[Comparative effect of ether, chloroform and fluothane on brain cortical neurons]. In tests staged on 35 cats it was established that chloroform and fluothane display the biological activity which is 5 times as high as that of ether with respect to the brain cortex neurons. The reactive properties of individual neurons of the brain cortex are dissimilar and this, other conditions of anesthetization being equal, determines their unequal resistance to the action of anesthetics.


[Ethacrynic acid does not disrupt homeostatic reactions of the kidneys to hemodynamic shifts]. Arterial pressure and diuresis were determined in anesthetized dogs against the background of single (15 mg/kg) and continuous (5 mg/kg/rhr) intravenous administration of uregit (etacrylic acid). Acute hemodynamic shifts produced by compression of common carotid arteries, vena cava anterior, intravenous administration of ephedrine (1 mg/kg) or of sodium nitrite (3 mg/kg) were attended by an increased renal excretion of sodium, potasium and water in hypertension and their passage - in hypertension. Mechaninisms  governing the express regulation of the water and electrolytes homeostasis and their relation to the active transpor of sodium are considered. Arguments in favour of a conjecture as to the localization of the mechanism responsible for the express regulation of the electrolytes homeostasis in acute hemodynamic shifts are advanced.


[Study of the dynamic distribution of azafen in the organs and tissues by using direct fluorimetry]. A quantitative method of direct fluometry of the samples without any preliminary extraction of the preparation, devised by the authors helped demonstrate that after its intravenous administration the cyclic antidepressant azaphen rapidly penetrates via the blood-cerebral, blood-ophthalmic, placental and other blood-histological barrier and is then quickly eliminated from the organism.


[Pharmacokinetics of dioxonium].

[Pharmacokinetics of dioxonium]. An investigation in the pharmacokinetics of a new peripheral muscle relaxant dioxonium and of its carbon-labeled analogue (with respect to the N-methyl groups) was carried out. An intravenous administration of dioxonium-C14 was found to bring about a biphasic change in radioactivity of the blood plasma. The stoppage of curarization, irrespective of a dioxonium dose, is seen to occur at a definite radioactivity level in the blood plasma. Major radioactivity following introduction of dioxonium-C14 is observed in the organism of the rats in the skeletal muscles and in the kidneys. The drug is eliminated from the organism through the kidneys in an unchanged and pharmacologically active form.


[Effect of aminazine, tryptazine and droperidol on the uptake and accumulation of exogenous noradrenaline]. Spectrofluorometry, fluorescent histochemistry and cytochemical electron microscopy were employed in studying the capacity of the neuroleptics trifluoroperazine, chlorpromazine and droperidol to bar the capture and accumulation of exogenous norepinephrine (NE) in the tissue, of adrenergic nerve fibers and synaptic vessels of an isolated Vas deferens of the rat. Trifluoroperazine and droperidol were found to be devoid of the property to inhibit the capture and accumulation of NE in the tissue, nerve fibers and in the synaptic vesicles. Chlorpromazine blocked the accumulation of the neurotransmitter, when the mediator was added in a concentration of 1 gamma/ml and failed to produce an inhibitory effect, when NE was used in a greated concentration (30 gamma/ml). It is concluded that all the studied neuroleptics do not hinder the neurotransmitter gaining access into synaptic vesicles, when it is accumulated in the axoplasma.


[Effect of etimizol, caffeine and theophylline on some carbohydrate metabolic indices of the rat brain and myocardium]. Intraperitoneal administration of aethimizol (25 mg/kg) was seen to bring down the quantity of glycogen, to raise the level of lactic and pyruvic acids and to increase the ration of lactate/pyruvate in the brain tissue of the rat. Caffeine and theophylline (25 mg/kg) caused similar, but not so pronounced changes in the content of the said substrates. All the 3 agents--aethimizol, caffeine and theophylline had some effect on the metabolic processes in the heart muscle.


[Characteristics of the reaction of the renal tissue adenylic system to the beta-adrenoblockader, trasicor (oxprenolol), in early postnatal ontogeny]. Trasicor (oxprenolol) was introduced intraperitoneally to mongrel albino rats of 4 age groups (7, 14, 30 days old and adults) in single effective and resistance doses, following which the ATP, ADP, AMP and NP content in the renal tissue homogenates was determined. At early stages of postnatal ontogenesis the animals are shown to be less sensitive to the drug than in the case of adult rats. Possible increases in the dosage of trasicor in the pediatric practice are deemed permissible.


[Effect of aminazine and droperidol on the coronary circulation and its regulation]. Experiments conducted on dogs with the help of resistography showed chlorpromazine capable of reducing the resistance of the coronary vessels, whereas droperidol and not have any regular effect on the resistance of the cardiac vessels to the blood flow. Both drugs inhibited pressor and depressor reflexes on the coronary vessels reproduced by the stimulation of afferent fibers of the tibial and vagal nerves, as well as the response of the coronary vessels to the administration of epinephrine and norepinephrine.


[Morphofunctional manifestations of rat adrenal cortical reaction to the administration of sodium bromide under conditions of hypodynamic stress]. Experiments conducted on rats by employing functional and morphological methods of investigation showed bromine to weaken the function of the adrenal cortex in intach rats, producing changes analogous to those of a hypodynamic stress (2-hour immobilization on the operating table). A combined preliminary introduction of bromine and immobilization is attended by a less pronounced stress reaction and brings about normalization of the ascorbic acid content in the adrenals with the appearance of well-marked morphological signs pointing to the compensation of the adrenal cortex functions.


[Effect of phentolamine and anaprilin on the makeup and distribution of electrolytes in the myocardium]. Acute tests with rats demonstrated that the adrenoblocking agent phentolamine acts predominantly on the potassium level in the myocardium, raising its total, intra- and extra-cellular content. The effect of anapriline was mainly on sodium. Thyramine, which like adrenoblocking agents displays a catecholine-reducing effect, did not produce any similar changes in the potassium and sodium content.


[Dynamics of furazolidone absorption and elimination in the body of rats administered prednisolone and butadion]. In experiments set up on rats the dynamics of furazolidone concentration in the organism on its introduction into the stomach in possible combinations with prednisolone and butadion was studied. As evidenced, when in combination with the said drugs the blood furazolidone concentration enhances quite significantly, this being especially ostensible in cases of simultaneous introduction of prednisolone and butadion, mainly because of a delayed elimination of furazolidone with urine. No correlation between the furazolidone concentration dynamics in the gastro-intestinal tract and in the blood was noted.


[Effect of estradiol dipropionate and its combination with insulin on pentosephosphate dehydrogenase cycle activity in the liver and the uterus]. Experimental investigations have shown estradiol-dipropionate and insulin to induce an elevated activity of glucose-6-phosphate- and 6-phospho-gluconate-dehydrogenase in the uterus and the liver. Insulin potentiates the inducing action of estradiol on the pentosophosphate cycle dehydrogenases when both of them are used concurrently. For insulin to display its inducing effect a definite level of endogenous estradiol in the organism is necessary, for insulin fails to exert a specific influence on the study of dehydrogenases in sexually immature and ovariectomized animals.


[Pharmacological properties of a gelatin hydrolysate and its effect on some skin metabolic processes]. Experiments have shown that gelatin hydrolysate is non-toxic, does not possess any allergic and local irritating properties. It stimulates the regenerative capacity of the epidermic cells, tends to improve the blood- and lymph-circulation, intervenes in the protein and water-electrolyte metabolism, intensifies oxidative processes and normalizes the acid-base equilibrium of the skin.


[Anabolic activity of some dicyclopentanone derivatives]. Anabolic activity of 1,5-bis(1-carbethoxy-2-oxocyclopentyl-1) pentane in a dose of 1 mg per 100 g of body weight manifests itself in an accelerated growth of the animals, increased weight of m. levator ani and also in a rise of the protein level in the blood and the skeletal muscle. Because of the absence of androgenic properties in the substance under consideration its anabolic coefficient is twice as high by comparison with methylandrostendiol. Following hypophysectomy there could be observed a certain decline in the anabolic activity of 1,5-bis(1-carbethoxy-2-oxocyclopentyl-1)pentane.


[Prospidin-C14 blood level, distribution in the organs and tissues and excretion from the body of rats]. Experiments were conducted on rats with sarcoma-45 and intact ones to study the prospidin-C14 content in the blood, distribution of the drug among the organs and tissues and its elimination from the organism. A single intravenous introduction of prospidin-C14 was found to be followed by its quick (in 2 hours) disappearance frob the blood. During the first 15 minutes the distribution of the drug over the organs and tissues was of a non-uniform nature and different from the distribution of other known antineoplastic agents, with relatively high concentrations of prospidin-C14 being demonstrable in the kidneys, lungs, the skin, intestine, bones, pancreas and low ones--in the liver, spleen and lymph nodes. The elimination of the drug from the organs and tissues is non-uniform. Prospidin-C14 and labeled products of its transformation are quickly (during the first 24 hours after administration) passed from the organism, chiefly with urine.


[Effect of delagil and hydrocortisone on specific lymphocyte blast transformation in vitro]. The effect of delagil (chloroquine) and of hydrocortisone taken in different concentration on the lymphocytes blast-transformation reaction in donors, stimulated with streptococcal nucleoprotein, was enquired into. Differences in the action of drugs on this reaction were uncovered, viz. delagil suppressed the specific stimulation of lymphocytes in all cases, both in therapeutic and toxic concentrations of it in the culture medium, whereas hydrocortisone inhibited the bacterial stimulation only in one half of instances and in the others--intensified it. The inhibitory effect of hydrocortisone gained in strength with its elevated concentration in the culture medium.


[Chemotherapeutic activity of bonafton in experimental herpetic keratitis in rabbits]. Bonaphthone (6-naphthoquinone-1,2) administered per os produces a prounced therapeutic effect in experimental herpetic keratitis of rabbits, induced by the virus of herpes simplex. With the topical appllication of bonaphthone in the form of an ointment the drug also produces a curative action in herpetic keratitis of rabbits. Combined application of bonaphthone locally and enterally in dealing with herpes in rabbits also acts beneficially, the same as its separate use.


[Experimental data on the toxicity of nonachlazine, a new antianginal agent]. The results obtained by a study of acute and chronic toxicity of nonachlazine--a new original coronary-active agent endowed with antianginal properties are reported. Nonachlazine has been found to have a sufficiently wide range of therapeutic action. With its repeated (for 36 days) oral introduction to rats in an effective dose of 10 mg/kg the drug does not produce any adverse effect on the general condition of the animals, reduces but insignificantly their weight gain, fails to exert any damaging effect on the blood system, does not change biochemical characteristics featuring the function of the liver, nor evokes any pathohistological changes of the internal organs. Nonachlazine has no locally irritating effect on the gastro-intestinal tract and is a compound producing but a slight stress action.


[Comparative evaluation of the toxicity of potassium hydrocarbonate and chloride]. The toxicity of potassium hydrocarbonate and chloride was compared in tests on 113 albino rats. It was noted that following introduction of maximal amounts of potassium chloride death occurred earlier in these animals than in the ones which received equivalent doses of potassium hydrocarbonate. Simultaneous administration of sodium hydrocarbonate reduced the toxicity of potassium hydrocarbonate and potassium chloride. Morphological investigations brought out that toxic doses of potassium hydrocarbonate led to shifts of the carbohydrate and lipids metabolism. Some mechanisms underlying the action of potassium chloride and potassium hydrocarbonate are discussed.


Magnetic enzyme membranes as active elements of electrochemical sensors: specific amino acid enzyme elctrodes. The basic principle of the described magnetic enzyme electrodes is a kinetic accumulation of CO2 at the active layer electrode interface. The local pCO2 level is linked to three simultaneous phenomena: substrate diffusion in, enzyme reaction CO2 diffusion out. After a transient state there is a stationary state between the quantity of CO2 produced by the enzyme reaction and the CO2 diffusing from the active membrane to the bulk solution. Continuous determination of free amino acids in biological media is useful in biological processing, fermentation, medicine, pharmaceutical industries and biological research. No methods are presently available for any specific continuous measurement of lysine which is of nutritional importance in protein industrial syntheses; of phenylalanine and tyrosine which have to be monitored in several inborn diseases (phenylketonuria being the most important of them); of arginine and histidine which play a still imperfectly understood part in neurochemistry. The use of decarboxylase bearing membranes as sensors in such measurements could offer several novel advantages: (a) a simple device made of a currently manufactured electrode slightly modified by the use of an enzyme membrane; (b) The absence of any enzymic consumption due to the immobilization and the negligible consumption of substrate during the measurements; (c) The sensitivity which can be sharpened by a systematic study of the membrane parameters; (d) the continuous response of the electrode as long as it is in contact with the substrate solution; (e) the further feasibility as a miniature sensor. The magnetic device introduced allows obviously a convenient use of the enzyme electrode, the active part can be removed and replaced without disturbance for the pCO2 electrode itself. The enzyme electrodes are not only useful at the applied point of view but also at the fundamental point of view by allowing a direct measurement of an intra membrane concentration. The influence of simple structures on enzyme kinetics was studied with enzyme electrodes by our group, in the case of memory and oscillations obtained with enzyme systems.


Magnetic enzyme membranes as active elements of electrochemical sensors. Lactose, saccharose, maltose bienzyme electrodes. The direct monitoring of sugars such as lactose, maltose, saccharose is not only useful at the applied point of view but also at the fundamental point of view for studying enzymology, especially in microbiology and fermentation. Benzyme systems were extensively used in solution for analytical applications in industry and medicine. The progress in the field of immobilization of bienzyme systems [1-3], especially within membranes [4-5], makes possible the production of new analytical devices. From the studies dealing with concentration profiles in artificial enzyme membranes [14], evidence was obtained for a well defined relationship between the local concentration of a metabolite and concentration of the first substrate in the bulk solution. In the described systems a substrate is transformed into glucose within a membrane, the glucose is then transformed in gluconic acid with a local oxygen consumption. The local pO2 level is linked to the glucose oxidase velocity, which is only linked to the glucose production, that is to say to the concentration of the first substrate. The enzyme electrode is based on the transformation of kinetic phenomena (reaction rates) into absolute values (local concentrations) through the diffusion-reaction coupling process. The manufacture of magnetic enzyme electrodes [6] allows convenient use of the active sensors. The pO2 electrode has some adventages, namely the specificity based on the selectivity of the gas permeable membrane and the linear relationship between the oxygen and the output of the electrode. pCO2, pH, ion electrodes give a logarithmic response as a function of the concentration. The grafting of a multienzyme system on a sensor allows a study of sequential systems in a defined context with a measurement of the local concentration of the metabolites. The tool is useful for both kinetics [4] and regulation studies [5].


[Biosynthesis of bacterial cellulose from glucose selectively deuterated in position 6: NMR study]. D-glucose specifically deuterated at C-6 was prepared and used for the biosynthesis of bacterial cellulose with Acetobacter xylinum. The material obtained was converted into glucitol hexaacetate and analyzed by 250 MHz n.m.r. and mass spectrometry. These spectra indicated that about 70% of the starting D-glucose was incorporated without modification of deuteriation at the C-6 position. However an explanation is required of the finding that deuterium was also incorporated at the C-2 and C-1 positions of the cellulose, arising respectively from the 6 pro-R and 6 pro-S positions of the initial D-glucose.


[Conformational changes before and after DNA synthesis increase cytogenetically lethal radiation damage]. Chinese hamster ovary fibroblasts were synchronized by mitotic selection and showed cytogenetic lethally acting radiation damages, which depended on age at irradiation time. The development of cell cultures was followed by counting of the killed cells in the 3rd daughter generation of the irradiated ones and by evaluation of the colony size spectra 73.5 h after innoculation. At a dose of 300 rads two narrow but high peaks of radiation sensitivity were induced, which appeared at the beginning and at the end of the S-phase of the cell cycle and therefore are reduced to conformation changes of the DNA. Consequently the DNA-super-structures linking pieces of the nucleoprotein-fibre during fastening to, and detaching from, the nuclear membrane are assumed to be the loci of the increased radiation sensitivity.


[Interaction of the visceral and musculocutaneous afferent systems in the secondary somatosensory zone of the cat cerebral cortex]. The convergence of visceral and somatic afferent systems in the secondary somatosensory areas of the cat cortex was studied by means of evoked potentials. The suprathreshold stimulation of the sciatic and brachial plexus nerves depressed the test potentials evoked by the pelvic and mesenteric nerves stimulation. Maximal depression was observed at paired stimulation of visceral nerves. Comparison of the data obtained with mono- and bimodal stimulation suggests that duration of the response restoration period depends on the functional groups of neurons.


[Levels of slow bioelectric organization of the human brain]. A certain relation between spontaneous pattern and responses to tests of the slow electric processes (SEP) and the order of value of the measured potential was revealed within a single subcortical area of the human brain. A close relation between the constant component (within the range of 110 to 1 mV) and the markedness and character of clinical signs, was observed. A reproducible SEP response to psychological or motor tests was revealed within the ranges of the SEP variable component (from 1000 to 100 mcV and from 5-10 to 50-100 mcV) regarded, respectively, as the ranges of moderate and weak bioelectric signal. The subcortical equivalent and changes of the reproducible pattern in response to meaningless trigrams and words were only observed within the weak signal range. Existence of certain individual ranges of the SEP constant component was revealed in separate neuronal-glial populations. The data obtained show physiological and informative variability of SEP within a single neuronal-glial population in different ranges of the recorded potential's value, which may provide premises for elucidating neurophysiological mechanisms, of different levels for regulation of the links constituting cerebral systems for maintenance of various activities.


[Electrophysiologic effects of stimulating the vestibular nuclei on the sensomotor cortex of cats]. The evoked potentials in the anterior suprasylvian and posterior sigmoid gyri to the bulbar vestibular nuclei stimulation were recorded in relaxed anesthetized cats. Neuronal discharges of 70 units in the forelimb cortical zone in the posterior sigmoid gyrus were also recorded. 26 neurons responded to the vestibular nuclei stimulation, 6 of them were identified as cortico-rubral neurons. All of them were activated by the radial-nerve muscle branch stimulation. There was no neurons characterized by the muscle-vestibular convergence from the pyramidal tract neurons. The muscle-vestibular afferent system projection to the cortico-rubral neurons is supposed to play a major role in the tonic muscle coordination of the forelimbs.


[Changes in the blood supply and oxygen tension of the brain following afferent somatic stimulation]. Effect of somatic afferent C fibres stimulation on rCBF (H2 - clearance method) and cerebral tissue pO2 was studied in 20 dogs. MABP and partial pressure of the arterial blood gases were stabilized before and during 3 min stimulation of the sciatic nerves. The blood flow was changed by 32% in the thalamus and by 17% in the hypothalamus during ipsilateral stimulation. Contralateral sciatic nerve stimulation caused smaller but still a significant fall of the rCBF and increase of the CVR in both regions. Parallel to these changes, tissue pO2 decreased by 19% in the hypothalamic and by 25% in the thalamic areas as compared with the prestimulation level.


[Influence of the potassium ion on function of the frog neuromuscular synapse]. Effects of different concentrations of potassium ions on function of motor neural endings were studied in the frog neuromuscular - muscular preparations. Quantitative relations between change of the muscle fibers' membrane rest potential and parameters of spontaneous or evoked release of transmitter, and the potassium ion concentration in the medium, were revealed. A positive specific effect of relatively low (about 8.7 mM) concentrations on the quantum composition of transsynaptic signals, was shown. The data obtained confirm the supposed participation of the potassium ions in reverse transsynaptic regulation of the neuromuscular - motor synapse function.


[Accommodation as a biological system of automatic regulation]. Contour of the accommodation reflex was regarded as an analog of a closed system of automatic regulation. The gradient of impulses frequency in the visual fibers was taken as a criterion of estimation of anobject focused image on the retina. The data obtained when studying the accommodation contour in the regimen of the test-object fixation at different distances or at its insignificant (+/- 10 mm) sinusoidal displacement in regard to 2 fixated positions (200 and 460 mm), are discussed.


[The effect of adrenotropic substances on contraction of the rat ductus deferens induced by the action of adrenaline and transmural stimulation]. In the rat isolated ductus deferens, effects of isadrine, propranolol and phentolamine on contractions following exogenous noradrenaline and transmural stimulation, were studied. Low concentrations of isadrine diminished the responses to these factors. The inhibiting effect of a mimetic was blocked by propranolol which indicates presence of beta-adrenoreceptors in the rat ductus deferens; low concentrations of phentolamine blocked the exogenous adrenaline effect while the response to transmural stimulation increased. As the data show, the adrenoreceptors' sensitivity to noradrenaline is decreased by phentolamine 5-10(-8) M by 2.5 times while the mediator concentration increases by 3.3 times in the receptors vicinity. Alpha-adrenoreceptors are concluded to differ from beta those in that the former do participate in regulation of noradrenaline release in response to neural impulses.


[The effect of adaptation to increased muscular activity on bodily sensitivity to insulin]. Systematic exercise increased the organism's sensitivity to the metabolic effect of insulin. When trained animals were subjected to low doses of insulin they showed a more significant decrease in the blood sugar and the free fatty acid contents as compared with the control (i.e. unadapted to systematic exercise) animals. No visible difference in glycogen contents was found due to the effect of hypoglycemic seizures which developed rather rapidly and were more obvious in trained animals. Administration of large doses of insulin did not cause any difference in the metabolic reactions of trained and untrained animals.


[A quantitative analysis of atrioventricular conduction in the dog heart]. In acute experiments on dogs, refractory period of atria and atrio-ventricular conductive system (AVCS), as well as the extent of atrio-ventricular delay at different time intervals between electrical stimuli applied to the atrium myocardium, were studied. On decrease of the time intervals, the atria refractory period becomes shorter while that of the AVCS increases. The value of the AVCS effective refractory period, at that, coincides with the delay extent of atrio-ventricular conduction. At long intervals between the atria stimuli, the atria refractory period, that of the AVCS, and the atrio-ventricular delays are all equal. The obtained quantitative characteristics of atrio-ventricular conduction are used for checking the previously proposed mathematical model of disturbances of the ventricles rhythm on fast electric activity of the atria.


[Myogenic constriction of myocardial arterial vessels following an increase in the pulsations of coronary perfusion pressure]. In isolated cat hearts, increase of coronary pulse pressure without change of the mean coronary perfusion pressure was followed by constriction of coronary arteries. The analysis of data eliminated extravascular (contractile activity of the heart, tissue pressure) and metabolic factors as a possible cause of the coronary arterial constriction. This leaves out that the observed reaction of myocardial vessels was a result of the coronary arterial smooth muscle contraction in response to the distending action of the increased pulse pressure.


[Mechanisms of development of thermoregulatory tone and cold shivering]. In rabbits, muscle potentials in response to factors increasing (low external temperature, inhalation of helium - oxygen mixture, electrical stimulation of the posterior hypothalamus) and decreasing the thermoregulatory muscle activity (high external temperature, inhalation of hypoxic mixture, electrical stimulation of the anterior preoptic hypothalamus), were studied. The thermoregulatory muscle tone and the cold chiver were shown to be independent forms of specific muscle activity with different regulating mechanisms. The increase or decrease of the muscles electrical activity occur because of a change of the muscle potentials amplitude rather than a change of the muscle oscillations frequency.


[The influence of muscular activity on the activity of acid proteinases and acid phosphatase in the muscles and liver]. Different shifts of the skeletal muscle and the liver acid proteinases and acid phosphatase during exercise were observed. The increased activity of acid proteinases in trained animals cannot be accounted for by any lyzosome disruption, which is more stable at exercise in trained animals. The data obtained indicate a better preservation of biochemical homeostasis in skeletal muscles of the animals adapted to prolonged exhaustive physical work.


Dermatopharmacology of salicylic acid. II. Epidermal antihyperplastic effect of salicylic acid in animals. The influence of salicylic acid on pathological epithelial proliferation has been evaluated by means of the peidermal hyperplasia inhibition test in the guinea pig. 3% w/w salicylic acid dissolved in ethanol reduced surface epithelial hyperplasia by 15%, i.e. exhibited activity comparable to that of hydrocortisone 0.1% w/w. 1% w/w salicylic acid dissolved in a dimethylacetamide-acetone-ethanol mixture exerted an even greater degree of antihyperplastic activity on the surface epithelium (-18%) and also a marked inhibitory effect on deep epithelial proliferation (-10%).


Studies on the species, amount and base composition of nucleic acids in psoriatic scales and normal horny layer. The amount of RNA as well as DNA is considerably increased in psoriatic scales as compared with normal horny layer; RNA was characterized as a low-molecular tRNA; as concerns the base composition of DNA, no particularities in comparison with other DNA species were found, and the base composition of tRNA revealed that cytosine and guanosine are in excess; pseudouridine could not be detected in psoriatic tRNA.


Treatment of melasma (chloasma) by local application of a steroid cream. 15 patients with melasma were treated with betamethasone 17-valerate in a cream base containing DMSO. One patient with secondary pigmentation was also entered in the trial. In nine patients results were favourable and in three results were moderate. This effect could be ascribed to the steroid.


Immunohistological development of the Kveim reaction. A follow-up of immunohistological events of Kveim reactions was made by taking biopsies from Kveim test sites at various intervals. Immunoglobulins were present in one half of the specimens taken at 2-7 days, but not earlier. 2-week-old reactions showed immunoglobulins in 50% of the cases and older reactions in 79%. Out of 52 specimens examined with specific conjugates, IgM was demonstrated in 42, IgG in one, and IgA in one reaction. Complement (C3) was seen in 83% out of 47 specimens examined. Complement and immunoglobulins were found in vessel walls but not elsewhere in the tissues.


Provocation tests with antiphlogistica and food additives in recurrent urticaria. 100 patients (53 women, 47 men) suffering from recurrent urticaria were tested with different food additives such as 8 dye additives, 7 preservatives and 7 antiphlogistica. In total did 62 patients react with urticaria and/or angio-oedema. 39 patients had reactions to two or more substances while 23 patients reacted to only one substance. Reactions were induced most frequently by aspirin (27/80), dextropropoxyphene (11/45) and the azo dyes tartrazin (20/96) and sunset yellow (13/86/. Asthmatic symptoms occurred in 3 and purpura in 2 patients. 13 patients out of 100 reported of immediate reactions to different foods.


[The spleen of the cervidae (Gray, 1821). Quantitative-morphological studies on the spleens of stags (Cervus elaphus, L.1785) and of deers (Capreolus capreolus, L. 1758)]. The macroscopical and microscopical structure of 17 spleens of Cervus elaphus and 9 spleens of Capreolus capreolus is described. The spleens of both species exhibit structural characteristics which resemble those of the reticular "non-sinusoidal" type. These include: spleen arterial ramifications of the "magistral type" (SCHABADASCH), bilayered capsule, well developed smooth muscle cells containing trabecular networks, numerous muscle cells in the red pulp, poorlý developed white pulp, splenic vein of large diameter, lack of veins associated with trabeculae, a thick tunica media in trabecular arteries and in arterial vessels of the hilus region, poorly developed SCHWEIGGER-SEIDEL sheaths, and splenic nerve trunks of considerable diameter. These structural features are comparable to those in other ruminant species having storage type spleens. However, there are differences in certain quantitative parameters between the spleen of Cervus elaphus and that of Capreolus capreolus, i.e., spleen weight versus body weight, relative volume of trabecular networks and capsular tissue, and relative amount of smooth muscle cells in trabecular tissue. On the basis of these quantitative parameters the spleen of Cervus elaphus and that of Capreolus capreolus can be classified into the system of spleen types as described by v. Herrath(1953) and should thus be ordered between the extreme storage type spleen and the extreme metabolic type spleen. The quantitative data observed in the spleen of Cervus elaphus are similar to those seen in the horse, whereas the data of the spleen of Capreolus capreolus can be compared to that of the sheep and the cow.


[Frequency of chromosome anomalies in children dying in the perinatal period]. 348 different tissues were sampled for cultivation from 300 infants perinatally, died: a) from 118 fetuses, died at the antenatal period, 143 samples of four types of tissues were taken (kidney type -27, skin type-10, gonad type-74, blood type -32); b) 72 samples of blood and 13 samples of gonad were taken from 75 fetuses died at the intranatal period; c) 120 samples (blood type -86, gonad type -86) were taken from 97 newborn infants, died at the early neonatal period. Positive results of the growth of cultures were found in 46% (15.4% -from antenatally dead fetuses, 71.8% -intranatal deaths of infants, 64.2% -early mortality of the newborn). Among the 22 antenatally dead infants 3 appeared to have chromosome anomalies (13.6%); 1) 47, XY, +22; 2) 69, XXX; 3) 46, XX/46, XY. Among 61 intranatally dead infants 3 were found to have karyotype anomalies (4.9%): 1) 47, XX, +18; 2) 47, XY, +21;3) 46, XX/46, XY. 5 (6.5%) of the 77 newborn, dead in the first days after parturition, had the anomalies of the following types: 1) 45, XO; 2) 47, XYY; 3) 47, XY; +13; 4) 47, XY, +21; 5) 46, XX, 13q-. The total frequency of chromosome anomalies among 160 perinatally dead infants was 6.9%.


[Dysembryogenesis in hereditary nephritis]. In 75 children with hereditary nephritis, in 27 ones with hematuric form of acquired nephritis and in 55 parents dysplastic symptoms were investigated. A high differential and diagnostic value of disembriogenetic stigmata for hereditary nephritis is demonstrated. It is considered that connective tissue stigmata are one of the symptoms of hereditary nephritis. Some genetic and ontogenetic aspects of displastic symptoms formation in this case are discussed.


[New data on the genetic structure of dimorphic populations of the common hamster (Cricetus cricetus L.)]. Long-term (1965-1974) Mendelian crossbreedings of two coloured forms (black and red) of Cricetus cricetus, carried out by the author, have shown that dominant melanistic mutation exists in a homozygous state. Thus, it is proved experimentally that natural population of C. cricetus consisting of black and red individuals is a dimorphous one by the phenotype and a polymorphous one by the genotype. The structure of the population includes the black homozygotes (genotype AA), black heterozygotes (genotype Aa) and red recessive homozygotes (genotype aa). All three forms are fully fertile and give quite viable and fertile progeny.


[Semilethal spotted mutants of Chlorella]. Mutant colonies of Chorella vulgaris Beijer, having the region of colourless cells either in the center or in the periphery of a colony, are found. Spontaneous mutation rate varied within 1-40-10(5). The size of a mutant colony comprised about 1/2-1/3 of the diameter of a middle initial strain colony. Colonies with a mutant sector were also observed besides completely mutant colonies. Ways of the formation of mutant phenotypes are studied. It is found that from the initial spotted green colony those of the type "death in the periphery" and, through a number of intermediate stages, "death in the center" are formed. The colony development can stop at some successive stage or to result in the death of all the cells. The period of forming the mutant phenotype is found to depend on the colony growth rate.


[Effect of mutant RNA polymerase on spontaneous mutagenesis in bacteriophage T4]. The frequency of spontaneous reversion in r-mutants of phage T4 is determined in order to study the influence of mutant RNA polymerase on the level of spontaneous mutations in phage T4. The rate of spontaneous mutagenesis in the phage is found to be increased in strains with mutant RNA polymerase.


[Characteristics of hybrid strains of actinomycetes, prepared by crossing Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) and Streptomyces lividans 66 strains]. Pecularities of crosses between strains of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) and S. lividans 66 are described. Recombinants which contain different contributions from parental chromosomes are shown to arise in these crosses. Due to a low frequency of recombination which seems to be the result of incomplete homology between A3(2) and 66 chromosomes, heteroclone and heterokaryone colonies are formed. These may be considered to be intermediate stages in the process of recombinant formation. Results of crosses between A3(2) derivatives of various fertility types are analysed in view of a suggestion that there exist two modes of genetic material transfer in Actinomycetes: by means of conjugation and via heterokaryone formation stage. The study of recombinant properties reveals that in the presence of sex plasmid SCPI F two substances are formed, one of which (IAM) inhibits airial mycelium and the other (ISM)--substrate mycelium growth. In addition, not only SCPI presence but the involvement of certain A3(2) genes seems to be required for ISM synthesis. A part of recombinants is shown to possess some new antibiotic properties differing from those of original parental strains namely extension of their antimicrobic spectrum for Actinomycetes and bacteria.


[Enzymes of cultured human fibroblasts. IV. Enzyme activity in trisomy C strains]. The activity of five enzymes (AIP, AcP, GOT, LDH, MDH) was investigated in four cell strains derived from spontaneous abortuses  with C-trisomy (three cell strains with trisomy 7, one--with trisomy 9). Significant differences in the activity of three enzymes were revealed. In all the strains AIP activity was lower and GOT activity--higher than in diploid strains. Lowering of AcP level was found in three strains (two cell strains with trisomy 7, one--with trisomy 9). The data obtained are evaluated as a result of disturbed regulatory interrelations in an abnormal genome.


[A decrease in twin births and factors involved in multiple pregnancy]. The object of this investigation were the causes of the decrease of the frequency of twin births during the last two decades. In Moscow this frequency decreased from 1,19% in 1956 to 0,7% in 1973. Among the births the proportion of first births was observed to increase, as well as the proportion of very young mothers. The effect of this process on the women characterized by a tendency to polyembryony was more conspicuous, than in the average on the population as a whole. During the last decades the process of acceleration of puberty was observed both in the mothers of twins and in all the women in general. However a somewhat later onset of first menstruations is characteristic of the women having a tendency to polyembryony-Hormonal changes taking place in the course of acceleration are apparently one of the causes of the decrease of the twin births frequency.


[Participation of foreign workers in prenatal care]. On admission for delivery of foreign patients no or only few results of routine examinations during prenatal visits are available. Therefore the participation of foreign employees in prenatal care was reviewed. Of the 1,383 births in our clinic during 1972 there were 214 foreign mothers, 206 of them could be included in this investigation. Results show that quantity and quality of prenatal routine examinations were clearly not sufficient and adequate compared to German patients.


[Colposcopic findings during hormonal contraception]. The best way to recognize individual differences and alterations of colposcopic findings is by photography. The results of an improved colpophotographic technique is the reproduction of the complete portio. In consequence we can observe the changes of the cervix epithelium which often are extensive and hypertrophic and which in some cases are to be found during the time of hormonal contraception. The different effects of the combination-pill and of the sequential pill are described, the question of individual disposition concerning these alterations is discussed.


[1st report on programmed chemotherapy of ovarian carcinoma]. A prospective study with regard to a cytostatic drugs combination treatment, partly synchronized and carried out in team work, of advanced ovarian carcinoma is being accomplished at the II. Women's Clinic of the University of Munich. The team consists of one oncologically orientated internal specialist, one radiotherapist, and one surgeon. The therapeutic procedure should be discussed; a report is given about the experiences gained so far in 41 patients, i.e. until May 1st, 1975.


[Etiology and epidemiology of breast carcinoma]. Statistics indicate that the cure-rate for breast cancer has improved little over the last 35 years. That fact and the gradual increase in incidence of mammary cancer among women of the Western World serve to stimulate investigations to learn how and why mammary cancer develops. To examine the problem from a new perspective, we review the prevalence of mammary cancer reported in domesticated and zoo animals. The disease proves to be exeptionally rare in all mammals except: 1) cats and dogs, which live among humans, and 2) certain strains of laboratory mice and rats. Since the mammary tumors of these animals are sensitive to certain hormones, drugs, dietary changes etc., they serve as ideal models for studying the etiology of the disease. Because hormones promote growth and development of the mammary gland they are especially important in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. Studies of viral etiology of mammary cancer in animals are compared with those reported in humans. From the fact that a completed first pregnancy at the age of 18 protects a woman against developing a mammary cancer later in life, but a first pregnancy at about 30 years does not, some investigators believe that high levels of estriol during pregnancy act to protect the breast. From our review of breast cancer we postulat" instead that it is the apocrine function of the breast itself that affords the protection of early birth. Carcinogenic substances taken up by the estrogen-sensitized developing epithelium are discharged with the colostrum before they can transform cells. When the first birth occurs however at age 30 the carcinogens absorbed and stored in the estrogenized epithelium from puberty on have many years for transforming the cells. Dogs and cats exposed to the same polluted world as man develop mammary cancers more commonly when they first bear young late in life. Those receiving antifertility agents develop more breast cancers than those which bear first when young. Cows develop no mammary cancers because they lactate so much. High doses of carcinogens readily induce mammary tumors in some rat strains, more readily when given after a pregnancy than before. Oriental women who move to America and change their living and dietary habits develop more often mammary cancer than those who stay in their home country.


[20 years of cytodiagnosis of cervix carcinoma at the Univ.-Frauenklinik Freiburg/Br. (1954-1973). Voluntary quality control]. The development and efficiency of the cytological laboratory at the Freiburg University Hospital (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology) are demonstrated. The number of examinations and detected cervical carcinomas are reported. The different groupes of cervical smears according to the Papanicolaou classification are discussed. High value is set on voluntary check-up (quality control) on all cytological laboratories efficiencies.


[Growth hormone in the newborn infant during the first 6 days of life]. Human Growth Hormone (HGH) of the newborn during its first days of life is approximately 61 ng/ml, then it falls between the third and fourth day. This fall in serum concentration principally occurs when the infant stops losing weight and starts regaining it. Experiences show that HGH of newborn does not stem from the mother.


[Side-effects of ovulation inhibitors].

[Side-effects of ovulation inhibitors]. The discussion about the side-effects of oral contraceptives received new aspects through the publication of the prospective British Study "Oral Contraceptives and Health" (by the Royal College of General Practitioners) in 1974. This article is divided into the following sections: Beneficial side-effects (elimination of symptoms in dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, acne vulgaris, menorrhagia and anemia). Harmless side-effects (harmless symptoms not implying illness). Clinically important side-effects (menstrual disorders, facilitation of moniliasis and trichomoniasis, diseases of the circulatory system, thrombo-embolism). Oral contraceptives have no adverse effects on the fertility of women. Significant is the conclusion that pregnancy and children are normal after the use of oral contraceptives. There are no indications of an increased risk of cancer. The results of the British study confirm a reduced incidence of benign breast tumors in women using oral contraceptives. The suggestion to select a pill-type considering the hormonal constitution of a woman did not prove to be of help. The original proposal of changing the pill-type according to the observed side-effects therefore remains valid. A classification of the used oral contraceptives into the groups "with gestagen accentuation", "hormonally balanced" and "with estrogen accentuation" will help the physician to prescribe the most useful type. An extensive table summarizes the most frequent side-effects, explains their causes and recommends ways of eliminating the symptoms by changing the pill-type.


[Blood group expertise in the clarification of disputed paternity]. The article gives a review of the legal situation of the illegitimate child in the GFR and of the principles in the statement or refutation of paternity. The directives, valid for the blood group expertise on parentage and the biostatistical evaluation of blood group results are discussed. Finally a survey of the value of a positive or negative biostatistical hint for paternity is given.


[Therapy of chronic bronchitis].

[Therapy of chronic bronchitis]. 53 patients suffering from chronic bronchitis were treated over various periods with Brondiletten retard. The improvement achieved in 42 patients included amelioration of the clinical symptoms cough, secretion and dyspnoea; the lessening of bronchial obstruction could be verified by spirographic analyses.


[Is factor XII deficiency a contraindication to surgery?]. The case of an 18-year-old girl with a moderately severe Hageman factor deficiency (Factor XII 2.5%) is described. In this girl, an osteotomy of the pelvis after Chiari was carried out. Both the operation itself and the postoperative healing process were without complications and no signs of any abnormal tendency to haemorrhage were observed. Blood transfusions were not necessary. On the basis of this observation and a review of the literature for the attempt is made to establish general guide lines the procedure to be adopted for surgery in cases of Hageman factor deficiency.


[Blood coagulation disorders in gynecology and obstetrics]. The differential diagnoses of consumption coagulation and hyperfibrinolysis are demonstrated in 15 patients with coagulation disturbances by simple laboratory methods. Therapy and complications are discussed.


[Surgical therapy of obesity].

[Surgical therapy of obesity]. The experimental series by dogs and pigs show no specific absorption place in the small intestine--except the high selective absorption of vitamin B12 in the last ileum loop. Potassium absorption is better in the upper jejunum. For all other substances the conditions for absorption are the same in the jejunum as in the ileum. Calcium, carotin and cholesterol need a sufficiently extensive surface and show therefore a direct relation to the length of the small intestine. For the treatment of the extreme obesity we perform the jejunoileostomy with different lengths of jejunum and ileum. The hypercholesterinaemia type II can be treated by a partial ileum bypass. By the diminished absorption of the bile salts a sufficient decrease of the cholesterol level is possible, which amounts to about half the earlier value. The jejunoileostomy reduces not only overweight, but also improves the carbohydrate metabolism and lowers the increased fat levels.


[Therapy of angina pectoris. A task of everyday practice]. The current state of the medicamentous treatment of angina pectoris is presented as a standardized programmed guideline for general practice: 1. Prequisite for proper initial therapy is an exact diagnosis of a true stenocardia. 2. The intermediate treatment of coronary heart disease aimed at an effective lasting prophylaxis of angina pectoris attacks is based on a combined therapy with nitrates and beta-blockers. The mode of action of nitrates and beta-blockers is mentioned, side effects and contraindications are presented as limiting factors. The effects of nitrates, beta-blockers, and so-called vasodilators are exemplified by the new coronary drugs Sensit, Adalat and Pexid. After corresponding spot testing and clinical trials in 150 ambulant patients, Sensit is considered especially suited for wide application in the general practice. In the majority of patients there was a convincingly positive effect on general performance. The exertion tolerance increased by an average of 25 watts. Frequency, duration, and severity of stenocardic attacks are reliably influenced. In 68% of the patients, a remarkable regression and even sometimes a complete compensation of pathological ECG changes are achieved. The first results are seen approximately 2 weeks after commencing therapy, the maximum after 4 to 6 weeks. This improvement could be maintained by continuing regular medication, especially as the drug showed an astonishingly low incidence of side effects.


[New aspects in the treatment of malignancy of the ear, nose, and throat (author's transl)]. The management of malignancy continues to change, and the basis of this change is improvement in diagnostic and therapeutic tech techniques and the search for new therapeutic principles. Examples of each group are given although their practical value is uncertain. They are important because they attempt to make methods of basic research in tumour biology applicable to clinical medicine.


[Plethysmography on patients with tracheal and laryngeal stenosis (author's transl)]. Body plethysmography developed from pulmonary physiology in recent years has application to measurement of nasal airway resistance. It is a practical method of measurement of resistance due to upper respiratory tract obstruction. A report on cases with stenosis of the trachea and larynx is  here made and it shows that this is a suitable method to assess the indication for or results of surgery to the larynx or trachea.


[Intubation microtraumatic lesions of the larynx (author's transl)]. Laryngeal microtrauma and seeding of laryngeal malignancy to the lower respiratory tract after short-term intubation is reported. These findings have been confirmed by cytology of smears taken from the endotracheal tubes used on 40 patients. Dysphonia without macroscopically visible laryngeal changes is caused by microtraumatic lesions. The authors advise very gentle intubation to avoid such consequences. Dissemination of infection and malignancy remains unsolved.


[Disturbance of equilibrium due to poisoning with organophosphate pesticides (author's transl)]. An organic phosphate insecticide poisoning is described, and the otologic findings elaborated. Disturbances of equilibrium were observed through a four-month period and documented by electronystagmography. Although damage of the central vestibular system was found, subjective complaints by the patient resolved completely within four months of the poisoning. However, thereafter both positional nystagmus and nystagmus after passive movements of the head could be observed. During the entire study period, neither hearing loss nor tinnitus occurred. After a review of the literature, the disturbances of equilibrium were designated as a sequela of the organic phosphate insecticide poisoning.


[Ideopathic hypoglossal nerve paralysis - a case report (author's transl)]. A paresis of the right hypoglossal nerve of spontaneous onset and of 4 years duration in a 20 year-old student is reported. The aetiology despite thorough investigation over 18 months was unknown, and there were no signs of recovery.


[The problem of the origin of acoustic evoked responses (author's transl)]. The acoustic evoked response on the human scalp is analogous to potentials within many different levels of the central nervous system. Under special functional conditions such as the binaural interaction, evoked responses correspond only to subcortical potentials, indicating that the response does not represent cortical activity.


Threshold adaptation of hearing and vibratory sensation. Bekesy tracings were obtained in three normal subjects for vibratory sense of the midfinger before and after cooling by ethyl chloride, and for hearing levels after pure tone stimulation of the ear. After a mild cooling was applied on the finger, there were no observable differences in Bekesy tracing amplitude width or pulsed stimulus threshold when compared to before-cooling tracings. For steady stimuli, however, there was reduction in the amplitude width only at the top portion of Bekesy spikes without affecting the bottom portion. After a profound cooling, there was an elevation of thresholds for both pulsed and steady stimuli, and the reduction in amplitude widith for steady stimuli. The reduction in amplitude width seemed to appear before threshold shift. During the recovery, these changes returned to original conditions in the reverse order. Similar results were found in hearing after stimulation of the ear by a pure tone. The above findings are explained on the basis of perstimulatory fatigue of rapid form.


Response to short-duration signals, pre- and postmenses, in subjects using oral contraceptives and subjects not using oral contraceptives. Sixteen female subjects were studied to determine threshold change occurring during and postmenses at thresholds of 1 and 4 kHz for signal durations of 500, 20, and 2 msec. The results indicated that there was no significant difference (p less than 0.05) for the thresholds of 1 and 4 kHz at any duration over the three test times. However, there was a significant second degree trend present at 1 kHz for the 20-msec signal. A comparison was made between the thresholds obtained by nine subjects who were using an oral contraceptive and seven subjects who were not. A significant difference (p less than 0.05) between the groups was found at 4 kHz for the 2-msec signal duration in that the group using oral contraceptives obtained threshold at a lower intensity than did the group not using oral contraceptives.


Analysis of half-list scores on the PB-K 50 as a function of time compression and age. Half-list speech discrimination measures have certain advantages in clinical measurement, particularly with children. In the present study, half-list and whole-list comparisons of the PB-K 50 measure under normal and time-compressed conditions were made on children's speech discrimination scores. Results indicated that half-lists of the PB-K 50 can be used effectively in the clinical setting, a practice which has clinical precedence.


Inhibition of intestinal absorption of phenylalanine by phenylalaninol. Plasma phenylalanine and tyrosine levels in rats which had been orally administered L-phenylalaninol and L-phenylalanine were determined. Since these amino acid levels in rats administered L-phenylalanine solution containing L-phenylalaninol were significantly lower than those in rats administered L-phenylalanine alone. L-phenylalaninol appears to inhibit the intestinal absorption of L-phenylalanine. This effect was more potent than that of cycloleucine. L-phenylalaninol inhibited the phenylalanine transport of everted sacs. The Km value of L-phenylalanine was 3.44 X 10(-3) M and the Ki value of L-phenylalaninol was 7.69 M 10(-3) M from Lineweaver-Burk plots. From these two curves, it appeared that  L-phenylalaninol may competitively inhibit the intestinal transport of L-phenylalanine. The effects of L-phenylalanine, L-phenylalaninol and cycloleucine on the urinary excretions of Na+ and K+ in rats were also examined. Potassium excretion which increased on oral administration of L-phenylalanine, was suppressed by the administration of L-phenylalaninol but not administration of cycloleucine. L-phenylalaninol alone enhanced Na+ excretion in urine. These results confirmed that L-phenylalaninol shows inhibitory effects as potent as those of cycloleucine on the intestinal absorption of L-phenylalanine.


An investigation of the Auditec of St. Louis recordings of the Central Institute for the Deaf spondees. The Auditec of St. Louis recordings of the Central Institute for the Deaf spondees were investigated with normal hearing subjects and found to have an unnecessarily large range of audibility. Consequently, an 18-item test with greater homogeneity of audibility was proposed. Articulation function slopes of about 10% per decibel were obtained with both the 18- and 36-item tests. The articulation function of the 18-item test did not reflect its improved homogeneity. The mean speech reception threshold was 5 dB better than ANSI-1969 specifications, and speech detection threshold was found to be 9 dB better than speech reception threshold. A derived speech reception threshold can be obtained by adding 5 dB to the lowest threshold at which any spondee is identified.


Electrophoretic properties of sodium dodecyl sulfate and related changes in its concentration in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Sodium dodecyl sulfate(SDS) in a protein sample solution migrates in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis as a band with a mobility higher than those of protein bands. Behind this band, which is mostly composed of SDS micelles, SDS concentration is raised uniformly in a gel column as a result of the retardation effect of the gel matrix on SDS micelles. Electrophoretic patterns of SDS were obtained when SDS was omitted from various portions of the gel electrophoretic system.


Purification and properties of sulfoacetaldehyde sulfo-lyase, a thiamine pyrophosphate-dependent enzyme forming sulfite and acetate. Sulfoacetaldehyde sulfo-lyase, which decomposes sulfoacetaldehyde to sulfite and acetate, was extracted from a bacterium grown on taurine, and purified, and characterized. A method for assay of enzyme activity was devised on formation of a bisulfite adduct with benzaldehyde. The enzyme was purified 14-fold from an extract of cells grown on taurine and appeared homogeneous on disc-electrophoresis. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 85,000 by gel filtration. The enzyme required thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) and Mg2+ for activity and preincubation with TPP and Mg2+ was required for maximum activity. The  optimum pH for activity was 7.5. The Km value for TPP was determined to be 2.7 muM and that for sulfoacetaldehyde to be 5.0mM. Sulfite was produced only from sulfoacetaldehyde among a variety of sulfonates tested. rho-Chloromercuribenzoate, EDTA, and sulfite, a reaction product, inhibited the enzyme reaction. The enzyme seemed to be inducible, since activity was found in extracts of cells grown on taurine but not on peptone.


Susceptance and conductance changes in acoustic reflexometry. Acoustic reflexometry was performed on 30 otologically and audiologically normal subjects. An otoadmittance meter was used as the reflex indicator. The magnitude and direction of susceptance and conductance changes were recorded for the acoustic reflex at 220- and 660-Hz probe (carrier) tones. Susceptance and conductance changed in a negative direction (decreased) in 100% of the reflex responses when the probe tone was 220 Hz. With 660-Hz probe tones, susceptance changed positively (increased) and conductance negatively in about 90% of all the reflexes. There was an inverse relationship between probe frequency and magnitude of admittance change during reflex. A direct relationship was found for the amount of input admittance phase shift and probe frequency.


Effect of cobalt on heme biosynthesis in rat liver and spleen. 1. Succinate-cytochrome c reductase activity in rat liver decreased to about 60% of the control value after a single injection of cobalt or in a steady state of intoxication, but the activity in the spleen was unaltered. 2. Incorporation of radioactive glycine and 5-aminolevulinate into heme of the liver was markedly inhibited by cobalt treatment. 3. 5-Aminolevulinate synthase [EC 2.3.1.37] activity in the liver decreased to 40% of the control value 4 hr after cobalt injection, and completely recovered 20 hr later. Phenylhydrazine-induced 5-aminolevulinate synthase activity in the spleen was not decreased by cobalt injection. 4. Porphobilinogen synthase [EC 4.2.1.24] activity in the liver decreased and reached its minimum value (42% of the control) 12 hr after cobalt injection. On the other hand, the activity in the spleen showed a marked increase 24 hr after coblat injection. 5. Ferrochelatase [EC 4.99.1.1] activity in the liver was essentially unaltered by cobalt treatment, while the activity in the spleen was elevated dramatically after 24 hr. 6. Concentrations of cobalt after a single injection were about 0.3 mM and 0.03 mM in the liver and spleen, respectively. 7. Inhibitions of 5-aminolevulinate synthase and porphobilinogen synthase activities by cobalt in vitro were not as marked as expected from in vivo experiments.


The biosynthesis of transfer RNA in insects. I. Increase of amino acid acceptor activity of specific tRNA's utilized for silk protein biosynthesis in the silk gland of Bombyx mori. 1) To detect the quantitative changes of amino acid acceptor activity of tRNA's from the posterior and middle silk glands of Bombyx mori at various ages, a relatively simple and rapid method was established using a mixture of radioactive amino acids in Chlorella hydrolysate. 2) The acceptor activities of silk gland tRNA for 15 amino acids tested seemed to be almost on the same level at the end of the 4th moult stage. During the 5th instar, however, characteristic increases were observed in glycine, alanine, and serine acceptor activities in both silk glands. 3) In the posterior silk gland, which produces fibroin, the acceptor activities for glycine and alanine increased more than that for serine. In the middle silk gland, which produces sericine, the acceptor activity for serine increased more than those for glycine and alanine. 4) In the light of observations on the increase of corresponding aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase activities in the silk glands, a functional adaptation of tRNA synthesis in the tissue is discussed.


Practice effects in industrial hearing screening. Two samples of employees were drawn at random from the total population of approximately 12,000 employees in one large company. The base-line audiograms and two subsequent annual retests were studies on a sample of 118 employees to determine whether the mean threshold values improved with subsequent years of testing. In addition, the audiometric earphones were reversed so that the right ear was tested first on an automatic audiometer, followed by the left ear on a different sample of 400 employees in an effort to determine whether there is a significant difference between the first and second ear tested. Results indicate that subsequent retests do not show significant improvements. It is possible, however, the small improvements of 1 or 2 dB reported by other investigators over several years of testing may not be seen when mean values are used on populations of this size. Of more importance, however, was the fact that a consistent and significant difference was seen between the first and second ear tested, with the first ear tested showing the poorer threshold. When earphones were reversed, the left or previously poorer ear, showed better thresholds than the right in the low- and midfrequencies. The right ear continued to show better thresholds in the high frequencies, regardless of which ear was tested first.


Guest editorial: the audiologist as advocate. An advocacy process, utilizing the audiologist as advocate, is proposed for auditorily impaired individuals, with six stages: personal contact, assessment, recommendations, implementation, follow-through, and follow-up. The advocacy program is illustrated by general guidelines and by a specific example. The advocacy process enables the hearing-impaired individual to become more independent through individualized programming.


Enzyme-linked immunoassay. II. A simple method for synthesis of the rabbit antibody-beta-D-galactosidase complex and its general applicability. Rabbit anti-human IgG antibody was mildly reduced in the presence of 10 mM 2-mercaptoethylamine and then coupled to beta-D-galactosidase [EC 3.2.1.23] from Escherichia coli using N,N'-o-phenylenedimaleimide. Human IgG and the anti-human IgG antibody-beta-D-galactosidase complex were successively adsorbed on Sepharose 4B binding rabbit anti-human IgG antibody. In this way amounts of human IgG as small as 5X10(-15) moles could be measured by determining the activity of beta-D-galactosidase bound to the Sepharose.


The self-instructional materials project: progress and prospects. Faculty members in the Health Sciences Consortium have developed replicable, exportable units of instruction under the direction of the Self-Instructional Materials Project. The project distributes currently 350 packages and lists 570 in it's Directory of Self-Instructional Materials. Published evaluation studies indicate improvement on national board exams with greater efficiency and savings in time when compared with other forms of instruction. One study shows similarity of results with students who use the materials in hospitals away from the university. Four basic activities are necessary to initiate and enlarge the collection of units available on each campus: training, production, tryout/revision and sharing. Analysis of trends for each set of activities is projected over a five-year period. As training activities decline, greater emphasis is placed on quality control and procedures for sharing materials that are under development.


The mountain goes to Muhammed: broadcast television for continuing education in nursing. To meet the needs of North Carolina nurses for leadership training as well as their need to have continuing education in their local community, the Continuing Education Program of the School of Nursing designed a course in leadership using the medium of broadcast television combined with direct instructor contact. Phase I prepares a group leader to coordinate Phase II in the local work-setting. Phase II is a series of ten two-hour classes in the participating home agency consisting of 1/2 hour of televised input-lecture, quizzes, dramatic vignettes and graphics- combined with 1 1/2 hours of practice which is guided by a workbook.


The schools of medical illustration.

The schools of medical illustration. Presented is an overview of the schools of medical illustration that have been accredited by The Association of Medical Illustrators. Requirements for admission are given; curriculae are listed by quarters, semesters, or year; tuition rates; points of special emphasis. The material presented has been submitted by the directors of the various schools.


An old prison--a new technology. A model for televised resources to a State Correctional Facility. The experiences from these initial efforts have been favorable without exception. Educational activities for both staff and residents have steadily increased, not merely in number but in quality of resources. A tremendous number of man hours have been productively uttilized which otherwise would have been wasted in travel. The opportunity for immediate medical and psychologic care from a variety of facilities is now available. Indeed, it is felt that the Interact system in conjunction with the Windsor Correctional Facility has demonstrated a model which can be replicated and expanded upon elsewhere.


Facial restoration.

Facial restoration. Medical science has demonstrated that fiction can be turned into fact. It is prophesied that man will be able to liver longer due to the development of synthetic organs. Sophisticated facial prostheses will be included in this progressive field. Perhaps the next century will make synthetic substitutes past history with the transplantation of organs as established practice. Or, perhaps some of the latest developments of growing skin or the use of carbonated teflon inserts will replace currently used plastics. In the meantime, we must continue to work within the limitations of our present technology.


Medical education in isolated areas by cycling videocassettes. A fresh perspective on an old and growing problem. How to reach and teach impoverished and isolated people, out of range of standard broadcast methods, the rudiments of health and hygiene? Suggested is a carefully prepared system of cycling videocassettes, to effect the dissemination of current medical information from leading medical centers to medical and paramedical people in the "bush". Conversely, the feedback from the field would benefit the medical centers in terms of customs, semantics, and specific case histories. Hopefully, such intercommunication will lead to a marked improvement in human relations.


What do you people do-now that everything has been illustrated? A noted anatomist asked recently this illustrator "What do you people do-now that everything has been illustrated?" It is disconcerting to be obliged to defend the need for the existence of the profession of medical illustration and makes the nape of the neck turn pink. The question has festered for months and this "defensive answer" pertains to the work performed by the Health Sciences Illustration Department at the University of Washington. For the novice and layman such a question opens usually Pandora's box of reply. As with the original Pandora of Greek mythology, only Hope remains in the box-and it is hoped that other engaged in medical education will be more aware of our profession and its broad and everchanging contributions.


The ambulatory clinic patient as a learner. The implementation of a patient education center in an ambulatory clinic is described. A case of study illustrates the methods of assessment, teaching, evaluation, and patient contracting that are utilized. Ways of evaluating the educational effectiveness of planned educational programs built into the health care system are explored.


The changing role of the medical illustrator? The author takes issue with the claim that the role of the medical illustrator is changing today. Not so, he says. The role is the same, and the need is as great as it ever was. Rather, some medical illustrators are changing in the desire to expand their field and become "biocommunicators.' Such expansion, the author suggests, is not for everyone, and those who choose to continue in their traditional role need make no apologies. It is a vital one.


Information networks in biomedicine.

Information networks in biomedicine. The term information networks refers to systems of information retrieval and dissemination designed for the sharing of knowledge among individuals, groups and institutions. In the biomedical field, information networks may be categorized loosely according to their structure (direct, centralized, or cooperative) and their function (educational, service-oriented, or research-oriented). This article describes a number of current biomedical information networks, focusing on those with an educational function. Although most of the networks mentioned here are relatively successful, certain serious problems are encountered commonly in the planning, implementation, utilization, and evaluation of all kinds of biomedical information networks.


Doctor-patient communication and outcomes among diabetic patients. This study reports on 242 diabetic patients from the practices of 42 physicians. Communication from physician to patient was studied to determine the effect of communication on subsequent patient outcomes. Patients and physicians were questioned on instructions provided for diabetic management and self-care. The average level of effective communication for all patients in the study was 67 percent. Insulin-dependent diabetics had the best communication scores, those controlled on diet alone the poorest, while oral medication patients were intermediate. Although overall communication scores showed no significant correlation with diabetic control status, patient satisfaction, compliance in taking prescribed medication, or frequency of hospitalization, specific communication items were highly correlated with corresponding behavioral outcomes.


Alternate methods for health priority assessment. Four methods for assessing priorities of health problems were use in a 15-county Appalachian region. Despite overall similarities the tendency is for providers to focus on categorical disease problems while consumers focus more on organization and financing problems. Only one of the methods described, community diagnosis, uses objective data; thus, the health professional must assume an educational role and help consumers use and interpret data. Prioritization of health problems allows for more appropriate use of limited resources.


Some influences on public participation in a genetic screening program. To identify the psychosocial factors associated with voluntary cooperation in mass genetic testing, stratified random samples of 500 participants and 500 nonparticipants were drawn from an identified at-risk population for Tay-Sachs disease. Participants were relatively younger and better educated, reported higher levels of perceived susceptibility to being a carrier, and also stated more often that the impact of learning of being a carrier would be low. Participants were also more likely to indicate they would not alter plans for future progeny. Recommendations are made for enhancing participation in future genetic screening programs of this type.


Evaluating health programs: Where do we find the data? This paper examines the data requirements for impact evaluation in the light of recent federal efforts to improve the evaluation of health programs. Typically, new health programs are launched before there is sufficient time or administrative interest in devising appropriate evaluation methodology. Therefore, any evaluation of such a program must be designed retrospectively. We argue that the best and typically only sources of data appropriate for such evaluations are pre-existing administrative statistics and archival records. The potential and limitations of these data sources are reviewed.


The planning and development of the New York City neighborhood family care centers. Between 1967 and 1969 the New York City capital budget listed monies for the planning and construction of 15 new ambulatory care centers to provide comprehensive medical care to medically underserved areas of the city. Because of the urgent need, an effort was made in planning the centers to minimize the number of agency approvals. By adopting this approach, the appropriateness of the centers to their target populations became secondary to the process of negotiating the bureaucracy. In spite of this tactical decision, by 1970 construction had begun on only 1 center. This case study discusses the events from 1967 through 1969 that relate to the effort to expedite bureaucratic processing of the facilities.


Who's using medicines?

Who's using medicines? Data derived from 1968-69 household survey of 3,481 persons in the Baltimore Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area revealed rates of medicine use and characteristics of users. In the 2 days before interview, 56% of the study population used one or more medicines. Users of prescribed medicine (33%) averaged 1.8 different kinds, and users of nonprescribed medicine (36%) averaged 1.4 kinds. Among users of prescribed medicine, 39% were also self-medicating. Pain relivers, vitamins, and cough and cold medicines were the most frequently used types. Two-thirds of physician visits were associated with an injection, immunization, medicine, or prescription. Rates of use for both prescribed and nonprescribed medicine were higher in females and varied with age, with nonprescribed varying less than prescribed. Nonwhites were less likely than whites to use either prescribed or nonprescribed medicines in all social status categoreis. Use of prescribed medicine increased with the increasing severity of acute and chronic illness, but use of nonprescribed medicine varied little with morbidity. Use of prescribed or nonprescribed medicine did not vary with economic class. Differences in use by age, sex, and race could not be accounted for by differences in morbidity, physician visits, or use of oral contraceptives.


A comparison of health care utilization by husbands and wives. A chart review of married couples seen in family practice compared husband-wife visit rates. Wives were found to utilize services significantly more often: for all visits, for all visits excluding those related to pregnancy, for well-care visits, for psychological support visits, and for somatic illness visits (including sex-related illnesses), but not for non-sex-related somatic illness visits. There was no significant correlation in visit-rate frequencies within husband-wife pairs.


Epidermal apoptosis: cell deletion by phagocytosis. Apoptosis is a process found in many tissues by which devitalized cells are eliminated in an orderly manner. In skin, apoptosis occurs following sunburn, in Bowen's disease and in basal cell carcinoma. Scattered cells are observed in which the cytoplasm has become condensed and dyskeratotic. These dyskeratotic cells are phagocytized, either in toto or in fragments by surrounding keratinocytes. This process involves the condensation, fragmentation, phagocytosis and digestion of individually degenerated cells. The mass of a tissue is thus related to the balance between cell formation (mitosis) and cell destruction (apoptosis). In epidermal and other surface tissues, the rate of exfoliation must also be considered.


Ultrastructure of halo nevi.

Ultrastructure of halo nevi. An ultrastructural study was conducted on eight halo nevi. Some of them were of recent onset. Others had an evolution of several months. The distribution of the population of the dendritic cells in the depigmented epidermis of the halo was more polymorphous at the early stage when few melanocytes with abundant cytofilaments and some Langerhans cells were seen. At an advanced clinical stage, only Langerhans cells were present in the basal layer. In the dermis abnormal nerves as in vitiligo were observed. The inflammatory infiltrate does not seem to appear at the early stage of involution of the nevus. At the advanced clinical stage, small mononuclear cells were also noticed among the inflammatory cells (lymphocyte-like cells, macrophages, mast cells). It is suggested that an initial stage of inhibition of both the melanocytes and the nevus cells may be responsible for the development of the depigmented halo. This stage precedes the appearance of a dermal lymphomacrophagic infiltrate that leads to the destruction of the nevus.


Some ultrastructural aspects of lymph-node cells and hepatocytes in papular acrodermatitis of childhood. Ultrastructural examination of the inguinal lymph-nodes of six patients with papular acrodermatitis of childhood with hepatitis B antigenemia showed the presence of several Langerhans cells and, in three cases, the presence of some mononucleate cells, the cytoplasm of which contained groups of 20-50 spherical particles, approximately 150 A in diameter and with an electron-dense core. In the hepatocytes of two of these patients we observed spherical particles ranging in size between 150 A and 220 A, having an electron-lucent core and scattered throughout areas limited by a membrane.


[Feto-infantile births and deaths. Statistical data]. After a period of stability between 1968 and 1971 the birth-rate was lowered slightly in 1972-1973. The first projections worked out by INSEE lead us to predict that there will be a considerable drop in the number of births in 1974 (800, 000 as against 855,000 in 1973). Perinatal mortality has dropped rapidly since 1969. The rate for France is now better than that for Scotland or the Federal German Republic and is catching up on England. It is however still far behind the rates for the Scandinavian countries and Holland and Belgium.


[Use of the Doppler signal in the determination of fetal cardiac rhythm]. The authors, after going over in brief the technical details of the physical characteristics of ultra-sounds and in particular the Doppler effect, describe a new cardiotachymeter using ultra-sounds which they have developed at the Baudelocque Maternity Hospital in Paris. In the first month in which they used this apparatus they kept 37 records on women who had not yet started labour and 36 records on women who were in labour. In 9 of the latter group they recored the fetal cardiac rhythm by the external route using ultra-sound pick-up and a recording by internal route using the fetal electrocardiogram. Tracings were comparable. It is interesting to note that even when uterine contractions are very strong indeed or the mother moves a lot the ultra-sound pick-up very rarely loses the fetal signal.


[Prevention of congenital toxoplasmosis. Results at the maternity department of the Hôpital Saint-Antoine in 1972]. The authors report the results of checking for toxoplasmosis in a maternity hospital in Paris in one year. 3,409 women were checked. 19 cases of toxoplasmosis were detected and treated. 4 of these were cogenital toxoplasmosis, of which 3 were obvious. We have to point out that sero-conversion did not occur during the survey after we had started to prescribe hygienic diets to patients in the survey. The difficulties accompanying this form of prophylaxis have been analysed.


[Comparative efficacy of oxytocin and prostaglandin F2 alpha in the treatment of dyskinesia in primiparas at term]. Fifty primiparous women who were in the 25 per cent of patients with the least favourable rate of dilatation of the cervix were treated with drug perfusion therapy for exactly three hours and were assessed graphically three times, each time after 60 minutes. 25 patients, randomly distributed, received between 5-10 and 15 mulli-units of oxytocin per minute and the other 25, 12.5-25 and 37.5 microgrammes ofprostaglandin F2 alpha per minute. The statistical analysis of the results that we obtained has established that: I. both drugs generally behaved with the degree of efficiency one would expect from the doses given; 2. when the cervix is resistant to one of the two products it is generally sensitive to the other; 3. that dystocias do exist refractiory to both drugs, but they are rare.


[Forceps delivery under local-regional anesthesia in current obstetrical practice. Apropos of 400 cases]. We herewith report 400 cases of forceps delivery under local regional block anesthesia of the internal pudental nerves. They were carried out together with routine episiotomy. The indications were the purely classical ones and the results were good. There were very few fetal complications and these were in all instances mild. There were very few maternal complications. So long as some precautious are taken we have in our hands an excellent method for extracting a baby with instruments and it should not have come into disrepute as it has (in comparison with the vacuum extractor).


[Simple procedure for extra-amniotic internal tocography]. The authors have developed a method of internal tocography which can be used when the membranes are intact and which is as simple in its conception as procedures that are usually for intra-amniotic tocography.


Effect of vitamin A on 2,2-bis-(p-chlorophenyl), 1,1-dichloroethylene concentration in rat liver. Residual amounts of 2, 2-bis-(p-chlorophyenyl), 1, 1-dicholroethylene (p,p' DDE) and the concentrations of total lipids and triglyceride were studied with respect to the internal organs of rats which had been dosed with p,p' DDE and fed on the diet free from vitamin A or containing excess of vitamin A. Either the absence or excess of vitamin A was found to increase triglyceride content and p,p' DDE storage level in the liver. However, the ratio of p,p' DDE stroage level in the liver to content of liver triglyceride was almost constant independently of the vitamin A treatment. It is suggested that the dose of vitamin A has some influences upon the metabolic processes of liver triglyceride in rats and changes the storage level of P,P'DDE in the organ.


Effect of various nucleotides and drugs on microsomal thiamine diphosphatase activity in rat brain. The basic properties of microsomal thiamine diphosphatase (TDPase) in rat brain were examined. It was mainly localized in the microsomal fraction. Microsomal TDPase showed an absolute requirement for divalent cation which was best satisfied by Ca++. Theophylline (1 mM), NADP (0.1 mM) and NADPH (0.1 mM) significantly inhibited its activity. However, caffeine, theobromine, NAD and various putative neurotransmitters did not affect the enzyme activity. UDP was inhibitory and IDP was a competitive inhibitor, but ATP had no effect on the enzyme activity.


Micro-determinations of alpha-tocopherol in tissue lipids. It has been shown that the determination of small amounts of tocopheral in tissue lipids by methods that use, in sequence, saponification, extraction, TLC and colorimetric assay, is greatly influenced by the concentration of soap in the saponification mixture. Soaps appear to interfere with the recovery of tocopherols during the subsequent extraction step. Based on this knowledge a method is described that was used to measure as little as 15 to 20 ng of tocopherol in 3 to 4 mg of lipid obtained from rat retinas. Presumably the method would be applicable to other tissues as well. The results show that the rat retina is readily depleted of tocopherol if none is included in the diet.


Comprehensive examination of protein distribution profile in wheat grain. A wheat grain was divided into three portions, endosperm, germ and bran, and the protein profile of each was examined comparatively after sequential extraction with isopropyl alcohol, sodium chloride, lactic acid and KOH solutions. Recovery of the protein in the extracts was 93-96%. The relative protein concentrations of the four soluble fractions of endosperm were very similar to those of bran, but germ showed a distinct distribution of the soluble proteins. Soluble protein fractions of endosperm, germ and bran, particularly their NaC1 soluble fractions, exhibited distinct individuality upon examination by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and gel filtration. Indeed, it was suggested that the gel electrophoretic profile could serve as a criterion for the quality evaluation of wheat flour. On the other hand, the KOH soluble proteins of endosperm, germ and bran, which gave indiscrete electrophoretic patterns, existed predominantly in highly aggregated forms which disintegrated upon exposure to 1% SDS or by reduction with 2-mercaptoethanol.


An improved synthetic medium suitable for tissue culture of various mammalian cells. A new mixture of synthetic medium, DM-153, was designed to obtain a higher rate of proliferation of various cells and to be adoptable for both of closed and opened systems of culture. The activity was compared to that of other synthetic media by cultivation for 2 weeks. In the presence of 10% (v/v) fetal calf serum, DM-153 exhibited the highest rate of proliferation of rat liver cells, strain RLC-10(2), than did Eagle MEM, DM-145 or lactalbumin hydrolysate which had been employed as a routine growth medium for the cells. In the absence of any high molecular weight substances in the medium, both of DM-153 and DM-145 showed higher rate of proliferation of rat liver cells, strain JTC-25-P3, than that obtained by MEM. In the case of primary culture of human blood lymphoid cells supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum, DM-153 resulted in apparently higher rate of cell survival than did RPMI-1640. The mixture DM-153 was confirmed to be suitable as a multi-purpose synthetic medium.


Transmissible enterocolitis in hamsters caused by Tyzzer's organism. An outbreak of enteric form of Tyzzer's disease occurred in a golden hamster colony, and 60% of diseased animals examined were found to have severe enterocolitis without hepatic lesions. Organisms were detected within mucosal epithelial cells, especially in the lower ileum, cecum and colon showing degenerative and necrotic changes, and in some cases organisms were also detected in the smooth muscle layer. Infiltration of neutrophils and mononuclear cells in the lamina propria and submucosa was observed. Hamsters either having been cage-mates with diseased ones or given perorally cecal contents from affected animals, suffered from severe diarrhea and were shown to have necrotic foci in the liver. By intravenous inoculation with affected hamster liver homogenate into cortisone-treated mice, hepatic lesions characteristic of Tyzzer's disease were produced. Moreover, such infected mouse liver was found to cause severe diarrhea in hamsters when administered perorally.


The in vitro activity of Midecamycin against various Vibrio species. The susceptibility of various Vibrio species to Midecamycin was studied by the tube dilution method. A MIC of 100 mug per ml of Midecamycin in BHI broth was taken as an indicator of bacterial resistance. All Vibrio cholerae classic biotype strains tested, were sensitive to Midecamycin. In respectively, 87.4%, 60.7% and 89.5% of Vibrio cholerae El Tor biotype, Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio NAG strains tested, were sensitive to Midecamycin.


Studies on proteinase level in gastrointestinal tract and digestive glands in pyridoxine deficient animals. Proteinase activity was detected in different parts of the alimentary tract and digestive glands. In control group, the enzymatic activity is predominant in duodenum and pancreas and quite small in oesophagus and intestine. A significant lowering of the enzymic activity was detected in all the organs in pyridoxine deficient animals. The enzymic response was found to be similar in both control and isonicotinic acid hyarazide (I.N.H.) with extra pyridoxine fed animals.


Evaluation of a technique of circumoval precipitin test using blood taken on filter paper and a microtiter technique of complement fixation test of Schistosoma japonicum. For the circumoval precipitin test (COPT) blood was taken on quantitative blood sampling filter paper by finger prick from outpatients at the Schistosomiasis Control Pilot Project, Palo, Leyte, Philippines. The volume of serum available per strip of filter paper was 0.04 ml and this was extracted at 1:3, 1:5 and 1:8 dilutions. Lyophilized eggs of Schistosoma japonicum were mixed with the diluted serum on a microscope glass slide and incubated at 37 degrees C for 2 days. The reaction was read following the criterion made by Yokogawa et al. [11]. The serum at 1:8 was too dilute to make correct diagnosis; serum at 1:3 dilution contained too much hemoglobin which made microscopic observation difficult and the extract at 1:5 was found to be appropriate. There was no remarkable difference in antigenicity among 3 preparations of lyophilized eggs from Kofu strain, Japan, and those of new and old preparations from Philippine strain. Under the best condition, false negative results appeared in 15.3% of 152 outpatients in Leyte and false positives in 2% of 50 human sera collected in Tokyo. This method of COPT is not satisfactory for the diagnosis of individual cases but is useful in the epidemiological assessment of Schistosoma infections because of the simplicity of blood sampling from dwellers of infested areas and also because it shows nearly the same sensitivity as that of a single fecal examination by the MIFC method. A microtiter technique of complement fixation test (CFT) was also studied. This method, however, was less sensitive than the COPT or a single fecal examination as to give 23.7% false negatives. Frequency distributions of CF and COP titers were analysed among egg positive, egg negative and treated groups. The results showed that treatment with stibophen had little influence in lowering the serum response, especially in COPT.


A novel fluorimetric determination of sphingosine. A fluorimetric method to determine sphingosine and the related bases at nmole level is described. For the fluorescence labeling of the long chain bases, pyridoxal was conjugated to the amino groups of the compounds. The method is applicable to sphingolipids after hydrolysis or methanolysis even in the presence of largeamount of contaminating amino-containing substances.


Masking of some charged groups in a protein with beta-structure. Reactivity of amino groups, phenoxy groups of tyrosine residues and some other charged groups of Tricoplusia ni granulosis virus granulin, which had rigid subunit structure abundant in beta-configuration, was investigated. It was found that there were nonreactive alpha-amino, phenoxy and some other groups in the native protein, and that they became reactive after an alkaline treatment which brought about conformational change of the protein to a random structure. The possibility of the contribution of the beta-structure for the masking of these residues is discussed.


A successful method for mass culture of the house dust mite, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Troussart, 1897). Comparative studies have been carried out to find out an optimum condition for efficient mass culture of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Troussart, 1897), the most dominant species of the house dust mites. Among various food materials tested for culture media, the mixture composed of 2 parts of powdered laboratory animal food, 2 parts of dried yeast and 1 part of dried fish powder was found to be most fitted. The humidity content of the medium was best when adjusted to 16% beforehand and thin layer of the food medium was prepared in Roux's-bottle with a paper plug. The plug of the bottle was opened once a week and the medium was mixed thoroughly by shaking to prevent clotting. When about 15,000 mites were inoculated into 100 g of culture media, the highest yield was obtained with relative humidity regulated at 75% and the temperature at 25 degrees C after 12 weeks of incubation. Purified mites were separated from culture media by floatation with saturated NaCl solution and the average yield of the mice was 2 to 3 g in wet weight per 100 g of the food mixture.


Time-dependent distribution of 203Hg-methylmercuric chloride in tissues and cells of rats. The time-dependent distribution of 203Hg-methylmercuric chloride has been studied in the tissue cells of rats by means of microautoradiographic examination and in the liver cells by means of electron autoradiography. Furthermore, the radioactivity of 203Hg in the various organs was measured at the same time. A possible way was suggested to prove that methylmercury might enter the brain through the choroid plexus-cerebrospinal fluid-brain barrier as well as through the blood-brain barrier. Silver grains were selectively localized on the macrophages and glial cells in the paraventricular sites adjacent to the ventricles, subsequently in the submeningeal sites of brain cortex, and also localized on the macrophages and glial cells in the molecular and Purkinje cell layers near the fourth ventricle. Following administration, silver grains rapidly increased in the liver and kidney and then showed a relatively variable decrease. The density of grains was the most concentrated in the endothelium in the liver. A conspicuously large amount of radio activity was noted in the lumen of tubules at the earlier stages and later was found in the epithelial cytoplasm of the proximal and distal tubules in kidney. Radioactivity was remarkable in the blood and certain organs compared to that present in the cerebrum and cerebellum. The damaged cells in the brain, liver, kidney and muscle were not always related to the amount of mercury. There may be some differences between the intoxicity of organic mercury to the cells and sensitivity of the nerve cells themselves to organic mercury.


Detection of HBs antigen with latex particles coated with human antibody prepared by affinity chromatography on concanavalin A-sepharose. Human HBs antibody was isolated by affinity chromatography on HBs antigen absorbed to concanavalin A linked to Sepharose 4B. When a human anti-HBs immunoglobulin preparation obtained by Cohn's cold ethanol fractionation method was used as a starting material, the antibody was concentrated about 10 times in terms of the passive hemagglutination titer with a recovery rate higher than 50%. Latex particles coated with human anti-HBs antibody thus prepared were proved to be useful in detecting HBs antigen in human blood samples. In its sensitivity and in rapidity of its performance, the antibody-coated latex agglutination test seems to be superior to conventional immunodiffusion techniques.