The behavior of nose bot flies (Cephenemyia apicata and C. jellisoni) when attacking black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) and the resulting reactions of the deer

Larviposition behavior by Cephenemyia jellisoni involved a covert, inaudible hovering–"stalking" flight with attacking females usually remaining undetected until the moment of larviposition. In contrast. C. apicata landed on or near deer and became objects of attraction eliciting the curiosity of deer and causing them to orient to the fly in a position vulnerable to larviposition. The final phase of attack by C. jellisoni was initiated from a blind spot in front of. and below, the deer's nose, whereas visible C. apicata attacked from perched positions. After flies squirted larvae into deer's nostrils, deer jerked back their heads and sneezed as they simultaneously shook their heads and lowered their noses to the ground. A series of other post-larviposition behavioral responses of deer are described, as is their characteristic fly alert position and behavior. Encounters with C. apicata and C. jellisoni females that larviposited in their nostrils led to the recognition of these flies by educated deer and to their responding with anti-nose-bot-fly behavior resulting in their evading females attempting to tarviposit. Deer did not respond to flies presented for them to smell, but when tethered C. jellisoni hovered in view of experienced deer, deer exhibited the characteristic evasive reactions provoked when wild flies were spotted. Deer also responded similarly when Cephenemyia larvae were "finger inoculated" into their nostrils.

Inhibitory action of somatostatin on pancreatic alpha and beta cell function

In normal men, the administration of somatostatin almost completely abolished the glucose stimulated insulin-release seen during control studies (without somatostatin), and caused a further reduction in glucagon secretion beyond that induced by hyperglycemia. Following the infusion, there was a rapid and marked rebound for insulin but not glucagon secretion. These events were attended by a marked retardation of the glucose disappearance rate (K) which exhibited two clearly separable components; the initial slow component (mean K equals 0.64) coincided with the period of insulin suppression and was followed by a faster component (mean K equals 1.37) temporally related to the marked rebound increase in insulin release after discontinuation of the somatostatin infusion. Similarly, the addition of somatostatin infusion completely blocked the release of insulin and growth hormone and delayed the release of glucagon stimulated by arginine infusion. Following the somatostatin infusion there was a small rise in GH and a marked rebound for insulin and this was associated with a higher level of plasma glucose than that found following arginine infusion alone. These data establish that the administration of somatostatin can effectively block the release of insulin stimulated by arginine and glucose, can attenuate the release of glucagon induced by arginine and can enhance the glucose-mediated glucagon suppression. The attendance of a relative hyperglycemia during these events is probably the net result of an impediment in peripheral glucose disposition due to acute insulin lack and a decreased hepatic glucose output secondary to glucagon suppression.

Hypertrophic olivary degeneration and Purkinje cell degeneration in a case of long-standing head injury

A case is reported of a 52 year old man who sustained a head injury and survived for three years and two months in coma. He was subsequently shown to have severe brain stem damage, with a bilateral lesion of the central tegmental tract and bilateral hypertrophic olivary degeneration, associated with a widespread loss of Purkinje cells in the cerebellar cortex. Hypertrophic olivary degeneration is considered to be a trans-synaptic change associated with a lesion of the central tegmental tract, which in this case was thought to be due to primary shearing injury of the brain stem involving the superior cerebellar peduncles. It is suggested that, as a consequence of long survival, Purkinje cell degeneration represents further trans-synaptic changes, the result of neuronal degeneration in the hypertrophied inferior olivary nuclei and in the dentate nuclei. A chain or `circuit' of degenerated neurones is thereby produced.

Lymphocyte transformation and leucocyte migration-inhibition by Australia antigen

The occurrence of a state of cell-mediated immune responsiveness to the Australia antigen following acute virus-B hepatitis has been demonstrated by the use of two in vitro methods—the lymphocyte transformation test and the leucocyte migration–inhibition test. Australia antigen-rich serum and purified Australia antigen were found to be effective agents in both tests. Close correlation was observed between the two tests. Persistent carriers of the Australia antigen give negative results with both tests.

Surface immunoglobulins of leukaemic cells

We have examined leukaemia cells from twenty-eight patients for the presence of surface immunoglobulins by a migration-inhibition technique. Immunoglobulins were identified on the cells of fourteen out of nineteen patients with chronic lymphatic leukaemia but were not present on cells from patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia or acute leukaemia. The results obtained with the migration technique were confirmed by identification of immunoglobulins in eluates and lysates of the leukaemia cells. Serial elution and lysis studies indicated that in some cases the immunoglobulins were produced by the leukaemia cells at a low but steady rate, possibly indicating a relationship between those cells and `B' cells. In other cases the immunoglobulins were readily removed from the cells and were present only in the initial eluates from the cells, suggesting that they had been adsorbed and might possibly be specific antibody. The immunoglobulin negative chronic lymphatic leukaemia cells may be related to `T' cells, a possibility supported by a high level of phytohaemagglutinin induced transformation in one case examined by this technique.

Nature of contacts in centric occlusion in 32 adults

An evaluation of the location and nature of occlusal contacts in centric occlusion of 32 adults revealed teeth that had no occlusal contact, no opposing tooth, contact on flat surfaces, contact on one or more inclined planes, and contacts on a combination of flat and inclined planes.

Trypanosome transmitted by Phlebotomus: first report from the Americas

Transmission studies carried out in the laboratory incriminated Phlebotomus vexator occidentis as a vector of a species of trypanosome that infects Bufo boreas halophilus. Toads free of parasites contracted the trypanosome after eating infected flies and after intraperitoneal inoculation of flagellates cultured from the hindgut of flies that had fed on infected toads. Discovery of this vectorhost-parasite system in the Americas, and the localization of promastigote flagellates (leptomonads) in the hindgut of the vector, should assist in clarifying interpretative problems associated with infection of wild-caught flies in studies on leishmaniasis in the Americas and elsewhere.

Purification and properties of peroxidase from Nitrosomonas europaea

Peroxidase from the obligate chemosynthetic bacterium Nitrosomonas europaea was purified 1,500-fold, and its properties were examined. The enzyme had a molecular weight of 53,000 and exhibited characteristic absorption maxima at 410, 524, and 558 mmu. The optimal pH and temperature were 7.5 and 44 C, respectively. The peroxidase reaction had an energy of activation of 5,850 cal/mole and required a primary substrate (H(2)O(2)) concentration of 7 x 10(-6)m to proceed at half maximal velocity (K(m)). Reduced cytochrome, c,p-phenylenediamine and pyrogallol acted as hydrogen donors to the purified peroxidase-H(2)O(2) complex. Conditions most suitable for the chemical oxidation of ammonium by H(2)O(2) were determined. The reaction was rapid and produced nitrite but no nitrate. Hydroxylamine was not detected as an intermediate, but it could substitute for ammonium in the system. Neither the rate nor the extent of these reactions was influenced by purified peroxidase, and no evidence was obtained to support a conclusion that the enzyme performs a vital role in the transformation of ammonium to nitrite by N. europaea.

Immunological features of idiopathic Addison's disease: characterization of the adrenocortical antigens

The antibodies in the sera of two patients with idiopathic Addison's disease, one reacting specifically with adrenocortical cells, the other with the various cell types which produce steroid hormones, have been found to be predominently IgG. The behaviour of the two antibodies in complement-fixation tests is in agreement with their reactivity, reported in the previous paper, in immunofluorescence tests.

Cell fractionation studies suggest that both adrenal antigens are associated with the microsomal fraction. The biochemical properties of the antigens are consistent with the view that they are lipoproteins, possibly with associated carbohydrate. While the properties of the adrenal antigens are generally similar to those of the thyroid and gastric parietal cell organ-specific autoantigens, they differ from these, and from each other, in their susceptibility to destruction by certain enzymes and chemical treatments.

Incidence of gastric parietal cell antibody in families of patients with iron-deficiency anaemia

One hundred and forty-eight relatives of eleven achlorhydric, iron-deficiency anaemic patients, with gastric parietal cell antibody, have been tested for the presence of gastric antibody. The propositi were divided into two groups, six with latent pernicious anaemia and five without latent pernicious anaemia. Ten out of the seventy-six relatives of the propositi with latent pernicious anaemia possessed the antibody but only two of the seventy-two relatives without pernicious anaemia had the antibody. This difference is statistically significant (P<0·05). Five out of the six propositi with latent pernicious anaemia had no history of excessive blood loss while four out of the five propositi without latent pernicious anaemia had such a history. In the first group of propositi it is suggested that the antibody is genetically determined while in the second group the antibody may have resulted from gastric mucosal damage due to iron-deficiency anaemia.

Occurrence of autoantibodies in healthy twins

Five autoantibodies were studied in 105 healthy like-sex twin pairs. Analysis of the concordance rates in monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs suggests that in healthy people the predisposition to form these five autoantibodies is largely governed by environmental factors.

Occurrence of antibody to salivary duct epithelium in Sjogren's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and other arthritides. A clinical and laboratory study

Images

Physical properties of some zinc oxide-eugenol cements

SYNOPSIS IN INTERLINGUA

PROPRIETATES PHYSIC DE CERTE CEMENTOS A OXYDO DE ZINC E EUGENOL.—Le hic-reporate studio esseva concernite con le consistentia, le fortia compressive, le tempores de travalio e de prisa, le spissitate de pellicula, e le duressa del materiales studiate. Lor numero esseva 6. Le valores pro le consistentia variava inter 35 e 60 mm. Le fortias compressive variava ab 6,4 ad 219 kg/cm 2. Le tempore de travalio esseva inter 3 e 21 minutas, e le tempore de prisa final esseva inter 5,5 e 20 minutas additional. Omne le cementos produceva un spissitate de pellicula de minus que 0,04 mm. Le valores del duressa post 24 horas variava inter 0,05 e 1,1 mm de penetration.