Study of the ventricular antifibrillatory effects of calcium channel blocking agents in comparison with lidocaine on canine normal heart in situ

The ventricular antifibrillatory effects of two calcium channel blocking agents have been studied by determining fibrillation threshold several times in the course of an experiment on dogs placed under total cardiopulmonary by-pass to avoid the impairment of the myocardium properties subsequent to the interruption of blood circulation. These drugs were used in therapeutic or even higher doses (verapamil 0.40 mg.kg-1, diltiazem 0.60 mg.kg-1). They failed to modify fibrillation threshold significantly, and did not influence fibrillation rate or the effective refractory period of contractile fibres. Lidocaine, on the contrary, under the same experimental conditions, induced a dose-dependent rise in fibrillation threshold of up to nearly 200%, correlated to a fall in fibrillation rate and a prolongation in effective refractory period.

Enhancement by Ca2+ ions of cholinergic effects on the canine heart in situ

The effects of Ca2+ ions were studied on the canine heart in situ, submitted to vagal influence or not. In addition to heart rate, conduction time was determined separately in atrial muscle, atrioventricular node and His-Purkinje system by means of His bundle potential recording and the effective refractory period (ERP) measured in atrioventricular node, atrial and ventricular muscle according to the extrastimulus method. In the presence of acetylcholine (ACh) released by vagal endings, an increase in plasma calcium concentration from 2.40 to 4.12 mmol/l, acutely induced by the infusion of calcium chloride, elicits the following alterations: slowing down of sinus rate, lengthening of conduction time in atrioventricular node without change of this time in atrial muscle and His-Purkinje system, prolongation of atrioventricular node ERP, but notable decrease of atrial muscle ERP and slight decrease of ventricular muscle ERP. These effects are similar to those of ACh:Ca2+ ions probably enhance the responsiveness to ACh.

Microtropia

Microtropia is an unilateral strabismus of less than 5 degrees, usually with harmonious anomalous correspondence. Three forms may be distinguished: Primary constant, primary decompensating and consecutive microtropia. In three instances microtropia is important for the ophthalmologist: In assessment of amblyopia apparently without strabismus, in evaluation of strabismus treatment results and in evaluation of hereditary factors in strabismus. Amblyopia is more pronounced in cases with anisometropia and eccentric fixation, but usually responds well to occlusion treatment. Because of a typical 'reading amblyopia', treatment with alternating partial occlusion should be carried out until a child can read fluently with each eye. It is estimated that about 1% of general population has a microstrabismus. Primary microtropia is probably due to a primary sensorial defect, which predisposes to anomalous retinal correspondence. Primary microtropia may decompensate into a larger angle. After therapy, not a complete parallelism but a consecutive microtropia results.

The relationship of upper extremity strength to throwing speed

Cybex II Isokinetic Dynamometer (Lumex Corp. Ronkonkoma, NY) tests for the upper extremity strength of eight professional baseball players, together with radar gun measurements of their individual throwing speeds, were subjected to statistical analysis. Results of simple and multiple regression analysis showed a relationship between the strength of the elbow extension and wrist extension movements and throwing speed.

Genomic location and lack of phosphorylation of the HSV immediate-early polypeptide IE 12

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) induces an immediate-early (IE) polypeptide IE 12. An equivalent polypeptide coded by HSV-2 which migrated slightly more slowly on SDS-polyacrylamide gels was identified and designated IE 12.3. Analysis of the serotype of the IE polypeptide induced by five HSV-1/HSV-2 intertypic recombinants when correlated with their genome structures showed that IE 12/IE 12.3 mapped in the region spanning the TRs/Us junction. Unlike four other IE polypeptides induced by HSV-1 (IEs 175, 110, 68 and 63), IE 12 was not detectably phosphorylated.

Active viral genes in transformed cells lie close to the nuclear cage

Nuclear DNA is looped by attachment to a matrix or cage. Using nine different lines transformed by polyoma or avian sarcoma virus, we have mapped viral sequences integrated within these loops. In all lines that contain high concentrations of viral transcripts and express the transformed phenotype, the integrated viral genes lie close to the points of attachment to the cage. Integration of polyoma DNA induces outlying cellular sequences to become closely associated with the cage. The strength of this correlation between gene activity and proximity to the cage was examined using sub-clones of one avian sarcoma virus transformant. Proviral sequences are closely associated with the cage in this transformant, much less so in two untransformed 'flat revertants' which contain no detectable viral transcripts but regain their close association with the cage in two retransformed derivatives.

[Postnatal growth of the nasal cavity]

The postnatal growth of the nasal bones, the piriform aperture, the choanae, the anterior and posterior nasal spine, and the floor of the nasal cavity were investigated. The development of weight and width of the nasal cavity as much as some results of the postnatal development of the inferior and medical conchae are connected with out investigations. Moreover the increase of the distance between Nasospinale and the sphenoidal sinus aperture and also the development of height and width of the nasal crista of the palatine bone were determined.

[Agenesia and hypoplasia of the conchae nasales and the septum nasi (author's transl)]

The rare case of a congenital aplasia of the conchae nasales on both sides as well as a hypoplasia of the septum nasi is described in a women to whom the age of 78 years was given. A heavy hypotrophy of the paranasal sinuses existed concurrently. The epithelium of the regio respiratoria had developed correctly and in spite of the wide nasal relations no symptoms of a rhinitis atrophicans respectively an ozéna could be identified. A hook-nose was not very striking in its outward appearance. In a women to whom the age of 77 years was given a hypoplasia of the conchae nasales media et inferior was observed. The point of the genesis of these malformations is discussed.

[Neuroanatomy of the optic, trigeminal, facial, glossopharyngeal, vagus, accessory and hypoglossal nerves (author's transl)]

1. The intracranial and intraorbital course of the optic nerve is described concisely, the intracanicular one in full details. Apart from the wide and small sections of the optic canal, its axis opposite to the cranial planes, the coating of the canal and the adjacency to the paranasal sinuses and arteries are exactly described. 2. At the trigeminal nerve the trigeminal ganglion, its roots and also the mandibular nerve have great importance in the practical medicine considering thermo-coagulation or surgery of the trigeminal nerve. This segments and also the adjacency of the fifth nerve to the internal carotid artery and subarachinoid brain vessels are exactly, the nuclei areas and central tracts are briefly explained. 3. The nuclei of the facial nerve the intracerebral and intracisternal course and its development, the facial canal and its narrow passes are described. Also the position of the internal acoustic pore in the skull, the dimensions of the internal acoustic meatus and the relations between nerves and vessels are explained. In addition to the geniculate ganglion and the chorda tympani the communications of the facial nerve inside the temporal bone, the tympanic intumescentia (ganglion) and the nervus intermedius, also the petrosal nerves are included in the description. The sheaths of the segments of the seventh cranial nerve and also the fasciculation are exactly, the somatotopic organization is briefly described. 4. The extracranial course of the glossopharyngeal nerve is briefly, its intracranial sections are included exactly in the investigation. 5. The nuclei of the vagus nerve and the intra- und extracranial course are described. 6. The accessory nerve, its nucleus and the intra- and extracranial course are concisely explained. 7. The hypoglossal nerve, its nucleus, the emergence of the fibres and also the relations of nerves and vessels in the posterior cranial fossa are described. The hypoglossal canal and also the extracranial course are explained as briefly as possible.

Sensory feedback for head control in cerebral palsy

Five school-aged children with cerebral palsy were given an auditory feedback signal when their heads tilted past a predetermined angle. After three to seven individual sessions, all of the children were able to work in the classroom on regular school activities while using the sensory feedback to monitor and after head position. Over a period of nine weeks, all children improved their stabilizing skills of the head and neck when responding to the performance information. Three of the children were successful at self-monitoring for up to one hour while maintaining the head within the required zone at least 80 percent of the time. Inability of the other two children to do so was probably related to poorer motor control and possibly to a lack of independent work skills.

[Strabismus operation on rectus muscles (author's transl)]

The technique of operations on rectus muscles is usually easy but indication is sometimes difficult and uncertain. These operations should bear repeating and therefore an appropriate technique should be used. The wide variety of results is considered in the hight of the author's own case material. Not only the extent of squint deviation, refraction but also sensory status, age, etc. play a role in selecting the aim, tuning and extent of the operation. Besides simple standard operations, special techniques such as "faden operation", "anse", etc., are discussed.

Anatomy and radiology of the sellar spine

Five anatomical and radiological observations of a spine protruding into the pituitary fossa are reported. This osseous spine, about 4 mm long, arises in the midline from the inferior part of the anterior aspect of the dorsum sellae and extends upward and forward. The possible origins of this malformation are discussed.

Variations in herpes simplex virus isolated from human ganglia and a study of clonal variation in HSV-1

Growth of human sensory ganglia in culture has led to the reactivation of herpes simplex virus from over 50% of cases studied. Infected cell polypeptide and restriction enzyme analysis has led to the conclusion that each individual has one unique latent strain of HSV-1 that can be present in more than one ganglion in the body. Analysis of 91 isolates has shown that the long region of the genome is variable in terms of DNA restriction sites, DNA sequences, and in coding for the majority of variable polypeptides. The short region is stable with only polypeptides Vmw 21 and 22, restriction sites HindIII-(M-N) and BglII-(G-H) and the DNA sequence BamHI-1' having been found to vary. The insertion and deletion of small DNA sequences at specific locations allows individual reactivation events to be distinguished. Detection of information able to complement and produce ts+ virus on superinfection of otherwise negative ganglia with ts mutants, has led to the conclusion that ganglion cells may harbor herpes virus-related information that is only detectable by use of such genetic probes.