Electrophysiological and psychological changes induced by steroid hormones in men and women

The effects of hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle and of oral contraceptives on the EEG, heart-rate and a number of performance tasks were investigated in 16 female subjects (Ss). Powerspectral analysis in the EEG revealed significantly increased alpha-frequencies and heart-rates during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle whereas the mean theta-frequency and power decreased. A number of psychological test variables, such as reaction time to a tone, to a flickering light and to a colour-tone sequence and the time to solve simple arithmetic problems was shorter at the periovulatory time. Another minimum was reached during the perimenstrual phase. The flicker-fusion-frequency was higher during these two periods. No such effects could be observed when the same Ss were treated with oral contraceptives. It is concluded that the phenomena observed during the luteal phase of the cycle may be the expression of a slight general arousal effect, possibly medicated by progesterone via the noradrenergic system. In a subsequent double blind study 30 male Ss were treated with an gestagenic compound (D-Norgestrel, 2.5 mg/die), an estrogenic compound (estradiolvalerate, 5 mg/die), an androgenic substance (Mesterolone, 100 mg/die) or with placebo. Only treatment with the progestational compound revealed significant changes in the EEG and the performance tests. These changes were qualitatively similar to those observed during the luteal phase of the female Ss. Under both conditions, i.e. the luteal phase and D-Norgestrel treatment, the body-temperature was significantly increased. Hence, the question whether gestagens exert their effects directly on CNS structures which modulate EEG appearance and behavior or indirectly via increased body-temperature cannot be answered convincingly.

Measurement and modification of the accuracy of determinations of urine glucose concentration

Studies were designed to assess the accuracy of urine glucose testing in a sample of juvenile diabetic subjects, and to determine the effects of a visual discrimination training procedure on the accuracy. In the first study, each of 81 juvenile-diabetic children was presented three prepared glucose solutions and asked to determine the glucose concentration using the 2-Drop Clinitest method. Results showed errors in 54.3% of the judgments, with greatest difficulty occurring with 1-g/dl concentrations. The majority of errors were false negatives. Study II involved similar testing accuracy on a sample of 10 nurses and 2 research technicians, before and after a visual discrimination training procedure. Results showed that the subjects were incorrect on 39% of the trials initially, with a reduction in the error rate to less than 19% after training.

Storage of audiometric data - online - with a small computer

For online storage of audiometric measuring data we use an audiometer with serial operating output, a computer (DEC PDP 11/03), and a graphic terminal (DEC VT 55). The data can be controlled at any given time on the display and read like an audiogram. To transmit the data it is mainly only necessary to activate one button on the audiometer in addition. Pure tone and speech audiograms appear on the display in separate diagrams; in addition, beneath the pure tone threshold the results of the suprathreshold tests and the impedance measurements are indicated. For additional observations three lines are left available. If desired, a computer-supported masking aid can be used; independent of this, cross-heard values and applied masking noise intensities are stored. Paper documentations can achieve success as a hardcopy or as a four-coloured plotter print. Statistical groupings are possible without further processing.

Calendar life span versus budding life span of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

This investigation is concerned with the internal factors governing the life span of individual yeast cells. The life span may be limited either by the number of buds a cell can produce or by internal measurement of metabolic time. The natural relationship between the number of cells a single cell can produce and the passage of time was modified by three different kinds of treatment: (1) by cooling the cells for several hours each day; (2) by preculturing the cells in media which inhibit cell division before allowing logarithmic growth; and (3) by culturing the cells in a medium which reduces the rate of budding. All these methods led to a prolongation of chronological life span, but the life span measured by the number of buddings remained remarkably constant. We therefore conclude that there is some kind of factor involved in the budding process which determines life span.

Influence of levamisole on the capacity of neutrophil granulocytes for ingestion and for the reduction of nitrobluetetrazolium

With the aid of a modification of the NBT test it has been shown in in vitro and in vivo studies that levamisole does not affect the NBT reduction capacity of neutrophil granulocytes. The increased NBT positivity of these cells under the influence of levamisol is due to stimulation of ingestion.

[The adolescent confronted with hemodialysis and transplantation, psychological problems and developmental factors]

A study has been undertaken of the psychological problems of more than 250 adolescents and young adults with chronic renal failure in a dialysis and transplantation programme. The centre provided treatment and helped the patients to adapt to their illness. As the illness is of indefinite duration observations could be made of the course and the outcome. The individuals reaction to different forms of treatment, the possible final outcome and the institution were studied.

Computerized tomography and pathological correlation in cystic meningiomas. Report of two cases

Meningiomas have been reported to have associated areas of surrounding low density on computerized tomography (CT). These low-density areas may represent edema, widened subarachnoid spaces, loculated cerebrospinal fluid, demyelination, or adjacent tumor. Two cases are presented in which this adjacent area of low density represented a tumor cyst. Recognition is important as the CT appearance of these lesions may simulate a metastatic tumor.

Hallervorden-Spatz syndrome

Two siblings with Hallervorden-Spatz syndrome showed striking homotypism and homochronism. Neuropathologic examination and electron microscopic studies were done; neutron activation analysis showed an increase in the uptake of iron in the basal ganglia. Of particular relevance is the application of radioactive iron studies in the clinical course of this syndrome. These studies disclosed an increase in the uptake of iron in the area of the basal ganglia in one sibling and in another isolated patient. This procedure will be helpful toward the clinical diagnosis.

[Diagnostic reliability of ipsilateral evoked impedance changes of the tympanic membrane (author's tranl)]

The ipsilateral registration of impedance change is necessary in case of unilateral cochlear or retrocochlear disease with middle ear impairment of the other ear and, therefore, impossibility of contralateral evocation of the reflex. If contralateral evocation fails, moreover, it will be useful in order to clarify, whether the evocation did not succeed or the registration at the contralateral ear; thus enabling a differentiation between lesions of the reflexe's afferent and efferent way. In ipsilateral impedance-change-measurements it should be distinguished between an increase of the acoustic impedance (as searched for--turn to the right at the balancemeter) and a decrease of it (turn to the left at the balancemeter). The "turns to the left" at ipsilateral evocation occur without latency and only at SPL 100 dB or more. They can be observed in patients suffering from otosclerosis, complete deafness and indissected temporal bones as well. This acoustic-mechanical effect rises at high sound pressures from the non-linearity of the sound-field, which produces an extra pressure unbalancing the pressure before and behind the tympanic membrane. This effect may interfere with the real reflex-response, but only at more than 100 dB SPL; however, it must be distinguished from the proper response in order not to find the reflex falsely positive. In three clinical examples (angioblastoma of the right cerebellum hemisphere, multiple sclerosis, cerebello-pontine angle lesion) the absence of ipsilateral impedance reflexes (isolated or additional) is demonstrated.

Distinguishable transformation-defective phenotypes among temperature-sensitive mutants of Rous sarcoma virus

Eight transformation-defective, temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants of the Prague strain of Rous sarcoma virus, subgroup A, have been isolated after mutagenesis with 5-bromodeoxyuridine followed by selection on the basis of focus tests. Five of these mutants, ts GI201, GI202, GI203, GI204, and GI205, exhibit properties like most previously reported isolates in that they show a temperature-sensitive response to each of a variety of transformation-specific parameters tested. Interestingly, GI201, in addition to the temperature-sensitive defect, carries a lesion that was observed as a nonconditional loss of expression of plasminogen activator protease. Three mutants, ts GI251, GI252, and GI253 have been disignated partial transformation-defective (PTD) mutants since they behave as ts mutants according to some tests for transformation and as wild type according to others. These three mutants fail to form foci at the nonpermissive temperature (41 degrees C) and art nontumorigenic in 3-week-old chickens (body temperature, 42 degrees C). The agglutinability by concanavalin A of cells infected with these mutants shows a definite temperature sensitivity, as do the rate of 2-deoxyglucose uptake and the disappearance of the 250, 000-dalton normal cell glycoprotein (large, external, transformation sensitive [LETS]). Although the PTD mutant-infected cells, unlike cells infected with other transformation mutants, exhibit a cell-bound plasminogen activator protease at the nonpermissive temperature, this activator is not detectable as a free protease in the medium, as it is with wild-type, virus-infected cells. The PTD mutants behave like the wild-type parent in their ability to induce transformed growth properties in the infected cells, i.e., growth beyond normal cell saturation density with or without serum-supplemented medium and growth leading to colony formation in soft-agar- or methyl cellulose-containing suspension media.

EEG changes during spontaneous and controlled menstrual cycles and their correlation with psychological performance

1. EEG (occipito-central, anterior and posterior temporo-central), blood concentration of hormones (oestradiol, progesterone, prolactin, folliculo-stimulating (FSH) and luteinizing (LH) hormones) and psychometric tests (reaction time, concentration, simple calculations, visual orientation and simple motor performance tasks) were recorded from 16 young women during a spontaneous menstrual cycle (s.c.w. group) and from 16 women taking combined oral contraceptives (o.c.w. group). All data were collected every second day except Sundays. 2. The EEGs underwent power spectrum analysis. Power and weighted mean frequency were determined for different frequency bands (theta, alpha and beta). The most constant finding in the s.c.w. group was a slight increase of mean alpha frequency during the luteal phase until menstruation (mean of occipital alpha acceleration = +0.3c/sec). The average time course of this acceleration fitted the time course of progesterone increase, but no direct correlation could be established. No such acceleration of alpha frequency could be found in the o.c.w. group, but the mean frequency in this group was about 0.5c/secslower than that of the s.c.w. group. In addition, minor cyclic changes of EEG paramenters in the s.c.w. group were observed in the occipital and temporal theta activity, the temporal alpha activity, but none in the beta range. 3. Reaction times to simple tasks, simple arithmetic, etc. were slightly but significantly decreased in the s.c.w. group during the luteal phase with a minimum on the day before or during menstruation. No such changes were observed in the o.c.w. group, which performed, in all tasks, slightly slower and slightly less correctly than the s.c.w. group. 4. The individual relative accelerations of alpha frequency and shortening of reaction times were positively correlated with each other.

Embolic posterior cerebral artery occlusion secondary to spondylitic vertebral artery compression. Case report

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

o,p'DDD therapy in invasive adrenocortical carcinoma

Invasive adrenocortical carcinoma was diagnosed in two patients, 3 1/2 and 69 years of age, respectively. Therapy with o,p'DDD was begun immediately, and the patients have survived 4 1/12 and 7 9/12 years, respectively. The prolonged survival represents possible "cure" of inoperable disease following early initiation of therapy.

[Cyclic adenosine-3':5'-monophosphate in translocation tissues of plants?]

Sieve tube sap of the secondary phloem of Robinia pesudoacacia L. and exudate from the trumpet hyphae of the cauloids of Laminaria saccharina (L.) Lamour. were analyzed for the occurrence of cyclic adenosine-3':5'-monophosphate with the help of the radio isotope dilution test (Boehringer, Mannheim). The concentration was about 0,1 μM in the Laminaria exudate and 9,0 nM in the Robinia sap. Pretreatment of the saps with phosphodiesterase removes the activity of the A-3:5-MP. It therefore seems probable that A-3:5-MP occurs in the translocation tissues of plants.

[The incorporation of (32)PO 4 (---) into organic compounds in sieve tube sap]

1. Phloem exudates collected from the secondary phloem of Tilia platyphyllos, from the flower stalks of Yucca flaccida and from stems of Salix triandra (obtained by the aphid method) were incubated with (32)PO4 (---). The radioactivity was incorporated into a series of organic compounds very similar to those synthesized after the whole phloem is incubated with (32)PO4 (---). This synthetic ability of the exudate was completely destroyed by heating; therefore it is very probably due to enzymes. 2. ATP is one of the very first compounds labeled after incubation of the sieve tube sap with (32)PO4 (---). It already shows radioactivity after 10 sec. 3. The phloem exudate of Yucca flaccida does not lose the synthetic ability even after several hours of secretion. This indicates that the enzymes and the substrates for the phosphorylations are secreted continuously into the lumen of the sieve tubes. 4. The formation of the organic phosphorus compounds in the sieve tube sap is in accordance with the results of the enzyme analyses in this material (Kennecke et al., 1971).

The euglobulin lysis time test: an ineffectual monitor of the therapeutic inhibition of fibrinolysis

In two clinical situations associated with hyperfibrinolysis the administration of antifibrinolytic drugs resulted in clinical haemostasis. The dilute clot lysis time and fibrin plate activity test but not the euglobulin lysis time reflected this control of excessive fibrinolysis by the antifibrinolytic drugs. The inhibition by epsilon-amino-caproic acid (EACA) of hyperfibrinolysis induced in vitro was reflected by the dilute clot lysis time but not by the euglobulin lysis time. Paper chromatography of the supernatant and euglobulin fractions as prepared for the euglobulin lysis time test from plasma with added EACA demonstrated that some 85% of the EACA was present in the supernatant, normally discarded during the test. Similarly, cellulose-acetate electrophoresis of the supernatant and euglobulin fractions from plasma containing Trasylol demonstrated the drug in the supernatant only. These findings indicate that when acetic acid is added to plasma containing EACA or Trasylol only a small proportion of the drug is precipitated with the euglobulin fraction. The euglobulin lysis time is thus an inaccurate index of the neutralization of hyperfibrinolysis by antifibrinolytic drugs.

[Investigations on ATP and other organic phosphorus compounds in the sieve tube sap of Yucca flaccida and Salix triandra]

1. Like the sieve tube sap of dicotyledons analysed so far, the phloem exudate of Yucca flaccida contains a high level of ATP, i.e. 615 μg/ml on the average. ATP concentration in the phloem exudate does not decrease during extended periods of exudation. 2. The pattern of labelled phosphorylated compounds after feeding of (32)PO 4 (---) is essentially similar in the phloem exudate of Yucca flaccida and in the exudate from the mouth parts of aphids feeding on Salix triandra phloem. 3. The label was incorporated very rapidly into most of the phosphorylated organic compounds present in the exudate of Yucca flaccida. in the first phase after feeding of (32)PO 4 (---) only the label in fructose-1,6-diphosphate and possibly the label in ATP was still increasing in relation to the total radioactivity. This increment was correlated to a loss of radioactivity in the inorganic phosphate fraction. 4. Specific radioactivity of inorganic phosphate and ATP in the sieve tube sap of Yucca flaccida increased continuously throughout the experiments while (32)PO 4 (-) was administered externally. This trend continued for some time after removal of the external source of label.