extent of mercury uptake from corresponding surface water and sediments for seven aquatic species collected from five sampling stations along the watercourse. Total mercury content in fish ranged from 0.02 to 2.72 ppm; highest concentrations occurred in piscivorous white bass (0.50-2.72 ppm) sampled from Lahontan Reservoir. Residue levels appeared to be related to fish size, as demonstrated by highly significant correlations between wet weight and mercury content of five of the six species. Concentrations also appeared to be directly influenced by the species' position on the aquatic food chain. These results indicate that mercury levels in some fish from the Carson River drainage system may exceed the 0.50 ppm maximum concentration considered by the Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, to be safe for human consumption.


[Intoxication in cattle caused by a batch of sugar beet pulp (author's transl)]. During the period from Dec. 7th 1972 to Jan. 8th 1973 76 cattle deaths were reported in 20 herds on the island of Møon and the adjacent south-eastern area of Sealand. The disease was characterized by a sudden onset and a rapid and invariably fatal course. Initially, there was a loss of appetite, depression, excessive salivation and incoordination. These symptoms progressed to paralysis and, in some animals, trmor and convulsions. Death usually ensued less than 2 hours after the first observation of symptoms. Losses in the herds varied from 1 to 12 animals. In herds with multiple incidents the majority of deaths occurred in the 24-hour-period following observation of the first case. Pathology: Gross lesions were few and inconclusive. Histology revealed marked dilatation of cerebral and maningeal blood vessels (arterioles, venoles and capillaries), with perivascular edema and haemorrhage. Adjacent neurons and glia cells showed various degrees of degeneration, apparently secondary to the vascular lesion. In all affected herds sugar beet pulp from one particular sugar mill had been used during the period preceding the outbreak. The syndrome was reproduced by feeding sugar beet pulp from this batch to two heifers. The heifers showed symptoms after 19 and 32 days' feeding, resp. and died after a few hours. Clinical and pathological features were identical with those observed in the spontaneous disease. Thus, it was proved that the particular batch of pulp was responsible for the disease. The investigation did not, however, reveal a toxic factor in this batch. Analyses for lead, arsenic, mercury, nitrite, alkyl phosphates, chlorinated insecticides and Cl. botulinum toxin were negative. Batches of the sugar beet pulp showed pronounced microbial deterioration, the flora being dominated by yeasts and filamentous fungi (moulds). Several species of fungi have been isolated but so fat their possible role in the etiology of the syndrome remains unsettled. The syndrome bears some resemblance to cerebrocortical necrosis (C.C.N.) but differs in several clinical and pathological details. It is tentatively suggested that the beet pulp may have contained one or more toxic substances that interfere with microbial activity in the rumen, resulting in a disturbance of synthesis or absorption of essential metabolites. The clinical, epidemiological and pathological findings are compatible with the hypothesis that the syndrome might be due to fungal toxins. Accordingly, the isolated fungi are now being studied in more detail.


[Pathomorphological and histochemical changes in the liver of rabbits following fractional irradiation with Co-60]. Two groups of experimental animals, each consisting of 12 rabbits, were subjected to local fractional irradiation with cobalt 60. Group I received the total dose of 2580 R during 13 days, group II - 5100 R during 24 days. The effects of irradiation were estimated on the strength of histological examination of the liver immediately and after 7, 15, 30, 60 and 90 days after the last exposition. The histological sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin, and colour reactions were performed for argentaffine and collagen fibres and for glycogen, neutral fats, alkaline and acid phosphatase, ATP-ase, glycose-6-phosphatase, non-specific esterase and succinic acid dehydrogenase. It was found that the dose of 2580 R is safe for the liver. The effects of irradiation were slight and limited to weak catabolic disturbances in the form of mild steatosis of the liver and of a transient and short-lived fall of glycogen and rise of hydrolytic enzymes. More pronounced and intense changes were observed in the other group of animals. During the early period, the changes were of a retrograde character and were typical of the acute post-irradiation effect. There was necrosis of the walls of the blood vessels, of the epithelium of the bile ducts and of the liver cells, accompanied by a rise in the hydrolytic enzymes and by a considerable fall of the level of glycogen and succinic acid dehydrogenase. During the late period (30-90 days), changes typical of the so-called post-irradiation hepatitis were found histologically.


[Estimation of pathomorphological and histochemical changes in the liver of pigs in the course of edema disease of swine]. Post-mortem examinations concerned 16 pigs which had died of the oedema disease. A group of 8 healthy pigs were slaughtered at the Lublin abattoir and used as controls. All animals were subjected to detailed autopsy, and sections of the liver were taken for histological examination. The fixed material was cut into sections by the paraffin and refrigeration methods. To the routine staining with haematoxylin and eosin, colour reactions were added to reveal glycogen, simple fats and acid and alkaline phosphatase. The macro- and microscopic examinations demonstrated chronic, focal inflammation of the liver capsule connected with liver cirrhosis. Hyperaemia of the liver was noticed in all cases. A decrease of glycogen, associated with progressive fatty infiltration of the liver cells, was observed in the diseased pigs in contrast to the control group. An increase of the activity of hydrolytic enzymes and a positive reaction to cholesterol compounds are symptoms of progressive catabolic changes in the liver cells.


[Biochemical and morphological changes in blood during growth of heifer during the 1st pregnancy and lactation in cows]. The investigations were conducted on 18 heifers from the birth to conception, and on 16 cows from the conception to the end of the first lactation. The levels of some blood indices (total protein, protein fractions, urea, erythrocytes, leucocytes, haemoglobin, haematocrit) were examined every month. There was obtained a high agreement between the data collected by the present writer and those published by other authors. Significant changes in the level of total protein and of protein fractions in blood serum were observed mainly at the beginning of the growth period, at the end of pregnancy and in the first months of lactation. The morphological appearance of peripheral blood showed high variability during the growth period in heifers, but more stability during pregnancy and lactation in cows. The variability of the urea levels in blood serum depended more upon feed rations than on the stage of growth, on pregnancy or lactation.


[Case of male pseudohermaphroditism in cattle. (Bos taurus L.) with a 60 XY karyotype]. The clinical, anatomical, histological and cytogenetical evaluation has been made of a case of pseudohermaphroditism in domestic cattle. A 1,5 year old bull of unknown origin with general male features and male sexual orientation has been studied. It showed an underdeveloped udder and external female reproductive organs. The internal male genital organs showed underdeveloped testes and epididymis, vasa deferentia, vesicular glands, small penis and the clitoris-like glans penis. There were also remnants of female genital organs: uterus with uteri horns situated along the vasa deferentia and the vagina. The testes lacked germinal cells. The 60,XY karyotype has been stated on the basis of the blood lymphocyte culture. No Barr bodies have been found in the tissues. The possibility of development of this anomaly as freemartinism syndrome has been discussed. The obtained cytogenetical results enabled us to put forward the hypothesis that the bull did not derive from a heterosexual twin pregnancy. The possibility of absence of the hypothetic "X" factor (according to Jost), as a cause of this male external and internal pseudohermaphroditism has also been reviewed.


[Antibody formation and resistance in dogs vaccinated intravenously and subcutaneously against distemper and Rubarth's disease]. The results of the vaccination of dogs with Canivac F (distemper vaccine) and Canivac FH (distemper) hepatitis vaccine, are presented. The Canivac F vaccine was injected intravenously (i.v.) to 8 dogs, intramuscularly (i.m.) to 1 dog and subcutaneously (s.c.) to 1 dog. The Canivac FH was administered i.v. to 19 dogs, i.m. to 1 dog and s.c. to 18 dogs. All the dogs displayed no-postvaccination signs. Distemper antibodies were observed in blood sera of all dogs vaccinated with Canivac F after 9-10 and 20-21 days. In sera of dogs vaccinated with Canivac FH, distemper, antibodies were present in 14 of 18 serum samples after 9-10 days and in 26 of 27 samples after 20-21 days. The antibody titre did not depend on the vaccination route. The peak of antibody titre was observed after 37 to 51 days after vaccination. The hepatitis antibodies in dogs vaccinated with Canivac FH were found in 15 of 17 animals after 9-10 days, and in all 27 dogs examined after 20-21 days. On the basis of an intracerebral challenge with virulent distemper virus and by intraperitoneal challenge with virulent dog's hepatitis virus (Rubarth's disease), it was demonstrated that all the vaccinated dogs acquired the full immunity. In addition, it was found  that vaccinated dogs kept in the environment contaminated naturally with Rubarth's disease virus were also resistant to the disease. All the non-vaccinated dogs were still susceptible to distemper or hepatitis infections. On the strength of the analysis of the obtained results and our previous studies, it can be assumed that Canivac F and FH vaccines produced in Poland are harmless and show a high immunogenic activity.


[Effect of temperature and storage time of industrial feed mixtures on the occurrence of presence of Staphylococcus aureus]. The purpose of this work was to determine the effect of temperature and storage time of industrial feed mixtures (IFM) on the occurrence of staphylococci. It has been found that freezing of experimentally infected IFM decreased initially the number of staphylococci. Further storage of IFM below 0 degrees C, even for 8 months, did not destroy completely these microorganisms. At 4 degrees C, the number of staphylococci decreased slowly. In IFM stored at 37 degrees C, or at room temperature, the number of staphylococci decreased rapidly. The storage of IFM at these temperatures may be a good method of removing infections of IFM caused by staphylococci.


[Best methods for the detection of staphylococci in feed mixture. III. Effect of sample preincubation on the most probable number (MPN) of staphylococci in 1 gram of feed]. The aim of this work was to determine whether 2-hour preincubation of a feed sample in physiological saline at 37 degrees, being in force in this country according to Polish norm 58/R-64785, exerts a favourable effect on the MPN of staphylococci detected in 1 g feed. On the base of the results obtained it is suggested that, contrary to this norm, it is more favourably not to use the preincubation for the detection of staphylococci in feed mixtures because the MPN of staphylococci found by statistical analysis in 1 g of the preincubated mixture is significantly lower than that obtained without preincubation.


[Presence of coryneform organisms (C) in cow udders. III. Fermentation and hemagglutination properties as well as pathogenicity of C. uberis]. Altogether 111 strains of C. uberis isolated from cow udders of a dairy herd were studied. Only 27 strains gave positive fermentation without gas formation from glucose, 6 strains from maltose, lactose and galactose, 9 strains from maltose, 4 strains from sucrose, and 5 strains from sucrose and lactose. No fermentation was found in 48 strains; 12 strains decomposed various carbohydrates except glucose. Statistically significant differences in the slide haemagglutination test (OH), type A, were obtained only with human blood cells, group O, in connection with acid-producing strains (X20=12.64 greater than 9.21), as well as with those biochemically inactive (X20=9.12 greater than 7.82). The results of OH obtained with sheep, rabbit, horse, cow and calf blood cells were not characteristic, remaining on the levels of X2alpha=0.01 and X2alpha=0.02. Inoculation of C. uberis 22 (2-10(9) organisms in 10 ml inoculum) into 4 udder quarters free from bacteria, and into 8 quarters naturally infected with non-pathogenic coryneform organisms provoked a short-lived positive CMT reaction without clinical symptoms, and elimination of the bacteria. It seems to result from the author's current investigations that C. uberis is able to protect the cow udder against mastitis caused by bacteria.


[Epizootiologic studies of trichophytosis in cattle]. Investigations were carried out during the years 1964 to 1973. The investigated material included 34 134 heads of cattle in 227 industrial farms, and 80 per cent of them were young animals, from 5 days to 22 months old. The aim of the study was to observe the intensity of skin mycosis in cattle in the Poznań Province, to determine the pathogenic factor causing the disease in individual years, and to search for a possible relation between the occurrence of this disease and the presence of ectoparasites. The clinical observations on cattle were continued for 9 years, 1932 samples of scrapings were taken from skin with mycotic changes and investigated from the points of view of mycology and parasitology. Basing on the observations and analyses performed, it was found that trichophytosis occurred during the whole year, but was more intensive in autumn and winter and in the wet period of summer. Young animals were more frequently affected with this disease. In individual groups of animals, in 10.9 to 21.1% of cases, trichophytosis occurred together with invasion of ectoparasites (lice, mallophagans, itch mites).


[Effect of temperature on the activity of the thyroid gland in 8-week-old chickens]. The authors carried out investigations on the influence of temperature (11 degrees C and 28 degrees C) on the thyroid function of 8-week-old Cornish chickens. Experiments on two groups of chickens (7 males and 7 females in each) lasted for two weeks. The chickens were kept in individual cages and fed fodder and drinking water ad libitum. The rooms were ventilated and the light was on for 24 hours. After 14 days of experiment the autors measured the weight of the thyroid per 100 g of body weight, 21 hr thyroid 125J uptake, and conversion ratio of inorganic iodine into bound organic iodine (CR). It was found that the body weight of chickens kept in high temperature was 16% higher than of those maintained in lower temperature. In both groups the males grew more quickly than the females. Low temperature increased the thyroid weight by 7% and CR by 48.5%. The differences in iodine conversion were statistically significant (p less than 0.01). In both groups higher thyroid activity in the females than in the males was observed.


Determining the cause of hematuria.

Determining the cause of hematuria. Hematuria must always be regarded as a serious symptom. A careful history and physical examination are important in determining the source and cause of the bleeding. Procedures useful in evaluating hematuria include roentgenography, cystoscopy, angiography, ultrasound, and urinary cytology. Of these, cystoscopy is the most important, particularly during periods of active bleeding. Renal biopsy is not routinely advised but is useful in certain cases. A diagnosis of idiopathic hematuria, or hematuria of unknown origin, is warranted only after careful, complete, and repeated examinations.


Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis: an increasing clinical problem. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is being recognized with increasing frequency in the United States. The characteristics of the disease are recurrent pyrexia, cough, wheezing, sputum plugs containing aspergilli, fleeting pulmonary infiltrates, eosinophilia, dual skin reactions (immediate and late), and antibodies to the fungus in the blood. The pathogenetic mechanism is believed to involve type I and type III hypersensitivity reactions. Adrenal corticosteroids are effective in treating this condition.


The perplexing problem of prostatitis.

The perplexing problem of prostatitis. Prostatitis presents the physician with a perplexing problem. It is seen often but is not easily treated. The acute form is serious but responds to antibiotic therapy. Chronic prostatitis does not respond well to any form of therapy, and opinion is divided regarding its cause. Bacterial localization tests have helped significantly in the diagnosis of chronic prostatitis. When Gram-negative organisms are found only in the prostatic fluid or in the last voided urine, bacterial prostatitis can be diagnosed. Most antibiotics, however, do not cross prostatic epithelium to combine with prostatic fluid; those that do are not effective against Gram-negative organisms. New agents hold promise but lack the test of time. While some cases of chronic disease definitely are caused by bacterial infection, most probably are not. The diagnosis in these instances is abacterial prostatitis. Treatment is symptomatic and varied. A phenomenon that adds to the mystery of etiology is the fact that antibiotics, particularly tetracycline, may help. Psychotherapy often is needed but seldom is accepted. The physician must rule out underlying causes, such as a physical abnormality of the urinary system, for any form of prostatitis before considering it an isolated disorder.


[Pulmonary aspergillosis. Apropos of 5 anatomo-clinical cases]. The authors report five cases of invading and diffuse pulmonary aspergillosis. Clinically they are characterized by a development in a still clear pulmonary field in patients with a lessened organic resistance and under corticosteroid treatment. Necrotic phenomenons occurred very quickly and prognosis was poor. Anatomically, foci were spreading, rapidly necrosing and contained Aspergillus. Diagnosis was based, besides etiological circumstances, on the presence of Aspergillus in sputum and of anti-aspergillus precipitins in serum.


[Response to exertion of patients with obstructive bronchopneumopathies in the stage of chronic hypoxia and hypercapnia (functional study)]. Twenty patients suffering from chronic obstructive bronchopulmonary disease were tested during exercise. If exhaustive load is always reduced; it is difficult to predict from the functional results obtained at rest. The commun characteristic found in those patients is the insufficient adaptation during exercise of the VA/V ratio, with deterioration of Pao2 and Paco2. Acidosis is constant and mixed both metabolic and respiratory. The results are discussed after review of the literature.