Intra- thecal antitetanus serum in the management of tetanus neonatorum

Eleven neonates have treated with intra-thecal antitetanus serum in addition to other standard measures. Five survived. The results were judged promising.

Mode of action of gibberellic Acid and light on lettuce seed germination

The seeds of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Grand Rapids) germinate in darkness at 25 C when treated by gibberellic acid (GA(3)) for 1 hour following 2 hours of imbibition. The time of GA(3) application influences the rate and the final percentage of seeds that germinate. In contrast, red light illumination given at different times affects only the rate and not the final germination percentage. The early process(es) of germination initiated by GA(3) or light treatment can be arrested by subjecting the treated seeds to a nongerminative temperature of 35 C. The results suggest differences in the mode of action of light and GA(3) during germination. They indicate that different kinds of processes are involved in the biochemical control of germination.

A clinical evaluation of pivampicillin in childhood pneumonia

A clinical trial was done at the University Teaching (Children's) Hospital on 20 children suffering from clinical pneumonias with a specific drug regime with pivampicillin suspension. Every child was reexamined after 7-10 days of discharge from hospital. Only one chhild developed diarrhoea. There was no significant adverse drug toxicity shown in the biomedical investigations. Pivampicillin, three times a day at a dosage of 175 mg t.d.s. was found to be therapeutically effective in the treatment of childhood pneumonias.

Social and economic factors in malnourished children around Lusaka, Zambia

Three hundred and sixty malnourished children were admitted to one of the units of the Children's Hospital, UTH, Lusaka, in 1975. They were studied in an effort to determine the effects of various social, economic and feeding habits in the evolution of PCM. Malnutrition was found in 9.1% of the total admissions and was associated with a high immediate mortality (26.6%). The majority of children were in the 7 months to 24 months age-group. The majority of families were unitary and small, with a high level of illiteracy and from the slums of Lusaka. Breast feeding was a general rule in spite of the urban status of most families. The study showed that the major factors which contributed to malnutrition were poverty and faulty weaning foods. Results were compared with other studies in Africa and India. Incidence of malnutrition can be reduced by increasing the economic level of the community and improving basic health services.

13C NMR Characterization of Copolymers Of 2-Chlorobutadiene-1,3 and 2,3-Dichlorobutadiene-1,3

Due to the facile free-radical polymerization of 2-chlorobutadiene-1,3 (chloroprene, CB), most experimental studies and commercial polymer preparations involve free-radical-initiated emulsion systems. From the reactivity ratios published in the literature and the calculated propagation rate of CB at 40°C, its rate is about 10 times faster than that of butadiene. Uniquely, among all the vinyl and diene monomers known, 2,3-dichlorobutadiene-1,3 (DCB) is more reactive than CB. Modification of the properties of polyCB through copolymerization is often relatively difficult. The comonomer most frequently used with CB is DCB, even though many other dienes and vinyl monomers have been tested. Copolymerization of DCB with CB modifies the polymer properties, as judged by evidence from increased crystallization resistance and the retention of building tack. The effect of DCB on the properties of the copolymer of CB and DCB is markedly influenced by the amount of comonomer present. Since no detailed studies have been reported on this monomer pair, we report here microstructure analyses by both 1H and 13C NMR on CB-DCB copolymers. However, it was the 18C NMR analyses which provided the major characterization of these copolymers, while the 1H NMR was only used for the analysis of their composition.

A program to compute the sizes and numbers of spherical bodies from observations made on tissue sections

A computer program, written in standard Fortran, is given to facilitate the computation of the sizes and correct distribution of spheres from the number and size of the circular profiles observed in tissue sections. The method is particularly valuable in cases where it is necessary to determine absolute numbers of cells or subcellular fragments where the objects of interest are not of uniform size. The method gives true cell numbers and the distribution of the spherical diameters.

Syndrome of ankylosis, facial anomalies and pulmonary hypoplasia

A newly recognized syndrome, with a pattern of malformations (fixation of joints, facial anomalies, and pulmonary hypoplasia) is reported from Zambia Central Africa in an African child. Additional features of deafness and cataract are included in the congenital abnormalities and it is suggested that a form of gentic abnormality is responsible for this condition.

Degenerative changes in aortic root allografts placed in the right ventricular outflow tract of growing puppies

Differently prepared aortic root allografts were implanted in the right ventricular outflow tract of growing puppies to determine the site of origin and progress of degenerative changes in these conduits. The three preparations assessed were as follows: group A, fresh and sterile grafts; group B, antibiotic sterilized grafts in nutrient medium; and group C, beta-propiolactone sterilized grafts. Although calcification of the aortic wall occurred in all groups, the aortic leaflets were minimally affected. A correlation between viability and lack of calcification and between viability and long-term function is emphasized.

Differential effects of actinomycin d and cordycepin in lettuce seed germination and RNA synthesis

Intact lettuce seed germination was inhibited by cordycepin but not by actinomycin D; however, when seeds were clipped at the cotyledonary end, actinomycin D partially inhibited germination. Uptake studies with intact seeds using (3)H-actinomycin D showed that it was unable to reach the embryo prior to radical protrusion. (3)H-Cordycepin uptake studies using intact seeds showed that cordycepin was able to reach the embryo during the first 3 hours of incubation and at subsequent times. The pericarp and endosperm offered resistance to penetration of cordycepin into the embryo. In contrast to actinomycin D, cordycepin markedly inhibited (3)H-uridine incorporation into RNA of intact seeds during the first 10 and 12 hours of incubation. About 60% of (3)H-adenosine incorporation into poly A-RNA was inhibited by cordycepin during 12 hours of incubation, whereas actinomycin D had little effect. RNA synthesis appears to be essential for seed germination.

Viability assessment of allograft valves by autoradiography

Autoradiography using [(3)H]thymidine is a quantitative method to assess tissue viability. It has been found to be very useful in the organization of fresh aortic valve allograft banks. A brief description of the technique, as well as the marked difference in the active metabolism of fibro-blasts of valves placed in two storing solutions, is outlined.

Promotive effects of organic solvents and kinetin on dark germination of lettuce seeds

Significant promotion in dark germination was observed when Grand Rapids lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) seeds were soaked in acetone or dichloromethane, vacuum-dried, and imbibed at 25 C. Permeation of kinetin via these organic solvents further enhanced the dark germination. Those seeds that were affected by acetone and acetone-kinetin treatments and germinated in the dark escaped red-far red photocontrol of germination. Although abscisic acid was not detected in the organic solvent leachates, they did contain other inhibitory substances affecting lettuce seedling growth. In the light, acetone and acetone-kinetin treatments also enhanced the rate of germination and the increased germination by acetone-kinetin treatment was correlated with increased polyribosome formation. The possible mechanisms involved in promotion of lettuce seed germination by organic solvents and kinetin are discussed.

Changes in Isoperoxidases during Cold Treatment of Dormant Pear Embryo

The number of isoperoxidases and the intensity of certain isozymes increased with increasing periods of stratification of pear (Pyrus communis cv. Bartlett) embryos. The presence of GA(3) or kinetin during stratification enhanced the activity of certain isoperoxidases, and these enhancements were blocked in the presence of ABA which by itself had an inhibitory effect. Enhancement in isoperoxidases of pear embryos during stratification was inhibited by 6-methylpurine and cycloheximide; and in the presence of either of these two inhibitors, stratification failed to release the dormancy. Pear embryos germinated for 3 days showed changes in the pattern of isoperoxidases depending on the length of stratification.