[Density of cerebrospinal fluid and local anesthetics (author's transl)]

The densities of cerebrospinal fluid and of local anesthetics, applicable to isobaric spinal anesthesia, were determined by using the Digital Density Meter DMA 02. The density of CSF showed little variation and at 37 degrees C was 1.00021 +/- 0.00024 g/cm3 (mean +/- SD, n = 22). The density of the local anesthetics bupivacaine 0.5%, carticaine 2%, lidocaine 2%, mepivacaine 2% and prilocaine 2% varied at 25 degrees C between 1.001 and 1.005 g/cm3, at 37 degrees C between 0.997 and 1.001 g/cm3. Tetracaine 0.5% in CBF increased its density by 0.00046 g/cm3. The addition of the vasoconstrictors adrenaline and ornipressine (POR 8) increased the density of the local anesthetic solutions insignificantly. On the basis of the narrow range of variation of CSF density, reliable statements may be made on the density dependent spread of local anesthetics in spinal anesthesia.

Serial quantitation of in vitro lymphocyte responsiveness to concanavalin A

Eight normal donors were serially tested over a period of 1 to 7 months for their in vitro lymphocyte responsiveness (IVLR) to 50 microgram of concanavalin A (Con A) per ml. 3H-Thymidine incorporation was monitored by routine scintillation counting and compared to actual numbers of proliferating cells (lymphoblasts) as measured by laser (flow) cytometry. Determination of total cell numbers or lymphoblast numbers was found to be superior (P less than 0.0001 and P less than 0.001, respectively) to 3H-thymidine incorporation as a measure of serial stability.

Adjustable compensating filters for pediatric 72-inch spine radiography

The difficulty in producing a uniformly penetrated radiograph of the upright spine at 72 inches is alleviated by the use of compensating filters. These filters are finely machined, adjustable and easy to position. High quality, uniform density radiographs are now easily obtained on patients of all sizes. Most importantly, patient dose has been reduced by a factor of 2.4 to 6.9, a feature that makes their use mandatory in pediatric spine radiography.

[Role of vitamin B 12 in the incorporation of ribonucleosides into the DNA of various Periplaneta americana cell lines]

Hemocytes and non hemocytes in vitro cell lines from Periplaneta americana, have been tested for their ability to incorporate, in the presence of vitamin B 12, various nucleic acid precursors into their DNA. Evidence was shown for enhanced transformation of all ribonucleotides into deoxyribonucleotides in the presence of vitamin B 12. Moreover, in hemocyte cell lines, it was demonstrated that vitamin B 12 produced an activation of thymidine kinase activity.

Comparison of the cycloheximide and food satiation effects on a discrimination task

The effects of intraventricular cycloheximide (CHX) pretreatment were examined on the ability of rats to recall a light position discrimination task. The CHX pretreatment used inhibited brain protein synthesis at the time of training by 71%. Following treatment with CHX the animals demonstrated no retention of the task 18 hr later. Free feeding for 24 hr prior to treatment with cerebro-spinal-like fluid (CSF) produced similar effects as CHX. It is proposed that the amnesic effect of CHX in this behavioral paradigm may be a nonspecific action resulting from decreased motivation. Both the CHX-treated and satiated animals exhibited low responding levels during training, despite comparable behavioral activity levels for the CHX- and CSF-treated groups.

Torsion of a visceroptosed spleen

Torsion of the pedicle of a visceroptosed spleen, a rare condition, was diagnosed preoperatively in a 4-year-old girl, with the aid of history, physical examination, blood smear findings, splenic scans with technetium Tc 99m sulfur colloid, and selective angiography. A splenectomy was performed, and the child made an uneventful recovery. This case report illustrates some of the diagnostic and therapeutic considerations pertaining to torsion of the spleen.

Coccidioidal synovitis of the knee

Four patients are described with documented coccicioidal synovitis of the knee joint. In two of them, no previous diagnosis of coccidioidomycosis had been made prior to diagnosis of coccidioidal synovitis. The other two had active disease after courses of amphotericin B administered both parenterally and intra-articularly for disseminated coccidioidomycosis and coccidioidal synovitis. After synovectomy and limited parenteral amphotericin B therapy, none of the four patients whos evidence of active synovial infection two to seven years later. Synovectomy appears to be an important aspect of the optimal therapy of coccidioidal synovitis of the knee, and when performed, the parenteral dosage of amphotericin B can be limited. Intra-articularly administered amphotericin B is also advocated when possible.

[Centronuclear myopathy with autosomal dominant inheritance(author's transl)]

For the first time in Germany cases of a "centronuclear myopathy" are described in a 14-year-old boy and his 18-year-old sister. First symptoms in both patients appeared at 4 to 5 years of age with a "sleepy facial expression", clumsy gait and rapid fatigue. Within few years the disease progressed to generalized muscle weakness and atrophy, ptosis, ophthalmoplegia externa and areflexia. Weakness and atrophy were most pronounced in the distal muscles of the lower extremities. Both patients were free of epilepsy and the EEG recordings were normal. Motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities were normal. Repetitive stimulation of nerves revealed a normal transmission from nerve to muscle. Muscle biopsy showed a type I muscle fiber hypotrophy and a type II muscle fibre hypertrophy in addition to a predominance of type I fibres. Both fibre types showed central nuclei, sometimes appearing as chains in longitudinal sections. In most cells with central nuclei there persists a very small pericentral zone free of myofibrils but with increased activity of oxidative enzymes and phosphorylase. 2--3% of muscle fibres in cross sections showed a decreased of absent enzyme activity in the most peripheral fibre zone. Electron microscopy showed evidence of a centrally distinct myofibrillar disintegration. The father of both children had a ptosis at least from the 20th year of age. 5 years later generalized progressive muscle atrophy was recorded. Aged 51 years he died of pneumonia. Though not proved most probably the father suffered from the same disease as the children, pointing to an autosomal dominant inheritance in this family. The disease, according to the literature, seems to be genetically heterogeneous. The clinical picture seems to be independent of the mode of inheritance. Our patients showed a relatively rapid progression of symptoms. Pathogenetically the "centronuclear myopathy" may result from a disturbance of correlated nerve-muscle structures starting during early fetal life.