Cerebral glucography with positron tomography. Use in normal subjects and in patients with schizophrenia

Local cerebral uptake of deoxyglucose labeled with fluorine 18 was measured by positron-emission tomography in eight patients with schizophrenia who were not receiving medication and in six age-matched normal volunteers. Subjects sat in an acoustically treated, darkened room with eyes closed after injection of 3 to 5 mCi of deoxyglucose 18F. After uptake, seven to eight horizontal brain scans parallel to the canthomeatal line were done. Scans were treated digitally, with a 2.3-cm strip peeled off each slice and ratios to whole-slice activity computed. Patients with schizophrenia showed lower ratios in the frontal cortex, indicating relatively lower glucose use than normal control subjects; this was consistent with previously reported studies of regional cerebral blood flow. Patients also showed diminished ratios for a 2.3-cm square that was positioned over central gray-matter areas on the left but not on the right side. These findings are preliminary; issues of control of mental activity, brain structure identification, and biologic and anatomic heterogeneity of schizophrenia remain to be explored.

Macroscopic vasovasostomy

Ninety-six males underwent vasovasostomy from 1976-1978. Seventy-six of 83 patients who returned for a semen analysis demonstrated sperm in the ejaculate for a 92% surgical patency rate. Thirty-two of 71 eligible patients initiated a pregnancy for a functional success rate of 45%. A statistically significant correlation was found between postoperative motility and pregnancy rate but none between sperm count and pregnancy rate.

Surgical experience with the inflatable penile prosthesis

More than 100 inflatable penile prostheses have been implanted at our medical center since 1974. The 50 patients who are at least 1 year postoperative are the basis of this report. Complications occurred in 10 patients (20 per cent) and 8 were repaired successfully. Of the 50 patients 48 presently have a normally functioning prosthesis and satisfactory intercourse.

Intraperitoneal rupture of pseudodiverticulum of bladder

A case is presented of a pseudodiverticulum of the bladder which developed after a bladder rupture nine years previously. In this case, rupture of the pseudodiverticulum occurred intraperitoneally. The pseudodiverticulum communicated with the bladder via a small fish-mouthed opening surrounded by attenuated fibrotic bladder wall.

Transplacental exposure to diethylstilbestrol in men

Diethylstilbestrol (DES) was widely prescribed during the late 1940s and early 1950s for complications of pregnancy. Twenty-four men exposed to DES in utero were examined and compared with twenty-four age-matched controls; contrary to previous reports, we found no difference between the two groups in their psychosexual history, medical history, genital examination, or semen analysis.

Vaginal cystectomy

The technique of vaginal cystectomy is described in 2 patients. These patients were particularly suited for vaginal cystectomy because severe lower abdominal scarring from previous multiple abdominal operations would have made the standard suprapubic approach difficult.

Depressive mood and adolescent illicit drug use: a longitudinal analysis

Through the technique of Goodman's log linear method, longitudinal data are analyzed to clarify the relationship between depressive mood and illicit drug use among youths. A representative sample of adolescents (N = 8206) from New York State secondary schools was followed over one academic year. At one point in time, users of illicit drugs other than marihuana (multiple drug users) were significantly more depressed than either nonusers or users of marihuana only. Differing interactive relationships were found over time depending upon the drugs involved. Depressive mood was related to the onset of marihuana use among nonusers and to the termination of marihuana use among users. Depressive mood also predicted the use of other illicit drugs by marihuana users. While the beginning use of illicit drugs other than marihuana was positively associated with increased depressive mood, continued multiple drug use was related to reduced depressive mood.

Renal arteriovenous fistulas

A review of the literature reveals that aggressive treatment of symptomatic intrarenal arteriovenous fistulas, whether by surgical or radiologic techniques, is generally indicated. The exception is those fistulas which result from closed renal biopsy since these usually heal spontaneously. The ultimate goal of any form of therapy is the maximal preservation of renal tissue. Methods of treatment are discussed, and a review of classification, etiology, incidence, symptoms, physiologic consequences, and means of diagnosis is given. A case of post-traumatic intrarenal arteriovenous fistula with ipsilaterally elevated renal vein renin and hypertension, cured by partial nephrectomy, is presented.

Paired moving charge model of energy coupling. III. Intrinsic ionophores in energy coupling systems

The experimental basis for the postulated role of intrinsic ionophores in mitochondrial ion transport and energy coupling is summarized. Intrinsic ionophores appear to be linked to, or contained within, specific ionophoroproteins localized in the inner membrane, and the isolation of these ionophores requires their release from the ionophoroproteins. At least ten different species of ionophores have been isolated from the mitochondrion, five of which have been wholly or in part chemically identified. Intrinsic ionophores have been implicated in the activation of inorganic phosphate in ATP synthesis and hydrolysis, and in the contol of the coupling modes. The presence of ionophores in soluble proteins such as troponin and in ATP-energized kinases has been demonstrated.

Albumin to ascites: demonstration of a direct pathway bypassing the systemic circulation

The transport of plasma albumin and newly made albumin into ascitic fluid was studied in eight patients with cirrhosis and ascites. The thoracic duct was cannulated in two patients and lymph collected over a period of 2 hr. Simultaneously albumin-(131)I and carbonate-(14)C were injected intravenously. The albumin-(131)I measured the transfer of plasma albumin into ascites and into thoracic duct lymph. The carbonate-(14)C, by labeling newly formed albumin, permitted the estimation of the transfer of newly formed albumin into plasma, ascites, and lymph. If the newly synthesized albumin entering ascites and thoracic duct lymph is delivered initially into the plasma, then the ratios of the albumin-(14)C and -(131)I in ascites and lymph compared with the content of albumin-(14)C and -(131)I in plasma would be identical. However, if some newly formed albumin is delivered directly into ascites or lymph, the ratio for albumin-(14)C would be higher than that for albumin-(131)I in lymph or ascites. The ratios of both labeled albumins found in ascites or lymph are expressed as per cent of the total plasma pool. In the eight patients studied 4.2-11.7% of the albumin-(14)C in plasma was found in ascites in 2 hr whereas only 0.4-2.2% of plasma albumin-(131)I entered in this same period. In the two patients studied during thoracic duct lymph drainage 6.1 and 13.5% of newly made albumin-(14)C appeared in lymph in 2 hr whereas only 2.8 and 3.8% of plasma albumin-(131)I was found in the lymph. In cirrhosis with ascites some newly formed albumin entered ascites and thoracic duct lymph by a direct pathway from the liver bypassing the systemic circulation.