Sensory effects of capsaicin congeners I. Relationship between chemical structure and pain-producing potency of pungent agents. A quantitative method for measuring the efficiency of pungent agents of capsaicin-type by the pain reaction elicited on the eye of rats is described. About 50 derivatives -- most of them amides or esters of homovanillic acid -- were tested by this method and the share of different chemical groups of the molecule in the pungent action was analyzed. It turned out that the presence of an acylamide linkage or alkyl chain is not essential for pungency, since acylamide linkage can be replaced by an esteric group and the alkyl chain by cycloalkyl rings. The importance of OH group on the aromatic ring is confirmed. On the basis of the findings a hypothetical pharmacological receptor for capsaicin on pain sensory nerve endings is presented.


Method for testing mutagenic effects of chemicals on spermatogonia of the Chinese hamster: results obtained with cyclophosphamide, saccharin, and cyclamate. The action of different cyclophosphamide doses on spermatogonia of the Chinese hamster was examined. Two oral treatments at an interval of 24 h were carried out and spermatogonia were prepared for examination 24 or 48 h after the second dose. Accordingly the effects of 5 oral cyclophosphamide doses given on five consecutive days were tested on spermatogonia and preparations were made 24 or 72 h after the last treatment. The results so obtained form the basis of reference for findings following oral administration of saccharin sodium, sodium cyclamate, or trimethylphosphate. Male Chinese hamsters, 6-8 per group, were used, from each of which about 100 metaphases were evaluated. Preparation was carried out essentially according to Hoo and Bowles [Mutation Res. 13, 85-88 (1971)]. gaps, breaks, fragments, deletions and translocations were rated as structural aberrations. For every dose and every time of preparation the incidence of metaphases with aberrations, with or without gaps, and with translocations were assessed. The different experiments led to the following conclusions: 1. By analysis of spermatogonial metaphases of treated Chinese hamsters chemically induced chromosome aberrations can be proved with certainty. 2. Incidence of metaphases with translocations is a sensitive measure which is distinctly superior to the summary determination of all aberrations. In this way it was possible to show a mutagenic influence of 2 times 8 mg/kg cyclophosphamide p.o. 3. Following two cyclophosphamide doses administered at an interval of 24 h it was found that preparations of spermatogonia 48 h after the second dose was better suited for the evaluation than that at 24 h, for aberrations were more frequent with the same treatment. After five cyclophosphamide treatments at 24-h intervals, aberrations were somewhat more frequent 24 h after the last dose than at 72 h; in any case the values exceeded significantly the results of untreated controls. 4. A conclusive numeric chromosome analysis is not possible with the spermatogonia test, since a relatively high percentage of non-diploid cells is apparently of methodological origin. 5. Tests with 2 times 500 or 5 times 1000 mg/kg trimethylphosphate orally showed an increase in chromosome aberrations compared with controls indicating mutagenic effects in both cases; with 5 times 1000 mg/kg p.o., however, the figures were low as a result of marked mitotic inhibition. 6. The results of the spermatogonia test on Chinese hamsters revealed no mutagenic effects of saccharin sodium 2 times 5000 mg/kg orally, and of sodium cyclamate 5 times 2000 mg/kg orally. This is based on comparisons of the results both with untreated controls and positive controls treated with trimethylphosphate or cyclophosphamide.


[Action of fomocaine on heart and circulation (author's transl)]. Fomocaine shows antiarrhythmic properties. It prolongs the periods of the ECG (anaesthetized cats) and the functional refractory period (left atria of guinea-pigs, electrically driven). Effects on these parameters are qualitatively the same as with quinidine. Quantitatively fomocaine prolongs the functional refractory period in the same, the PQ-interval to a greater extent than does quinidine. In contrast quinidine has a greater effect on QRS- and QT-interval. Up to higher doses fomocaine's efficacy on contractility (dp/dtmax) and blood pressure is opposite to quinidine because they are increased by fomocaine and decreased by quinidine. The lack of toxic ECG-signs prior to lethal dosis makes fomocaine dangerous in overdosage.


[Effects of glucagon on systemic circulation, coronary blood flow and myocardial oxygen consumption in the anesthetized dog (author's transl)]. The systemic and coronary hemodynamic effects of 10, 20, 40 and 80 mug/kg glucagon have been studied in 9 anesthetized normoventilated closed-chest dogs. Intravenous administration of this agent produced a dose-related increase in the average coronary blood flow between 19% (10 mug/kg) and 49% (80 mug/kg). Coronary vascular resistance decreased by between 16% (10 mug/kg) and 39% (80 mug/kg). A--V O2 difference 1 min after the administration of glucagon no changes in myocardial oxygen extraction were observed after 5, 10 and 20 min. The calculated myocardial oxygen consumption rose up to 50% after 80 mug/kg glucagon. We conclude that the increase in coronary blood flow and the decrease in coronary resistance are mainly secondary to the metabolic effects of the increased myocardial contractility and heart rate, and that there is only an initial direct vasodilating effect on the coronary vessels.


Pharmacokinetics of flavoxate in rats.

Pharmacokinetics of flavoxate in rats. The plasma levels, the urinary excretion and the biliary excretion of piperidinoethyl-3-methylflavone-8-carboxylate (flavoxate, F) were studied in rats after i.v. and after oral administration. Parallel experiments were made with 3-methyl-flavone-8-carboxylic acid (M), the main metabolite of F. The substances are found in blood and are excreted in the urine and in the bile. The quantities excreted in the urine after oral administration are similar to those excreted after i.v. administration, showing that the enteric availability of the drugs is almost complete. The end product in urine and in bile is represented by a substance which yields M after a strong acid hydrolysis. There are marked pharmacokinetic differences between F and M, probably related to their physical properties.


Distribution of [14C]-tofenacine in rat brain after intravenous, intraperitoneal and multiple oral dosage. The distribution of radioactivity in the rat brain at 5 min after 10 mg/kg of 14C-labelled N-methyl-2[(o-methyl-a-phenylbenzyl)oxy]ethylamine, [14C]-tofenacine-hydrochloride, the active constituent of Elamol¿ and Tofacine¿, i.v. showed a heterogeneous pattern correlating well with what is known about perfusion and capillarization of brain areas. With the passage of time total brain radioactivity decreased rapidly and radioactivity was redistributed. Both processes occurred simultaneously so that a nearly homogeneous pattern was found at 1 h after i.v. administration. The outer layers of the hippocampus were then the only brain areas with a higher concentration of radioactivity. On i.p. administration of 25 mg/kg of [14C]-tofenacine-hydrochloride maximum brain radioactivity was observed at 30 min, the distribution pattern resembling that seen at 5 min after i.v. dosage. Its further time course corresponded to that of the i.v. series. On multiple oral administration of [14C]-tofenacine-hydrochloride (4 doses of 25 mg/kg at 3-h intervals), maximal radioactivity in the rat brain was observed at 120 min after the last dose. Again the distribution was heterogeneous. Areas of high and low radioactivity were very similar to those seen in the i.v. series at the first intervals, although the contrasts were less pronounced. An exception was the hippocampus where the distribution of radioactivity, -- with high levels in the outer layers as the principal feature -- was similar to that at the last intervals after i.v. administration. A model comprising a central compartment and two brain compartments, representing areas of high and low perfusion, respectively, allows a quantitative explanation of the phenomena observed.


[On a special form of extremity malformation in rats following administration of 6-mercaptopurine on day 12 of gestation (author's transl)]. After i.p. application of 16 or 25 mg/kg, resp., 6-mercaptopurine on day 12 of gestation, numerous bone aplasias in the extremities can be demonstrated using the alizarine-red clearing method or X-ray techniques. In a few cases, however, histological examination reveals the presence of an unmineralized cartilagenous skeletal piece. The cause of this malformation is presumably the damaging of precursor cells of the osteoblasts responsible for the desmal and enchondral esteogenesis during the blastema stage. Therefore, it is to be distinguished between the true and the cartilagenous aplasias.


[Pharmacokinetic behaviour of gliquidone (AR-DF 26), a new sulfonyl urea. Summary of the studies so far (author's transl)]. Pharmacokinetic studies of the new antidiabetic agent gliquidone, AR-DF 26, 1-cyclohexyl-3-((p-[2-(3,4-dihydro-7-methoxy-4,4-dimethyl-1,3-dioxo-2 (1H)-isoquinolyl)-ethyl]-phenyl)-sulfonyl)-urea (Glurenorm) in healthy volunteers and patients with several diseases related to diabetes are reported. Plasma levels and excreta were monitored using the 14C-labelled compound and/or a specific radioimmunoassay. Following oral administration of a 30 mg tablet a maximal plasma level of approximately 600 ng/ml was attained after 2 to 3 h. The compound was eliminated mainly with the bile. Urinary excretion amounted to about 5% only. Comparison of diabetic patients with or without concomitant renal insufficiency did not reveal significant differences with respect to the pharmacokinetic behaviour of the drug. This holds true also for administration following a multiple dosage regimen where even three doses of 60 mg each a day, did not result in elevated blood levels in either group. AR-DF 16 is metabolized mainly to four products, which were identified besides unchanged drug in bile, stool and urine. All excreta showed quite a similar pattern of distribution. In plasma, however, unchanged drug accounted for at least 80% of total radioactivity up to 8 h besides some biotransformed products, mainly AR-DF 33.


[Inhibitory activity of bencyclan on platelet aggregation in vitro and in vivo (author's transl)]. N-[3-(Benzyl-cycloheptyloxy)-propyl]-N,N-dimethyl-amine (bencyclan-hydrogenfumarate, Fludilat¿) inhibits spontaneously enhanced aggregation in the tests which detect a spontaneous aggregating activity (PAT I--III) in 10(-5) molar concentration. Bencyclan also inhibits platelet adhesiveness and ADP or collagen induced platelet aggregation. 10(-5) M of bencyclan induced a slight swelling of platelets 5 times 10(-4) Mol inhibited the formation of tentacles completely and transformed the platelets into small spheres if investigated with interference-phase contrast microscopy. It is likely that the morphologic changes induced by bencyclan are responsible for the inhibitory effect on the different platelet function tests in vitro. In vivo oral application of 300-600 mg of bencyclan per day did not inhibit platelet aggregation. In patients with enhanced aggregating tendency i.v. injection of 200-400 mg bencyclan led to a short-time inhibition of platelet aggregation which usually did not last for more than 1 h. No binding of 14C-labelled bencyclan to platelets was found. In vitro and in vivo some 14C-labelled bencyclan was bound to albumins.


[Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of the antiinflammatory agents S-H 766 in man]. Blood and plasma levels as well as urinary and fecal excretion were measured in humans after oral administration of radioactively labelled 4-[j-(2'-fluorobiphenylyl)]-4-hydroxycrotonic acid (S-H 766 MO). The radioactivity in the plasma reaches maximum values of about 10 mug eq./ml 1 to 2 h after application with either form. After repeated administration good agreement is found between the plasma levels measured and those simulated according to the pharmacokinetic parameters obtained after single application. The S-H 766 metabolites were investigated in blood and urine. The substance was found to undergo considerable metabolism, only approximately 2% being excreted in the urine unchanged. The conjugates, which constitute over 60% of the radioactivity of the urine, consist mainly of glucuronides and sulfates. The structure of the aglycones shows that the metabolism occurs along two pathways, by beta-oxidation of the aliphatic side chain into aryl acetic acids and by hydroxylation of the aromatic nucleus to phenolic compounds. It must be assumed that these biotransformations take place both simultaneously and successively.


The absorption, excretion and metabolic pattern of bromhexine in man after oral and i.v. administration. The fate of 14C-labelled bromhexine (Bisolvon¿) in man following intravenous and oral administration was studied by investigation of the blood and plasma levels and the excretion profiles. Slight variations observed between the two administration routes are explained by the somewhat different distribution patterns resulting from the different "first path" after oral application (liver) and intravenous injection (tissues).


Binding of thioridazine and some of its metabolites to human serum protein and human albumin. The binding of thioridazine and some of its psychoactive metabolites to human serum and to human albumin was studied using equilibrium dialysis. A very important binding capacity was found for each of the products tested, but significant differences between binding to human serum and binding to human albumin were observed.


Social background and diagnosis. Survey of Male Clinic Registrations. The usual reservations concerning the reliability of information received from clinic patients must be made, although we have no evidence of systematic distortion in the data provided, apart from the understatement of previous clinic attendances. Analysis of the 3,045 male registrations included in the survey revealed that: (1)More than half were of patients under 25 years of age. This age group included almost one-third of the cases of syphilis, 56-3% of the cases of gonorrhoea, and 49-7% diagnoses of NGU. (2) Some 30% of registrations were of married men living with their wives. The proportion of registrations in this category increased substantially through the upper age groups. (3) The incidence of gonorrhoea and of syphilis was higher among the separated or divorced than among single, married, or widowed men. (4) The incidence of gonorrhoea was higher among patients in their teens and twenties than in succeeding age groups; NGU was diagnosed most frequently among patients in their forties. (5) The incidence of NGU varied inversely to that of gonorrhoea in relation to social class. Gonorrhoea was diagnosed more frequently among manual than among non-manual workers, while the incidence of NGU was higher among white-collar workers (including students). The highest incidence of gonorrhoea was recorded among registrations in the semi- and unskilled categories where the incidence of NGU was lowest, while the lowest and highest frequencies of gonorrhoea and NGU respectively were recorded among registrations in Social Class III (N)-comprising mainly clerical and sales workers. Some of the above findings may be of mainly local significance, and much additional evidence is required before the influence of such factors as marital status and social class can be adequately interpreted.


[Influence of sexual maturation on cardiac activity and reactivity of Calliphora vomitoria. I. -- Cardiac activity (author's transl)]. 1. Calliphora cardiac rhythm shows a regular alternation of retrograde beating phases with high frequency (fast phases) and of anterograde beating phases with low frequency (slow phases). 2. Male cardiac activity exhibits only small variations during sexual maturation. 3. In females, the ovarian development induces a decrease of slow phase duration and a variation of anterograde beat frequency (it decreases the first five days and then increases). 4. Cardiac characteristics of allatectomized or ovariectomized animals are similar to those of young females with small ovaries. 5. These results reveal an important correlation between ovarian development and many cardiac characteristics. The most important physiological factor seems to be the increase in ovary size and/or its consequences (abdominal distention).


[Experimental study of the effect of cobalt irradiation on the rabbit lung]. Rabbit lungs were irradiated with a unique dose of 3,150 rads of CO60. The time related study (from the end of irradiation to 28 days after-wards) of the ultrastructural changes in the alveolo-capillary membrane, shows that the early lesions involve first of all the endothelium, then the epithelium and the surfactant, interstitial involvement being the latest. The course of the lesions is maximal on the 7th day, while interstitial involvement appears and is amplified in the three following weeks, whereas cellular involvement completely regresses. Qualitative study of phospholipids from the pulmonary washing fluid of the irradiated lung shows early changes in the composition of surfactant (fall in lecithins and appearance of substances with similar structure) then a return to a practically normal composition around the 21st day. The nature of this early change in surfactant is debated: is it a change in surfactant secreted and/or an early change in the process of synthesis of surfactant?


[New findings concerning the spread of natural foci of infection in the transpolar region of eastern Siberia]. New materials are presented on the presence of the foci of anthropozoonozes in the Extreme North. For the first time there was established the existence in the subarctic tundra of the Taimyr peninsula of the arbovirus foci of the tick-borne encephalitis complex. A virus of the tick-borne encephalitis complex was isolated in 1973 from the gamasida ticks Haemogamasus ambulans Thorel. and Hirstionyssus isabellinus Oudms. and the nests of the Siberian lemming Lemmus lemmus L. This pointed to the existence in the Transpolar region of the foci or arboviruses in the nest-hole biocenoses of the lemmings outside the bird colonies. Cultures of tularemia bacilli (which proved the etiology of the epizootic among the lemmings observed in 1973 and also the presence of the lemming natural foci of tularemia and their combination with the arbovirus foci) were isolated from the lemmings at the same territory. The results of serological examination of the local population and of the animals pointed to the circulation in the Transpolar region of the causative agents of leptospirosis, toxoplasmosis, Q-fever and of the Asian tick-borne rickettsiosis.


Studies on veneral transmission of Campylobacter fetus by immunised bulls. Temporary contamination of the penis and prepuce with Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis and Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis biotype intermedius may occur when immunised bulls mate with infected heifers. However, 2 experiments showed that this contamination was not a significant cause of genital infection in susceptible heifers that subsequently mated with bulls.


[Apparatus for studying the surface properties of pulmonary extracts]. The author describes a unit for studying the surface properties of the pulmonary extracts by Wilhelmy's principle; the unit consists of a two-coordinate self-recorder, compensatory amplifier, modified Wilhelmy's balance, a rectifier and a stabilizer. The unit permits automatic recording of the dependence of surface tension of the extract upon the area of its surface.


[Effect of sulpiride and 2Br-alfa ergocryptine on the neuroendocrine control of hPRL incretion (author's transl)]. The incretion was studied in eight male normal subjects control of hPRL incretion. The incretion of hPRL after infusion of SULPIRIDE (100 mg) by e.v. was studied in eight male normal subjects. Three days later the load of sulpiride was repeated after pretreatment (two hours) with C.B.-154 (2,5 mg). After CB-154 pretreatment the levels of hPRL were significantly lower. Cb-154 is able to reduce incretion of hPRL, also after stimulation with Sulpiride by double mechanism.


[Serological and entomological study on yellow fever in Sierra Leone]. In a serological and entomological survey on yellow fever carried out in Sierra-Leone in 1972, altogether 899 sera from children 0 to 14 years were tested with 12 antigens by haemagglutination-inhibition and complement fixation tests. Mouse neutralization test with yellow fever, West-Nile and Zika viruses were also performed on selected sera. Generally speaking, the incidence of arboviruses is low but the prevalence of antibodies for some viruses was found to vary considerably between different areas. As regards yellow fever, the virus has recently been in circulation in only two areas: Bafodia and Lalehun-Labour Camp and there is no risk for a yellow fever outbreak to occur in the near future. Due to the shortness of the survey, entomological prospections were confined to a search for Ae. aegypti larvae in and around dwellings: no breeding places are found in houses and Breteau indices are usually low, especially in forest villages. On the other hand, in urban settlements in the mining areas, breeding places around houses are numerous and are bound to increase in number. All the conditions necessary for the outbreak of an epidemic would be present within few years: such a situation would appear in Labour Camp where yellow fever virus has been circulating, where most of the population has no immunity and where Breteau indice goes as high as 34.4. As regards the other arboviruses, Zika virus is active in most areas and Chikungunya virus is particularly active in the plateau and savanna zones, in the North-East.


[The absence of Sindbis virus from French Polynesia]. The authors report, in French Polynesia that Sindbis antigen is a good control for rubella serodiagnosis. Data are presented on Hemagglutination Inhibition from 2,032 sera, showing no evidence of any Sindbis antigen circulation.


[Is transplantation tuberculosis caused by malnutrition?]. The tuberculosis of transplantation is a sickness of diet carency. It was so in negro soldiers, as in white population during the war; also in negro women in misery conditions, previously tuberculous contacts.


[Hemoglobinoses and hemoglobinopathies in the Central African Republic. 2]. Part of an inquiry which took place in R. C. A. from january 1972 to january 1975, we are able to give results concerning the prevalence of haemoglobin S in three new prospected regions and the value of sickling test. Cellogel electrophoresis sorted 20 0/0 of haemoglobin S bearers (AS or SS) od of 527 school children. On the same lot, sickling test by field practice, revealed only 7 0/0 and on the whole lot of examined individuals (684) only 8 0/0. This confirms that sickling test, when alone, is not reliable enough to appreciate the prevalence of haemoglobin S.


[Intestinal protozoa in a non-selected group of adults in the Republic of Mali]. A coprological examination was performed among 410 adults living in two rural traditional villages of the Bamako region (Mali Republic). The results are compatible with those of several reports coming from other areas. A remark is done about Ascaridiasis which seems to be rare in rural communities of tropical Africa.


[Study of the molluscocid properties of lead triphenylacetate]. The molluscicide and biocide properties of lead triphenylacetate (4,5 p p m, on Biomphalaria glabraia and Bulinus contortus) are not so great that the toxic action of tin tributiloxyde, on the same snails (2 p p m). Still the prices of the organic salts of lead are not so expensive as tin organic salts.


[100 new cases of Hansen's disease discovered during 7 years of dermatologic practice in French Guyana (author's transl)]. From the dermatologic viewpoint Hansen disease represents a significant affection, and our participation for a quarter of the demonstration, although our activity is limited to Cayenne, seems to be particularly necessary. We do not wish to be alone in our interest in this problem, and we sincerely think that in French Guyana any physician should be "Leprolog". The severity of the lepromatous forms and their distribution into any age and place, suggest that it should be considered as a promising disease.


[Contribution to the study of "Edwardsiella tarda" isolated in Viet-Nam (author's transl)]. Rectal swabs from 13,947 diarrhea patients of all ages were examined during the five years period covered by this report (1969-1973). most of the specimens came from the Saigon area, mainly from the Infectious Diseases Hospital and the Children's Hospital. Specimens also were submitted from other hospitals at provinces. From these specimens, 186 Edwardsiella tarda were isolated for a 8.77 0/0 isolation rate. These organisms were relatively frequent among adults and more commonly isolated during the driest months (February and May). Isolates of E. tarda were also obtained from rodents,  dogs, fish and clams.


[Verrucous mycotic dermatitis due to an unusual dematiaceous fungus. Clinical and histopathological discussion (author's transl)]. A case of "verrucous dermatitis" caused by a dematiaceous fungus has been observed in an 30 y. o. Algerian patient. The lesion was localized on the face. The patient presented previously a chronic dermatophytic disease due to Trichophyton verrucosum. The dematiaceous hyphomycete has been isolated several time from superficial specimens and portions of biopsies. This fungus has been injected by intra-testicular route in guinea-pigs. The aspect of the fungus in its parasitical morphology has been described and compared with that seen in the testis: In the lesions, the vesiculous or short fungal elements are not pigmented; they are sometimes cross-walled. Successful treatment has been obtained with administration of intravenous amphotericin B. It seems that the patient is genetically predisposed and has a deficient cellular mediated immunity.


[Ciguatoxin and edible reef fishes].

[Ciguatoxin and edible reef fishes]. Referring to the various human and animal clinical response to consumption of reef fish, the authors precise the importance of ingested dose and the role of cumulative effects. They point out the arbitrary character of distinguishing poisonous and edible fish of the same species. At the light of these data they find ciguatoxin in edible fish from known latent ciguateric potential species in atoxic areas. Therefore ciguatoxin does appear as a natural biotoxin permanently produced in most of the polynesian coral reefs ecosystems. The occurence of clinical disorders by men and animals results from a sudden increase of its production following biological transitory modification of some coral reef biota.


[Clinical manifestations of leprous multineuritis in the West African. 90 cases (author's transl)]. The neurologic examination of 90 leprosy subjects shows the importance of nerve enlargement and associated sensorimotor deficiencies. The association of various clinical signs, the ones in contrast to the others and the influence of the history of the illness are taken in consideration. Finally these results are compared with some previous works.


[An anademy of ictero-hemorrhagic leptospirosis in a military group in Algeria (author's transl]. Seven cases of L.I.H. are noted simultaneously in a military group in the suburbs of Algier. It is an anademic by contamination at the same point, without interhuman infection. Only two of these cases have clinical symptoms to permit diagnosis of the others by research of specific antibodies (Immunodiagnosis). Anicteric forms are very frequent. This explains probably failure of diagnosis when epidemiological conditions are realized. This unawareness of leptospiroses is unfortunately a general phenomenon in the world.


[Demonstration of Pseudomonas pseudomallei (Whitmore's bacillus) in the mud of Iranian ricefields (author's transl)]. Whitmore bacillus had killed a horse and a mule in a herd bred for serum production in 1970 (Baharsefat and Amjadi). Out of 157 soil samples from rice fields in Northern Iran it was possible to isolate 19 times Pseudomonas pseudomallei (types I and II) possessing a very high pathogenicity for animals. Attempts at an evaluation of the human incidence of the disease.


[Bilharziasis in Martinique (author's transl)]. A study of 4,600 sera by means of a micro-method of complement fixation with a delipidated antigen allowed to evaluate the significance of intestinal bilharziosis at la Martinique and to precise its geographical distribution in the various areas of the island. The mean infestation ratio (about 27 0/0) is much higher than that obtained with parasitologic techniques; it confirms the great sensitivity of immunological methods and the high percentage of infested people in these areas. On the other hand the study of infestation ratio in the various places shows the role played by the hydrographic system and its relationship with the habitat: a fundamental opposition is observed between two areas: the North of the island, which is damp, with many rivers and highly infested, and the South, dry, with a much lower infestation ratio.


[Acute trichinosis. Several recent cases imported from Egypt (author's transl)]. Five cases of acute trichinosis imported from Egypt (four of them have been anatomically and serologically proved) have been recently observed at the Ambroise-Paré Hospital. The patients had been contaminated at Cairo. All of them but one presented atypical clinical picture. One of them was complicated with myocarditis, making the pronostic more severe. In 3 cases out of 5 immunological tests and blood eosinophilia were right one case remaining doubtful these reactions being negative. An anthelminthic, thiabenzadole, associated with corticotherapy, seems to have been efficient.


[Isolation and characterization of a new picornavirus in Taiwan]. During the 1971 outbreaks of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis, 298 cases were admitted to the Veterans General Hospital and seven strains of new picornavirus were isolated in human epidermoid carcinoma cells. Two strains of the virus isolated have been further studied. Serological neutralization indicated that these isolates might represent a distinct picornavirus group. Biophysical and biological properties determined by this study indicated that the viruses had many characteristics in common with the echoviruses such as morphological appearance, lack of essential lipids, acid stability, density in cesium chloride, sedimentation rate, growth in the presence of 5-iodo-2-deoxyuridine 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine and nonpathogenicity to suckling mice. However, they were differentiated into 2 strains on the basis of plaque size and neutralization kinetics.


The respiratory distress syndrome.

The respiratory distress syndrome. Acute RDS is a clinical and pathologic phenomenon with many causes. Some of the pulmonary problems are iatrogenic, resulting from the overuse of blood, crystalloids, oxygen, vasopressors, sedation, and immobility. Some are related to the blast effects of injuries at sites distant from the thorax. Other causative factors are metabolic, secondary to diminished peripheral perfusion. The pulmonary capillary bed is a principal target organ in shock--affected by the toxic action of vasoactive substances, gastric aspirates, and fat; by the obstructive action of platelet, fibrin, and leukocyte clots; and by changes in balance between perfusion pressures and oncotic pressures. The rationale of prevention and therapy presented here has resulted (except in those patients with prolonged sepsis) in almost complete disappearance of RDS as a cause of death in our institution.


[Study on correlations between certain biological parameters and the Achillean reflexogram in a homogeneous African population (author's transl)]. Study of a homogenous population comprising 25 male Africans.  The following parameters have been measured: proteinemia, hematocrit, natremia, calcemia, globular and plasmatic magnesemia, duration of the achillean reflexogram. Hyperproteidemia and hypomagnesemia, which are usually observed in African people, were found. A negative linear relationship significant at the 10 0/0 threshhold has been demonstrated between the reflexogram and the P.B.I. value.


[Serological study on bovine leptospirosis in Guadeloupe (author's transl)]. A serological study on bovines in Guadeloupe (French Carraibes) was conducted during 1973-1974. 456 animals were tested. Their sera were examined by microscopic agglutination technique with 20 antigens. Antibodies against the following serogroups: Ballum, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Bataviae, Australis, Pomona and Sejroë, were found. Ballum is the first serogroup by frequency and titers of antibodies. One young animal was ill and Immunological Test revealed a high titer of antibodies against serogroup Sejroë. This work demonstrates the existence of animal leptospiroses in Guadeloupe.


[Comparative immunological study of protein extracts of poisonous and non-poisonous fishes (author's transl)]. Suggesting an immunologic participation in the pathogeny of the ciguateric syndroms, the authors have prepared a proteic antigen from the flesh of poisonous and edible fish of the same species. They have shown that there is a total common antigenicity between toxic and non toxic extracts. They suggest a new immunologic approach, in the matter of intoxication by ciguateric fish.


The Denver universal microspectroradiometer (DUM). II. Computer configuration and modular programming for radiometry. This paper describes and discusses for microscopists and spectroscopists the choice of computer equipment and the design of programs used in the Denver Universal Microspectroradiometer (DUM). This instrument is an accurate computerized photon-counting microspectrophotometer, microspectrofluorimeter and microrefractometer. The computer is used to control the operation of the system, to acquire radiometric data of various kinds, and to reduce, analyse and output the data in a readily usable form. Since the radiometer was designed to carry out many kinds of measurements in a variety of micro- and macroscopic specimens, and since different methods of microscopy or spectroscopy have to be combined in various ways fro the study of any one specimen, no single master-program could fulfill efficiently all foreseeable requirements. Therefore, the programming developed is interactive, modular, hierarchical and hybrid. Modular interactive programming makes it possible for almost any kind of main program, applicable to almost any kind of measurement, to be assembled quickly from a collection of hierarchical subroutines. Main programs are short and composed mainly of Fortran statements calling subroutines; subroutines, in turn, automatically call other subroutines over many levels. The subroutines are independently written and optimized for maximum operational efficiency in the computer system used, or for maximum ease of transfer to other systems. This approach to programming enables someone unfamiliar with computer languages to operate the radiometric system from the console of the CRT terminal. The writing of new main programs, by linking groups of existing subroutines, requires only a minimum acquaintance with Fortran; only the writing and revision of subroutines requires programming experience. Differences and similarities in the method of computer operation between the present system and other computerized radiometers are briefly discussed.


A universal metal and carbon evaporation accessory for electron microscopy techniques and a method for obtaining repeatable evaporations of platinum carbon. A simple accessory has been designed which can be used for all types of metal or carbon evaporation in either an upwards or downwards direction as required. A method of preparing platinum carbon rod sources which makes possible successive repeatable evaporations of platinum carbon is also described.


Radiation damage in electron microscopy of organic materials: effect of low temperatures. As measured by the life-time of their electron diffraction patterns, the radiation sensitivity of anthracene and coronene at 500 kV is reduced by a factor of three to four at liquid helium temperature in comparison to room temperature, For l-valine the ratio is about 1-8 but there is a wide variation in the results, possibly due to differences in crystal thickness. The end-dose at 20 degrees K for valine is equivalent to 13 electrons/A2; for anthracene and coronene it is about 600 electrons/A2 at room temperature. The variation of end-dose with temperature shows that at least two mechanisms must be involved in damage to such compounds, possibly concerning the breaking of intermolecular and intramolecular bonds, respectively.


The effect of variations in objective focal length on electron microscope performance. Standard specimens were examined in a transmission electron microscope with a top entry stage. Using a range of objective focal lengths, measurements of contrast, resolution and magnification range were made. Focal lengths up to 14 mm were examined. The contrast was found to increase with increasing focal length, being twelve and a half times greater at 14 mm focal length than at the normal high resolution mode of 2 mm focal length. Resolution, determined by the fresnel fringe method decreased from 0-3 nm to 3-5 nm. The photographic image mangnification was reduced from X 1000-X500,000 at 2 mm focal length to X100-X50,000 at 14 mm focal length.


Cathodoluminescence of biological molecules, macromolecules and cells. Cathodoluminescence observations on biological compounds are compared with previously established data from ultra violet and visible light excitation studies. The comparison demonstrates that the same molecules are responsible for the luminescence properties of macromolecules independent of the type of exciting radiation. Natural cathodoluminescence was also observed from cells. Moreover, advantages gained by the absorption of strongly cathodoluminiscent dyes into cells are demonstrated.


A container for handling small specimens during preparation and examination in the scanning electron microscope (SEM). The difficulties of handling small specimens of less than 1 mm3 are considerably reduced when the specimens are placed in a small container designed to be compatible with the dimensions of the preparatory instrumentation and of the microscope. The container described is unaffected by solvents used in the preparation of specimens for scanning electron microscopy.


[Results of surgical radiotherapeutic management of cervix carcinomas during 1966-1968]. From January 1st 1966 until December 31st 1968, 593 women with carcinoma of the cervix uteri were admitted to and treated at the I. Universitäts-Frauenklinik of Vienna. 151 cases underwent a radical operation (Wertheim) resulting in a relative 5-years-healing of 85.43% and 442 women were exclusively treated by a combined radium-X-ray-therapy. From the 442 inoperable cases in 234 cases--which is 53%--a 5-years healing was reached. Of all the 593 cases together, 363 are living without relapse after 5 years, which is equal to 61.21% absolute healing.


[Phospholipids under combined ozone-oxygen administration]. The parenterally application of oxygen-ozone gas mixture gives good resultats in the treatment of various deseases. Ozone seems to influence the metabolic process of fat, so it was of interest to analyse this influence especially to phospholipids. 40 women with gynaecological cancer got 10 ml oxygen-ozone gas mixture with a content of 450 gamma ozone into the cubital vene. Venous blood was removed before and 10 minutes after application and the level of lecithin, lysolecithin, cephalin and spingomyelin was determined by the method of Randerath. A decrease of all four substances was obvious, although all values remained in normal range.


Can we control V.D.? A new approach to the old problem. The paper presents in a very concise way the main outlines and results of a new anti-V.D. campaign organized in Poland since 1970.


Thyroid failure after potassium iodide treatment of diffuse toxic goiter. 1. The treatment of Graves' Disease by Potassium Iodide (like thyroidectomy, radioiodine, and antithyroid drugs) is followed by rate failure of thyroid function. 2. These findings suggest that the natural history of Graves' Disease may be one of progression from hyperthyroidism towards a decreased thyroid functional state. This progression may be accelerated by ablative methods of treatment. 3. Certainly, all patients with Graves' Disease, no matter what the treatment may be, should be followed carefully for the rest of their lives. 4. In certain patients, Potassium Iodide appears to be an effective means of controlling the hyperthyroidism of Graves' Disease.


Influence of temperature and composition on some physical properties of milk and milk concentrates. IV. Thermal expansion. Apparent thermal expansion measurements were carried out by dilatometry on eleven types of milk, grouped in three sets according to their fat to solids-not-fat ratio, over the temperature range of 0 degrees to 80 degrees C. Analytical expressions relating milk thermal expansion coefficients with its composition and temperature are given. These expressions predicted the thermal behaviour of samples usually within 1%. A nomogram is also presented for the direct derivation of relative integral dilatations from temperature, total solids content and fat to solids-no-fat ratio of the sample.


[Side effects in immunosuppressive therapy]. 61 patients with rheumatoid arthritis received a total of 80 courses of immunosuppressive therapy with one or more of the following substances: azathioprine, chlorambucil, mannitolmustard, cyclophosphamide, procarbazine. The overall results were excellent or good in 50% of the patients. There was a significant correlation between the efficacy of the different substances and the rate of side effects. Azathioprine was best tolerated, but gave only medium results whereas procarbazine, as a very potent drug, had the highest rate of side effects (especially depression of bone marrow, infections, gastrointestinal manifestations etc.). Serious immediate side effects of the immunosuppressive therapy according to our experience and in literature are infections and leucopenia, whereas the most important late risk is the possibility of an occurrence of malignancy. In our series, which had been followed up to five years, no malignancies have been thus far detected. Also, in the literature, there are only very few patients with malignancies published. Therefore the risk of immunosuppressive therapy in rheumatoid arthritis with regards the incidence of malignancies, seems to be relatively small in contrast to the findings in patients with kidney transplants.


[The effect of so-called basic therapeutics and symptomatically effective antirheumatic drugs on the enzymes of DNA synthesis and DNA repair]. Investigation of DNA-synthesis and DNA-repair are important for evaluating mutagenic effects of drugs. Among the tested non steroidal antirheumatic drugs metiacinic acid, ketoprofene, and azapropazone do not show any effect on these mechanisms. Tolmetin and indometacine, however, inhibit DNA-synthesis only, whereas naproxene, oxyphenylbutazone, and flufenamic acid inhibit both DNA synthesis and repair. Gold does not influence DNA synthesis or repair, D-penicillamine inhibits DNA-synthesis only. However, Chloroquine and metabolised cyclophosphamide respecitvely impair both DNA-synthesis and repair. This effect may be also caused by azathioprine in high dosage. Application of two repair- inhibitors or of one DNA-repair-inhibitor and one directly mutagenic acting drug, e.g. cyclophosphamide, should therefore be avoided.


[Effect of amphotericin B and its combination with 5-fluorouracil on the development of transplantable rat lymphosarcoma]. The studies were carried out on rats with subcutaneously transplanted metastizing Pliss lymphosarcoma. The animals were treated with amphotericin B administered intravenously in complex with sodium desoxycholate in doses of 336 and 20 Units/kg for 7 days beginning from 24th hour after the tumor transplantation. The treatment resulted in a statistically reliable inhibition of the tumor metastasizing as compared to the control animals. When the animals with the tumors were subjected to combined therapy with 5-fluoruracyl and amphotericin B, the antitumor and antimetastatic effect of 5-fluoruracyl significantly increased. Determination of amphotericin B binding with the organ homogenates showed that the antibiotic bound with the homogenates or the organs of the rats with the tumors to a greater extent than with those of the intact animals. The levels of the antibiotics in the tumor metastases were higher than those in the primary tumors.


Artificial induction of lactation in ewes: the role of prolactin. The mammary glands of 30 non-pregnant, intact ewes were developed by subcutaneously injecting oestrogen plus progesterone at intervals of 3 days from day 0 to day 27. Two days later (day 29), 15 ewes were injected subcutaneously with 18 mg ergocryptine, to inhibit specifically secretion of prolactin. Then groups of ewes, each comprising five ergocryptiine-treated and five untreated ewes, were injected from days 30 to 34 with either four intravenous injections each day of 1 i.u. syntocinon, one subcutaneous injection each day of 10 mg dexamethasone trimethylacetate, or two subcutaneous injections each day of 2-5 mg oestradiol benzoate plus 6-25 mg progesterone. All ewes were milked by hand on days 30-50. Within 24 h of injecting ergocryptine, levels of prolactin in serum were reduced to negligible values (less than 2 ng/ml). Comparison of results for ewes not receiving ergocryptine showed that syntocinon, dexamethasone and oestradiol benzoate plus progesterone, at the doses used, were equally effective in initiating milk secretion. Peak yields of 0-23-0-27 kg/day were achieved. On the other hand, ewes treated with ergocryptine before syntocinon or dexamethasone produced peak yields of only 0-12-0-13 kg/day and ewes treated with ergocryptine before oestradiol benzoate plus progesterone produced negligible amounts of secretion. The results suggest that syntocinon and dexamethasone were either lactogenic per se or effected the release of hormones of the lactogenic complex other than prolactin. However, oestradiol benzoate plus progesterone appeared to be lactogenic by virtue of the influence of oestrogen on the secretion of prolactin.


Immunoblastic lymphosarcoma, a cytological and clinical entity? We have studied 20 cases of haematosarcomas belonging to lymphosarcomas (T or B-cell markers, absence of the reticulosarcoma characters in sections, on smears, with conventional and scanning electron microscopy). Their cells which appear as large pyroninophilic cells on sections, as large very basophilic cells with blastic nuclei and often cytoplasmic vacuoles on smears, as having many polyribosomes and usually no ergastoplasm with conventional electron microscopy, and as large cells of the lymphocytic series with scanning electron microscopy resemble the cells which we described in adenitis in 1955 (9) and in the graft-versus-host-reaction in 1961 (6), which Gowans (15) showed resulted from lymphocyte transformation, and which Dameshek (10) called immunoblasts. Many of these cases of immunoblastic lymphosarcoma (ILS) identified on their cytohistological characteristics [also recognized by Lukes et al. (24, 25) and Lennert et al. (21, 22)], present aetiological, clinical and pronostic characters which let us suppose that it may be not only a cytological entity but also a cytoclinical entity : a) it affects males in 85% or the subjects; eight patients came from mediterranean countries outside France; two patients had a history of chronic rheumatoid manifestations; b) the disease was at stage IV at the first presentation in 10 patients out of 20; it was revealed by profound (mediastinal or abdominal) localizations in 60% of cases (12 out of 20); it presented a hypoglobulinaemia in eight out of 13 patients; in six out of the 15 patients treated before leukaemic conversion, the chemotherapy usually efficient in lymphosarcoma (LS) failed to induce remission. This type of LS has a poorer prognosis than other types of LS (median for all stages : eight months). It led to the death either after its conversion to leukaemia (nine out of 20 cases), or by vital organ (as brain or kidney) infiltrations.


[Variation of the thyrotropin-releasing-hormone (TRH) stimulated thyrotropin (TSH) response in comparison with the tyhroid-gland-suppression test and the triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) blood levels in the so-called euthyroid endocrine ophthalmopathy]. 21 patients with active signs of euthyroid Graves' disease were given 400 mug thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) i.v. All subjects with unresponsiveness to TRH had a nonsuppressible thyroidal 131I-uptake. On the basis of serum total T3 14 patients were hyperthyroid, 2 more had an elevated value of free T3. 4 patients with normal total T3 and nonsuppressible 131I-uptake were unresponsive to TRH, in 2 of them the free T3 fraction was elevated, however. 4 subjects with nonsuppressible 131I-uptake had a TRH stimulated TSH response. 2 of these subjects had hyperthyroid values of free and total T3 in serum and responded to TRH with an exaggerate TSH increment. The variations of TRH responsiveness may demonstrate a different threshold of the pituitary and the peripheral T3 receptors.


The treatment of psoriasis with azaribine. An open study was made of 25 patients with severe, recalcitrant psoriasis treated with azaribine (6-azauridine triacetate). Most patients received 125 mg/kg/day for a period of 8 weeks. A good to excellent response with 60-100% clearing of lesions was observed in 14 patients and a fair response with 40-60% improvement in another 6 patients. Thus 20 patients (80% of the series) exhibited a favorable clinical response. 16 of these 20 patients relapsed to approximately pretreatment status within 1 month after stopping therapy. The most frequently observed side-effects were mild reversible anemia, fatigue and mild transient gastrointestinal symptons. 8 patients (32% of the series) exhibited sufficient toxicity to necessitate the discontinuance of therapy. 1 patient experienced an unexplained femoral arterial thrombotic episode while on the drug. Azaribine may find a place in the therapy of severe psoriasis particularly in patients with hepatic disease. However, further studies of its potential for toxicity are indicated.


[On the individualized, combined therapy of Ewing's sarcoma (author's transl)]. With eleven patients, for whom in the period 1967-74 a diagnosis of Ewing's sarcoma was confirmed, it was shown how by intensifying the chemo- and radiotherapy the survival time of some patients could be prolonged. At the same time surgical therapy has become less important. The diagnostical difficulties of the histomorphological differentiation of Ewing's sarcoma from lymphosarcoma are detailed on the example of another patient. A further general intensification of the chemo- and radiotherapy is not possible as the organism's limit of acute tolerance is already reached. Any future improvement on the results of treatment seems therefore only possible if combination therapy is modified to correspond to the particular needs of the individual patient.


[Morphologically detectable prestages of breast cancer]. As to pathogenesis of breast carcinoma two different pathways are suggested: carcinoma de novo, without preceding breast lesion and carcinoma with preexisting intraductal epithelial proliferation (about 30%), in chronic cystic disease (mastopathy). A prospective study of 400 female patients aged 15 to 45 years revealed after bioptically verified chronic cystic disease of the breast, irrespectively of severity of chances, recurrance of lesions occured in 20% within control periods of up to 60 months. In 50% of these cases a repeat biopsy appeared to be indicated. Statistical evaluation yielded no evidence for chronic cystic disease with intraductal proliferation showing a higher rate of subsequent carcinoma than simple mastopathy without epithelial proliferation, based on 5 years period of observance. This study is to be continued, to test, if in a larger collective of patients and after a longer period of time this trend remains to be constant.


[Criteria of the test of suppression of thyroid uptake of I131 by triiodothyronine]. The author assessed the results of the test of the triiodothyronine (T3) suppression of the I131 absorption in 10 healthy women, 22 suffering from neurocirculatory dystrophy and 35 patients with diffuse toxic goiter. This test was found to distinctly differentiate the patients with diffuse toxic goiter and healthy persons. Reduction of absorption to the level below 15% of the indicator dose with consideration to the level of the initial absorption could be considered as criterion of the normal I131 absorption in response to the T3 administration. The mean suppression of the absorption in T3 administration in patients with neurocirculatory dystonia (10.7 +/- 1.49%) displayed a significant difference from the level of mean suppression of the absorption in patients with diffuse toxic goiter (58.1 +/- 4.76%). However, in individual patients suffering from neurocirculatory dystonia the I131 absorption by the thyroid gland in T3 administration still exceeded such in healthy persons. Therefore such patients require further observation because of a possible development in them of diffuse toxic goiter.


[Hemipelvectomy and its anesthesiological management]. Based on the study of an operative course, anesthesia and immediate postoperative period in 63 patients subjected to hemipelvectomy, it is demonstrated that the danger of early complications in these cases, at present, is not great relatively, and such operations can and must be performed, if indicated. Moreover, hemipelvectomy produces a number of specific changes in the organism that should be taken into consideration in conduction of anesthesia and corrective therapy postoperatively. Ganglionary blockade seems to be an obligatory constituent of anesthesiological provision in hemipelvectomy.


[Disturbance in the function of the spinal centers in diffuse toxic goiter in children (electromyographic study)]. Peculiarities of the reflex and motor responses of the soleus muscle were studied in stimulation of the tibial nerve by stimuli of gradually increasing intensity, and also in double stimulation and against the background of contraction of the antagonistic muscles in children with diffuse goiter and in healthy individuals. In sick children an increase and a fall in the H-response amplitude with increase of the stimulation intensity occurred more rapidly than in healthy ones. A rapid restoration of the reflex response at the interval of 500 msec and greater was noted in studying the cycle of restoration of excitation of the motor cells of the anterior horn in sick children. Against the background of contraction of the antagonistic muscles the reciprocal inhibition of the reflex response of the muscle was weaker than in the healthy individuals. The data obtained led to a supposition that one of the causes of motor disturbances in case of an excess of the thyroid hormones in the organism could be a disturbance of the processes of the pre- and postsynaptic inhibition at the spinal level.


[The value of various investigations of amniotic fluid in the estimation of fetal maturity (author's transl)]. The amniotic fluid lecithin-spingomyelin (L/S) ratio, creatinine and uric acid concentrations, percentage of organe-stained fat cells and the foam test by Clements and coworkers have been compared in 82 samples of amniotic fluid from 66 patients. The specimens were obtained by transabdominal amniocentesis or amniotomy between the 24th and the 42nd week of pregnancy. The determination of the L/S ratio and the foam test seem to be reliable methods of estimating pulmonary surfactant and, hence, of predicting the respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in the newborn infant. There was no RDS with an L/S ratio greater than 1.6 to 1.8. Positive foam tests also seem to be a valuable indicator of pulmonary maturity, no cases of RDS being found. However, false negative foam tests are not rare. The amniotic fluid concentration of creatinine correlated well with gestational age and birth weight. The determination of uric acid in the amniotic fluid is an unreliable test of fetal maturity on account of the large scatter. The percentage of orange-stained cells did not rise above 10% before the 39th week of pregnancy in most cases.


[Lead-content of foodstuffs. 4. Lead-content of infant foods (author's transl)]. The lead contents in more than 120 glass bottles or packages of infant foods were determined. About 75% of the values were below 100 mug Pb/kg of product. The highest value was 238 mug Pb/kg. The weekly intake of a 6 month-old infant (7.2 kg body weight) fed exclusively with commercial baby foods was found to be about 320 mug Pb, or about 45 mug Pb/kg body weight.


[Immunoblastic sarcoma with autoimmune manifestations]. The authors report a new case of immunoblastic sarcoma with autoimmune manifestations. -- The early stages suggest a virus infection of this lymphoma: -- There is a hemolytic anemia which improves on chemotherapy, -- The pathological appearances are quite special, owing to the absence of malignant characteristics in the early stages of the disease and the difficulty of differentiating the tumour from a Hodgkin lymphoma. Various pathogenic theories are recalled.


[Urinary excretion of glucuronic and hippuric acids in rats ingesting heated linseed oil]. Nutritionally harmful substances are formed when edible vegetable oils are heated (cyclization, polymerization of unsaturated fatty acids, ...). How are these substances metabolized in animals? This work is a first attempt to experiment if these altered fatty acids or their metabolites are excreted as conjugated compounds in the urine. Weaning rats (weighing 45 g) were divided into 3 groups of 9 animals each. They received balanced diets containing 10 p. 100 by weight of lipids. In the first group, the dietary of lipids was linseed oil which had been heated for 12 hours at 275 degrees C under nitrogen (group HC275); in the second group, the linseed oil had been heated 100 hours at 200 degrees C in presence of air (group HC200). These two groups of animals were fed ad libitum. The control group (group HF) was fed a diet containing fresh linseed oil and its food consumption was restricted to the quantity eated by the HC275 group (pair feeding). Urines were collected daily from the 8th to the 15th day of experiment and pooled for each rat. Hippuric acid and glucuronic acid contents were determined in these urines. During this period the hippuric acid excretion in HC275 and HC200 groups is twice as high as in HF group (32, 35 and 17 mumoles respectively). On the other hand urinary excretion of glucoronic acid is 8 times higher in HC275 and 3 times in HC200 than in HF (2214, 739 and 269 mumoles respectively). Hippuric acid excretion is very small as compared to that of glucuronic acid. Therefore it seems that most of the compounds formed during heating of the oil or their metabolites are excreted as glucoronic acid conjugates.


[Possibilities for improved production of meat and milk in state agricultural plants in Egypt]. One of the possible ways of overcoming the deficit of animal protein in human nutrition is that of increasing the livestock and increasing the performance of the animals. Egypt wants to follow this way, especially utilizing the possibilities offered by the newly reclaimed land. For this purpose efficient herds must be developed in the newly reclaimed areas in large-scale production units and under optimum farming conditions. This includes above all a continuous supply of feedstuff by means of intensive field forage cultivation. Starting in August 1973, the test station for agricultural machinery of the GDR VVB Land-und Nahrungsgütertechnik at El Ghasair has investigated the problems connected with a continuous daily supply of fresh feed-stuff to large livestock (cattle) and with preservation methods suited to this aim. First results are reported of applying an advanced technology - and partly GDR farm machinery - in cultivating and harvesting green fodder and hay, using Alexandrian clover and lucern.


[Hemagglutination test and the diagnosis of food allergy]. We have studied 50 children suspected to have food allergy. Their clinical diagnoses included the following: digestive trouble (prolonged diarrhoea or vomiting), abdominal pain, repetitive urticaria, angioneurotic edema, eczema. The aim of thie study has been to value the results obtained with the hemagglutination test according to Boyden, comparing them with skin tests carried out through intradermal techniques. 113 hemagglutination and skin tests with varying foods have been carried out. Nearly all the children have been tested with milk, white and yolk of egg, the most suspected foods, and also other foods depending on the data found through anamnesis. With milk (47 cases) we have obtained positivity in 12 hemagglutination tests, and in 3 skin tests. With egg (41 cases) the hemagglutination test has been positive in 14 cases, and the skin test in 5 cases. Conjunctly in the 113 cases we have obtained positive hemagglutination test in 44 cases, and positive skin test in 14 cases. In 65 cases both tests have been negative. This fact points to the necessity to realize other diagnostic tests, as well the possibility that these children have no allergic disease. Summarizing, these results support the superior value of the hemagglutination Boyden test in comparison with the skin test as diagnosic proof in food allergy.


[Early identification of cancer through vaginal cytology in a venereal disease clinic]. 100 women, routinely and regularly examined in a venereal disease clinic, have been investigated using Papanicolaou smears of the uterine cervix for. 1. Papanicolaou group, 2. trichomonas infection, 3. assessment of vaginal microbiology. A group III was determined in 11, a group IV/V in 2 women. Trichomonas vaginalis was present in 60% of the cases. Only 9% of the smears showed normal Döderlein bacteria; 91% contained mixed bacteria. The findings are compared with a control group and are discussed in the light of epidemiologic studies indicating the close rôle of certain factors in the sexual life for the development of cervical cancer. The necessity to regard this population as a high risk group in general cytological screening has been stressed, especially to the advantage of the adolescent and young females in this group.


The value of premedication in diminishing salivary secretions. A study has been carried out on the anti-sialogogue effect of some drugs used in premedication. Among different anaesthetic agents used in this study halothane appeared to be the least effective in stimulating salivary secretions. Pethidine-atropine combination proved to be very satisfactory as an anti-sialogogue. Atropine came next, where its intravenous route of administration was more satisfactory in short procedures than its intramuscular route.


The effect of aristolochic acid on the development of methyl-cholanthrene tumours in mice. 1. In several experiments on groups of mice aristolochic acid administered by mouth reduced the induction rate of methyl-cholanthrene tumours. 2. In cases where such tumours were influenced their growth was slowed down. 3. If aristolochic acid treatment is started a long time after the methylcholanthrene injection its effect on carcinogenesis is weaker. 4. Oral administration gave better results than injection. 5. Pertussis vaccine seems to have no significant influence on tumour development.


[Adenocarcinoma in situ and microinvasive adenocarcinoma of the cervix uteri (author's transl)]. Three cases of Adenocarcinoma in situ respectively of microinvasive Adenocarcinoma of the Cervix uteri are reported. A review of the problem to diagnose, of the therapy and prognosis is presented.


[Experiences with 2,000 conizations of the uterine cervix (author's transl)]. The records and histologic specimens of 2,000 patients who underwent cold knife conization were reviewed with regard to the usefulness as a diagnostic and therapeutic procedure. In 81,4% further diagnostic procedures were not necessary. Intrapithelial neoplasia was demonstrated in 78% including 16,4% invasive carcinomas. The incidence of non-pathologic conditions was higher in cone specimens submitted from other hospitals or gynecologists. 85% of preinvasive and invasive epithelial neoplasia were detected by cytology.


The effects of rapeseed meal fed during the growing and/or laying periods on mortality and egg production in chickens. White Leghorn pullets of two strains were fed soybean or rapeseed meal during either or both the growing period and laying period in two separate experiments. Rapeseed meal may be fed to growing pullets at levels up to 17% of  the diet without adversely affecting the subsequent rate of egg production or egg size. Birds fed laying diets containing 19% of rapeseed meal produced a greater egg mass per hen-day and gained more weight during the laying period when the growing diet contained rapeseed meal instead of soybean meal. Birds shifted at sexual maturity from soybean to rapeseed meal as dietary protein supplement undergo metabolic adjustment which retards the attainment of maximum rate of production and induces cannibalism. Both rate of production and egg size were lower when rapeseed meal constituted 19% of the laying diet in replacement of soybean meal as protein supplement. Mortality, exclusive of that resulting from cannibalism, was 4.1% and 4.6% respectively in the two experiments. Death from liver haemorrhage occurred only in birds of one strain which were fed rapeseed meal during the laying period and principally in birds which had been fed rapeseed meal during the growing period as well.


[On the contamination of milk and milk products with chlorinated hydrocarbons. I. Methods]. A method of gaschromatographic determination of chlorinated insecticides in milk and butter in the presence of PCB's is described. The fatty components were extracted from milk after adding sodium oxalate and ethanol with diethyl ether and petrol ether. The clean up of the extracts was carried out according to a modification of the method of Hadorn and Zürcher with propylene carbonate as a selective solvent.


[Light and electron microscopic changes in the small intestine mucosa in adynamic (paralytic) ileus]. Light and electron microscopic changes of intestinal wall sections obtained at enterostomy in patients with intestinal paralysis are reported. The observed structural changes offered certain information on the relationship between the pathophysiological and the morphological changes in intestinal obstruction.


[Zinc in natural and artificial milk].

[Zinc in natural and artificial milk]. Differences have been observed in both quantitative and qualitative zinc content in human as well as cow milk and colostrum compared to the milk powder preparations which are commonly used as baby's food. It is noteworth that in unprocessed milk and colostrum zinc was present mainly as casein-dependent element, whereas the remaining part of it consisted of immunoglobulin fraction, and only traces were found in the free state. In milk powders zinc showed concentrations lower than in the natural food, and was present mainly as free or protein-independent element. The immunoglobulin fraction of zinc was practically absent from these preparations, while it was found to be a specific component of the natural food (that is, colostrum and milk from all the species examined in the present study).


[Fatal evolution of a dermatophytic disease due to Trichophyton schönleini]. The patient, the last of three children, died at 22 of a "dermatophytic disease" (Hadida et Schousboe) of probably trichophytic origin (T. schönleini) after eight years of evolution. Anterioraly her two brothers died respectively at II (six years) and 13 (seven years of evolution). Discussion of clinical, diagnosis and physio-pathologic features and of a familial immunological defect.


[Histopathological study on the course of a dermatophytic disease]. Histological study of cutaneous biopsies of an algerian girl with a "dermatophytic disease" (cf. supra Marill and al.). During the six first years of evolution diagnosis of mycosis had not been made for no specific fungus staining was done, but the fungus was present in the tissues. Vesicular forms and few filaments were seen in the first biopsies but polymorphism increased with the time and filaments became predominant and very abundant at the end of the disease.


Studies on cutaneous leishmaniasis in Khuzestan, Iran. Part II. The status of sandflies. In these studies, more than 25,000 specimens were collected from different parts of Khuzestan Province. Sandflies were caught by aspirator from indoor, and with sticky traps from outdoor resting places. We found 10 species of Phlebotomus and 12 species of Sergentomyia in our studies. The sandfly season extends from March through late November. There are two peaks in the density curve of most species in plain and littoral areas, one in early June and the second in late September; in mountainous areas there is a peak in the density curve in September.


[Cell culture of snails. Their use in the study of immunologic host-parasite relationships in schistosomiasis]. The host-parasite relationship between Schistosoma mansoni and the snail Biomphalaria glabrata is so complex that its experimental study needs some particularly working methods: for instance molluscan organs and tissue's cultures. In the experiment described we report that digestive gland's cells cultures were grown on synthetic cultural medium. This one contained a physiological salt solution and a basal nutrient medium consisting of foetal calf serum, chicken embryo extract and amino-acids. In this case we observed good growth and multiplication of the digestive gland cells. This preliminary experiment has to be used in immunological studies regarding the origin and the mode of acquisition of the snail antigen by the cercariae membrane.


[Epidemiologic and parasitologic survey concerning the Hassan Addakhil dam and branches to the Tafilalet province (Morocco, May-June 1975)]. In conclusion we know human and animal gathering is usually required for the development of water invertebrate populations, and particularly Bulinus contortus or Culicidae larvae, in a water system polluted with excrements or sewage. Such conditions are not those of Hassan Addakhil lake and the latter is not to-day, on its surface, a source of contamination. As we report p. 486, the study of an eventual increase of malaria and bilharzia endemia due to new aval more or less distant irrigations, belongs to the control of the Hygiene Institute of Morocco and collaborators of physicians of the Tafilalet province. This item will be discussed later on.


[The first case of distomatosis in Upper Volta]. Distomatosis was not reported in Upper-Volta before this first case described in Bobo-Dioulasso. However this disease becomes more frequent in West Africa. Exact parasitologic diagnosis was impossible between Paragonimus and Poïchilorchis congolensis with the clinical, anatomical data of this first observation.


[Anthihelminthic activity of pyrantel pamoate administered in mass treatment of an isolated population of the South Pacific]. A stool examination survey on the Wuvulu island population in Papua-New Guinea let be shown off the high incidence of two helminthiasis, ascariasis and trichocephalosis (75-4 0/0 and 70 0/0 of the tested subjects) compared to the low incidence of ankylostomiasis (7 0/0). With pyrantel pamoate administered in one oral dose of 10 mg by kg of weight, results are excellent in ascariasis with 97-7 0/0 success. The efficiency is only partial in ankylostomiasis with that small dose. It is quite well tolerated and may be used in mass treatment and, taking into account the special characteristics of that small and far away island, an attempt to eradicate ascariasis through systematic reiterated treatments is being carried out.


[Ciguatera in the Maldive Islands].

[Ciguatera in the Maldive Islands]. In the Maldives archipelago, constituted of coral islands, where pollution is practically non-existent and where fish is the staple food of the inhabitants, ciguatera is almost unknown. The authors compares these findings with those observed in the Seychelles islands, where pollution seems to be relatively significant and ciguatera very rare. He thinks that pollution can only play a very slight part in the etiology of this intoxication.


[A winter seasonal biotope of Culex pipiens autogenicus]. The authors describe an epigeal winter seasonal biotope of "culex pipiens autogenicus. The biotope consists of the irrigation system of the large Bervedere park of Tunis city. During the cold and rainy season the irrigation system is abandoned. Many water pools are formed in it in which C. pipiens and Culiseta longiareolata multiply. In summer the operation of the irrigation system brings about the disparition of the nests of larvae. Breeding performed from larvae collected in nature pointed out the autogenous and stenogam characters. Morphologically the specimens correspond to autogenous forms. The importance of the investigations is the evolution of the C. pipiens autogenic species in external nests of larvae during winter was pointed out.


Observations on the host-parasite relations between Echinostoma revolutum and lymnaeid snails. Echinostoma revolutum from Taiwan was studied in lymneid snails at 29 +/- 0.5 degrees C. Given 3-5 miracidia, 95% of Lymnaea ollula and 40% of Lymnaea swinhoei became positive; the prepatent periods were 18 and 25 days, respectively. The following are based on the observations in Lymnaea ollula: The time required for miracidial penetration was about one hour. The sporocysts developed only in the ventricle of the snail but mother rediae developed in the heart and other organs. Mature daughter rediae were not found in the heart cavity. The sporocysts reached the ventricle within 3 days. Mother rediae were released after 6 days and daughter rediae after 8 days. Given 5 miracidia, 1-3 sporocysts reached the heart and 2-20 mother rediae were found per snail. The number of mature daughter rediae was usually 100-200 although more than a thousand may develop in a snail. The sporocysts and mother rediae attained maximal size 9 days postinfection and started degeneration 13 days postinfection. Daughter rediae were largest at the beginning of cercarial emergence and decreased in size thereafter. Simultaneous production of daughter rediae and cercariae by the mother redia was seen only once in this snail mature cercariae were obtained in 10 days postinfection. The cercariae emerged from a small area of mantle collar near the posterior corner of shell aperture. They were negatively phototactic and positively geotactic. An estimation showed that each snail shed about 350 cercariae a day. The cercariae reached the pericardial cavity of snail in one hour via the renal orifice and metacercariae were seen 4-5 hours after exposure. The infectivity of cercariae at various times after shedding, as expressed by cyst recovery rates, were: 51.6%, O-hr old; 76.1%, 2-hr; 68% 4-hr; 32%, 6-hr; 3%, 8 and 10-hr. Cyst recovery rates were not different within the dosage of 50-500 cercariae per snail. Most metacercariae recovered 1-2 days after cercarial exposure were viable; only 5 among 6,533 cysts were dead.


Fungi isolated from asthmatic homes in the Taipei area. Indoor fungi in Taipei were surveyed during 1969-1974 using Sabouraud's agar plates. No remarkable yearly variation of fungal incidence was observed. The fungal population was found to be different from home to home. The dominant members were Aspergillus, Penicillium, Mycelia sterila, Oospora, Rhodotorula, Hormodendrum and yeasts. The order of frequency of fungi found indoors was quite different from that of outdoor fungi. The fungal spores were more numerous during summer months, and this trend was more apparent for Aspergillus, Oospora, Rhodotorula, and Hormodendrum. The kind and the incidence of fungi found in asthmatic homes were not different from those detected in non-asthmatic homes, except that in asthmatic homes there were greater numbers of fungi.


The species of mallophaga in wild birds in Iran. Up to date 2 species of Mallophaga have been reported from birds in Iran. Further studies in Tehran area showed that the wild birds harbour more lice. The following species of Mallophage are reported for the first time from birds in Iran. Anaticola crassicornis from Anas clypeata, Laemobothrion maximum from Falco tinnunculus Laemobothrion sp. from Aquila chrysaetos Alcedoecus annulatus from Alcedo athis, Colpocephalum pectinatum and Strigiphilus sp. from Streptopelia turtur, Amrysidea fulvomaculata from Coturnix coturnix, philopterus picae from pica pica, Philopterus ocellatus and Colpocephalum pectinatum from Athene noctua, Philopterus sp. from Turdus ruficollis, Upupicola upupae from Upupa epops, Amyrsidea hexapilosus from Phasianus colchicus, Colpocephalum sp. from Falco cherrug.


The efficacy of killed Trypanosoma evansi vaccines in mice. Four strains of Trypanosoma evarsi (D3, D4, D5 and D6) isolated from German shepherd dogs were inoculated into mice, and infected blood was used to prepare 9 separate killed vaccines. White mice inoculated with 1:100 diluted PBS vaccine, 0.5% carbol vaccine, or 100% Lugol vaccine showed survival rates of more than 60%. Among these 3 vaccines PBS vaccine and 0.5% carbol vaccine showed higher survival rates at 1:500 and 1:1000 dilutions, respectively. When young mice (15-20 g) were immunized with PBS vaccine, they resisted challenge with homologous strains, D3 strain in single injection, D6 strain in double injections and all strains in 5 injections. Protection however was not observed in old mice (25-30 g) give the same vaccine preparation. When mice were vaccinated with a single injection of D3 vaccine and challenged with heterologous strains, only those challenged with D4 strain at 10-5 dilution showed a survival rate of more than 60%. There was no difference in protective ability among PBS vaccine, agar adjuvant and kaolin adjuvant vaccines. Agglutinating antibody was demonstrated in mice receiving 5 injections of PBS vaccine.


[Trial of experimental induction of cerebral metastasis in the rabbit carrying a VX2 tumor]. Numerous factors remain unknown as far as the mechanism of induction of cerebral metastases is concerned. Where as of cancer give metastases more readily than others, especially cerebral metastases, the neoplastic embolus can be either eliminated or remain in place in a state of quiescence. What is the role played by the blood brain barrier from a pathophysiological point of view? Is there a mechanism which prevents central nervous system metastases? What is the importance of individual variation? We attempted to induce cerebral metastases in VX2 carcinoma carrying rabbits to look for an approach to these problems and to create an experimental model of cerebral metastase. The VX2 carcinoma is easily transplantable and its biological characteristics are well known. The VX2 tumor is implanted in the thigh of the rabbits and is used in the experimentation starting two weeks following the take of the graft; the tumor is surgically resected and a solution containing approximatively 50,000 tumor cells for 0,1 ml is prepared. This solution is inoculated via the carotid artery to the same rabbit or to another rabbit of the same breed either or intrathecal way into the brain. Death occurred 6 to 20 days later and was followed by a complete pathological survey. The results were the following: --The inoculation via the carotid artery, even with very highly concentrated solution was never followed by any recognizable brain metastasis. --The inoculation intrathecaly produced only extraparenchymatous metastases where as the direct intracerebral inoculation was followed by the occurence of intracerebral metastases.


[Causes of unfavorable outcome of surgical treatment of injuries of the menisci of the knee joint]. The results of meniscetomy in 480 patients are analysed. Late results were folowed up in 435 of them. Poor issues were noted in 19 cases (4.4%). The main causes of failure were as follows: a delayed and inadequately radical surgery.


[Functional state of the liver in patients with malignant neoplasms, operated on with the use of ganglionic blockaders and moderate hypotension]. The functional state of the liver studied in 411 patients with malignant neoplasms undergoes the least variations under conditions of surgery with ganglionary blockade and moderate hypotension (not less than 90 mm Hg). These patients showed the best indices of protein metabolism and the status of the blood coagulation system, as well as activation of spontaneous anticoagulation. Complications in these patients were observed, but rather more rarely than in patients operated upon without using ganglionary blockade.


Cycles of aggression in the male three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus). Data were collected to determine whether there are intrinsic, short-term cycles of aggression during the reproductive stage in the male three-spined stickleback. The subjects were studied in the lab, where model female-female were presented for 10 + min. The frequency of court-ship behavior, biting, and a variety of nest activities were measured, as a function of time. It was found that biting does undergo regular and striking internal fluctuations, and that this is correlated with the cycling of a number of other behaviors.


High incidence of chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis in apparently healthy school children: epidemiological and clinical study. An epidemiological survey on the incidence of juvenile chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis was performed in 10,220 apparently healthy school children in Ishikawa district, Japan. The subject of present study included 6,244 school children (2,831 boys and 3,413 girls, ages 6-18 yrs.) in Kanazawa City and 3,976 children (2,055 boys and 1,921 girls, ages 6-18 yrs.) in Wajima City. The first group was selected as a representative of urban area and the second group as that of seaside area. Children who have goiter or firm thyroid were selected for testing antithyroglobulin and anti-microsomal antibodies in sera. Final diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis was made on histological specimen obtained by needle biopsy on the antibody positive subjects. The overall incidence of chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis in these children was 3.0 per 1,000, whereas the incidence in adolescent girls was as high as 8.2 per 1,000. There was a considerable sex difference in the prevalence, the ratio of female to male was 6.5:1, and the incidence increased with age. The incidence in seaside area was 5.3 per 1,000 that was significantly higher than in urban area, 1.4 per 1,000 (p less than 0.005). Histologically, 26 of 30 cases (87%) were classified as focal thyroiditis and 4 cases (13%) were diffuse thyroiditis. Serum T4-I and T3 values within normal range in all patients, but resting TSH was elevated in 1 of 23 cases and TSH response to TRH was exaggerated in 3 of 23 cases. Impaired organification of iodide was observed in 6 of 32 cases by iodide-perchlorate discharge test. The present study demonstrates that juvenile chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis is highly prevalent among apparently healthy school children and early recognition of the disease with preventive care for hypothyroidism in future should be stressed.


[Clinical studies on autoimmune mechanisms of the thyroid. Part 2. Studies on measurements of serum thyroblobulin concentrations in patients with various thyroid diseases (author's transl)]. The present report deals with the measurement of serum thyroglobulin (Tg) in various thyroid disorders by using radioimmunoassay (RIA). The results were as follows: 1) A specific and simple solid-state RIA for the measurement of Tg in human serum was used. This system was a direct RIA using plactic cups coated with crude anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (anti-Tg) and 125I labeled purified anti-Tg. The purification of anti-Tg was performed by affinity chromatography using Tg-Sepharose, as an immunoadsorbent. 2) Affinity chromatography was carried out using a modification of the method of Cuatrecasas. The immunoadsorbent (Tg-Sepharose conjugate) was used in a column procedure for the isolation of anti-Tg from globulin fractions obtained from Hashimoto's sera. The elution was performed with 4M NaI or 0.17M Glycine-HCl with pH 2.3. The eluted materials contained a very small amount of Tg which was removed by Sephadex G-200 chromatography using the same elution buffer. The high purity of the anti-Tg obtained was demonstrated by the fact that almost all of the final product was bound with Tg by using Sepahdex G-200 chromatography. 3) A direct RIA consisting of two incubation steps was applied for Tg measurement. During the first incubation, standard Tg or Tg in serum was bound to the antibody coated cup. After washing, equal amounts of radioactive purified anti-Tg were incubated with the bound Tg. The cups were then washed again, and counted separately. The radioactive counts thus obtained, increased with the amounts of Tg bound to the anti-Tg by the first incubation. The sensitivity of the assay was 4 ng/ml. T3 and T4 did not cross-react against Tg, and did not interfere with the binding between Tg and 125I-anti-Tg. A dilution curve was constructed using the serum of a patient with Graves' disease; the post-operative serum contained a very high level of Tg. This curve paralleled the standard curve. By adding constant Tg to a normal serum or Graves' serum, Tg recovery was good. However, in regard to Hashimoto's serum, Tg recovery was unsatisfactory. 4) Serum Tg concentrations were measured in patients with various thyroid disorders. ..


[Clinical studies on autoimmune mechanisms of the thyroid Part II. Leucocyte migration inhibiton studies in Hashimoto's thyroiditis and in Graves' disease (author's transol)]. The Leucocyte migration inhibiton test (LMT) using the agaraose plate technique according Clausen was performed in 19 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, 23 patients with Graves' disease, and in 17 normal subjects. A series of leucocyte suspensions was preincubated at 37 degrees C for 30 min. with crude thyroid extract (Crude), purified thyroglobulin (Tg) and thyroid microsomes (Micr) in concentrations of 500, 300 and 100 muml, respectively together with phosphate buffer saline (PBS) as the control. Then, each of the aliquots of 7 mul of leucocyte suspension 1.5 million leucocytes, preincubated with various antigens of PBS, was placed into 4 wells, 2 in each of 2 agarose plates, followed by a 2nd incubation for 24 hours at 37 degrees C, in 2 per cent CO2 with 98 per cent atomospheric air, resulting in a pH of between 7.2 and 7.4. After the incubation, the migration areas were studied and measured by planimetry. The degree of migration inhibition was expressed as a migration index (MI); that is, the ratio of the average extent of migration of the leucocytes cultured with antigens to that of control. The MI values for normal subjects against Crude, Tg and Micr were 97.6 +/- 6.8 (mean +/- S.D)%, 97.8 +/- 4.2%, and 95.5 +/- 5.3%, respectively. Low MI values, below 2 S.D. of the normal, were regarded as positive results. The rate of positive LMT in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis were 32%, 46% and 31% against Crude, Tg and Micr, respectively. In Graves' disease, they were 35%, 50% and 41% for the same antigens, respectively. In 68--68% of patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis or Graves' disease, positive LMT was at least shown with one of the three antigens. In Graves' disease, there was no correlation between MI values and the presence of long acting thyroid stimulator (LATS). In untreated patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' disease with a short clinical course, the migration inhibiton factor against Tg or Micr was found to be positive in a remarkably high rate. On the other hand, the levels of circulating antibodies in the serum tended to show high titers in patients with long duration, comparing with those with short duration. From the histological findings obtained by needle biopsy of thyroid tissue, grade of lymphocytic infiltration was found to be significantly correlated with the degree of reduction in MI values. From these observations, it is concluded that MIF against Tg can easily be detected by the agarose plate technique and that cellular immunity may play a more important role in the initial phase of autoimmune thyroid diseases than the later phase, in which the serum levels of circulating antibodies are becoming predominant.


Weight, height, thorax and of menarche in Spanish schoolgirls. In this paper, the authors study the correlation which exists between somatic development, represented by weight, height and thorax, and the age of onset of menarche. The results indicate that girls showing early menarche have a somatic development greater than the mean. It has also been possible to show that the greatest increase in height occurs before the menarche, while the greatest increase in weight coincides with the appearance of the menarche, or occurs shortly afterwards.


Intrathecal radioisotopes and phlebography in investigation of ventriculo-atrial shunts in children. The Authors describe their experience in investigating the functioning and patency of ventriculo-venous shunts in hydrocephalic patients. They examined 41 hydrocephalic children with Pudenz valves, with radioisotope techniques. The radioactive tracers were administered by the lumbar route, by the ventricular route, or directly into the shunt. For lumbar or ventricular administration 131I-HSA, 99mTc-HSA and 169Yb-DPTA were used, whilst 99mTCO4 was the only isotope used for direct introduction into the shunt, effected by piercing the pump of the Pudenz system. The results of these investigations show that introduction of the isotope into the shunt allows obtaining morphological information, depending on the patency of the shunt and on the site of any obstruction. It also provides information about the functioning of the shunt, depending on the presence of hyper- or hypo-shunting. In cases where revision of the distal catheter might be necessary, moreover, phlebographic investigations of the superior vena cava were made. These proved to be particularly useful for indicating the patency of the affluent veins of the heart, thus enabling a precise surgical schedule to be planned prior to operation.


[Investigation on wheat varieties of better protein quantity and quality (author's transl)]. A research has been conducted on several hundreds of cultivars and selection lines of bread wheat to find out new varieties of better nutritive characteristics. For a coarse evaluation of protein quantity and quality, a screening method (dyebinding capacity, DBC) was utilized. On the same samples, nitrogen was determined also by the Kjeldahl method; in some cases aminoacids analysis was carried out. A very high correlation was found between protein content and DBC and, even higher in this case, between DBC and lysine content (in samples with a high DBC). In this way it has been possible to sort out a certain number of varieties of interest from a nutritive standpoint and in relation to their protein and essential amino acids contents. The importance of these findings is discussed.


Effect of age and duration of meal-eating on body composition and on lipogenesis and cellularity of adipose tissue in male rats. Several studies indicate that in rats changing the rhythm of feeding from nibbling to meal-eating results in hyperlipogenesis and higher body fat deposition. Among the factors influencing this phenomenon, the effects of age and duration of treatment are not yet clear. Male rats of 4, 6, 12 and 18 weeks have been meal-fed (two 1-hour meals per day) for 5, 10, 20 and 30 days. Pair-fed Nibblers were used as controls. Adipocyte diameters and number from epididymal adipose tissues were determined, and lipogenesis measured my glucose-U-14-C incorporation into lipids. The results show that cellularity, glucose-U-14-C incorporation  into adipocyte lipids and CO2 and body fat deposition are not affected by short-term meal-eating treatment in growing animals. In the adult rats, only after 30 days do the parameters studied show significant higher values in the meal-eating animals. The results are discussed in view of the possible interrelationships among the different factors influencing animal response to modifications in feeding frequency.


[Influence of the degree of nonvitreousness on durum wheat semolina characteristics (author's transl)]. The presence of nonvitreous kernels in durum wheat adversely influences milling yield, protein content and pasta manufacturing quality of semolina. From the results obtained, we can infer that the proportion of these negative effects is related to the degree of nonvitreousness exhibited by the kernels. Consequently, to define nonvitreousness and to establish proper methods for its determination, we have to take into consideration not only the percent of nonvitreous kernels but also the degree of nonvitreousness exhibited.


[Improvement of the concentration method of the "head space" above wine for direct gas chromatographic analysis by means of two absorbent polymers (author's transl)]. It has been defined, in a previous work, a procedure for the "head space" gas chromatographic analysis. This method allowed the separation of 17 volatile constituents, utilizing Porapak Q, either as trap or chromatographic adsorbent. A series of new experiences have improved this precedure, adopting as trap two polymers (Porapak Q, copolymer of the ethyl-vinyl-benzene divinyl-benzene; Tenax GC porous polymer 2,6-diphenyl-p-phenilene oxide) and two different chromatographic phases. Furthermore, it has been entirely modified the introduction of the sample into the gas chromatographic column simplifying the handling and improving the operative conditions (times and temperature of desorption). The analysis of the "head space" carried out on wines of different aromatic compositions (Riesling) and on wines at different degree of ageing (Rubesco), besides having allowed the separation of 61 volatile components, 27 of which have identified, has put in evidence the sensitivity of this procedure.


[Adding calcium salts and sulphur dioxide for preserving firmness and colour of frozen cauliflower (author's transl)]. The results of trials aimed to keep colour and firmness of frozen cauliflower during storage, by pretreatments based on Calcium salts and SO2 impregnation are referred here. Among the different procedures tested, that of introducing under vacuum gaseous SO2 at low pressure, followed by soaking in CaCl2 0,1 N solution has shown the best efficaceousness.


[Reduction of pesticide residues in vegetables by means of processing and canning operations (author's transl)]. Pesticide residues may be present in vegetables and may affect human health. Processing and canning operations substantially reduce these residues and help to maintain them at acceptable levels. The percentage of removal depends on the type of vegetable, the type of pesticide used and the processing procdure applied. The effects of washing, blanching, peeling and juice extraction on the removal of some insecticide residues from different vegetables are described and discussed, also with regerence to the present day situation in Italy.


[Preliminary research on the chlorate insecticides and phosphoric esters content in some italian boneys. (author's transl)]. The author shows the results of a research on chlorine-organic pesticides and phosphoric esters content of some Italian honeys. Of 12 insecticides investigated, only 7 are resulted present in measurable quantities and their concentration has been revealed always modest; therefore the risk of pollution is very small. In any case the main object of this research was to set up a method of identification and dosage of the pesticides and to show its validity.


[Studies on buffalo milk. XI. Heterogeneity of the buffalo k-casein and the less moving fractions treated with 2-mercaptoethanol (author's transl)]. The heterogeneity of the buffalo k-casein, treated with 2-mercaptoethanol, has been estimated by disk gel-polyacrylamide electrophoresis on 428 caseins isolated from individual milks. The investigation showed six electrophoretic fractions: A, B, C, D, E, F, that, in ten buffalo farms considered formed ten different groups: ABCDEF; ABCDE; ABCEF; ABCE; BCDE; CDEF; BCE; CDE; CEF; and CE. The group ABCDE is the only that is present in all ten farms considered and presents on the whole, the greater number of observations (161). The fraction C is the most abundant. The investigation showed the heterogeneity of the gamma fraction, showing five electrophoretic fractions: A, B, C, D, E, that constitute the nine following groups; ABCDE; ABCD; BCDE; ABD; BCD; ABC; BD; BC and AB. At present a possible correlation to genetic factors seems hazardous.


[Falvour chemistry: actuality and new trend of the researches (author's transl)]. In this article are described the most interting fields of research: biosynthesis of the flavours and flavour precursors. Last field of investigation useful for the indexes of quality are the works on the code of the flavours.


[Proportion of proline in wines from province of Trapani produces in 1973/74 and 1974/75 years, determinated with changed Ough's method (author's transl)]. The proportion of proline in tested wines, has given values between 670 and 1110 mg/1, with 920 mg/1 on an average. The tests have been executed with Ough's method replacing the mixture Isopropanolo diluited 1 : 1 by water, with N-Butanolo, by which we have obtained the best reproductivity of values in time.