The demography of disability

"This article examines selected demographic characteristics of disabled persons. It analyses the general levels of disablement in various countries and compares their age and sex compositions. Since variations in methods of data collection and classification among countries have contributed greatly to the differences in the measurement of levels of disablement, this paper discusses the need for common approaches to collection, classification, tabulation and analysis so as to improve understanding of the issues of disability."

Silk-induced asthma in children: a report of 64 cases

A total of 64 children less than 15 years of age with asthma caused by silk were studied. The diagnosis was based on a history of wheezing, positive skin tests to silk, positive conjunctival or nasal provocation tests, or serum IgE-Sw (silk waste). The average age of onset was 4 years 2 months. Sex ratio (M:F) was 3.6:1. A positive skin test is essential for the diagnosis. Conjunctival provocation tests were performed in 80% of cases because of reliability, safety, and convenience. The first symptom appeared an average of 10 months after initial exposure to silk. In 61% of patients, asthma was accompanied by allergic rhinitis but in only 14% of cases by conjunctivitis. In most cases, asthma occurred in winter, due to seasonal use of bed quilts or clothes filled with silk. Silk is a highly potent allergen. The average mean wheal diameter elicited by silk in prick testing was larger than two histamine equivalent prick tests. A cross reactivity exists among mulberry silk, and silkworm cocoons, batryticated silkworms, and silkworm chrysalis.

Performance of real time associative memory using a photorefractive crystal and liquid crystal electrooptic switches

We present a real time holographic associative memory implemented with photorefractive KNSBN:Co crystal as the memory element and a liquid crystal electrooptic switch array as the reflective thresholding device. Our experiment stores and recalls two images and shows that the system has real time multiple-image storage and recall functions. An associative memory with a dynamic threshold level to decide the closest match of an incomplete input is proposed.

Brain structures important for solving a sawdust-digging problem in the rat

Young rats subjected to bilateral lesions to one of 37 different brain sites were initially trained to traverse a narrow runway to reach a goal box containing water. The test involved blocking a portion of the runway with sawdust and determining whether the animals would burrow through the sawdust to gain access to the goal box. Lesions to 30 brain sites produced deficient performance on the sawdust-digging problem. This study, combined with earlier investigation of 11 additional brain sites, shows that 41 of 48 total brain sites are involved in this task. These findings suggest that underlying brain mechanisms include a nonspecific mechanism and several specific mechanisms, such as visuospatial-attentional, visual discrimination, vestibular-proprioceptive-kinesthetic discrimination, response flexibility, but much less place learning mechanisms.

Structural requirements of iron-responsive elements for binding of the protein involved in both transferrin receptor and ferritin mRNA post-transcriptional regulation

The synthesis of both transferrin receptor (TfR) and ferritin is regulated post-transcriptionally by iron. This is mediated by iron responsive elements (IREs) in the 5'- and 3'-untranslated regions, respectively, of TfR and ferritin mRNAs. Although these IREs have different sequences, they both form a characteristic stem-loop. We used competition assays and partial peptide mapping of UV-crosslinked ferritin and TfR IRE-protein complexes to show that the cytosolic protein binding to the ferritin 5'-IRE, the iron-responsive element binding protein (IRE-BP), also binds to TfR 3'-IREs. To identify the structural requirements necessary for RNA-protein binding, ferritin IRE RNAs were synthesized which contained altered secondary structures and base substitutions. Affinities of these RNAs for IRE-BP were assayed in RNA-protein binding gels. Substitutions disrupting base-pairing of the stem prevented IRE-BP binding. Substitutions which restored base-pairing also restored IRE-BP binding. We conclude that the IRE-BP binds to both ferritin and TfR IREs and recognizes a particular IRE conformation.

Preventive effect of Fluosol-DA for paraplegia encountered after surgical treatment of the thoracic aorta. Preliminary results in a dog model

The effectiveness of Fluosol-DA (Green Cross Corporation, Osaka, Japan) on circulatory dynamics and neurologic outcome in dogs with ischemic spinal cord injury produced by aortic crossclamping was tested. The control group (receiving saline solution) had an elevated mean aortic proximal pressure (112.9 +/- 30.2 mm Hg versus 175.3 +/- 20.5 mm Hg, p greater than 0.05) and a drastic drop in mean distal aortic pressure (112.9 +/- 30.2 mm Hg versus 29.8 +/- 11.2 mm Hg, p less than 0.05). Although the same trend occurred in dogs treated prophylactically with Fluosol-DA, these changes were not statistically significant. However, there was a significant difference in mean distal aortic pressure during the ischemic phase between the two groups (58.9 +/- 16.0 mm Hg versus 29.8 +/- 11.2 mm Hg, p less than 0.05). Postoperatively all animals had mean arterial pressures within the normal range. All dogs in the control group were paraplegic (partial or complete); the treatment group had one dog with partial paraplegia. The difference between the mean neurologic scores of the two groups was of high statistical significance (3.7 +/- 0.5 versus 1.6 +/- 1.0, p less than 0.05). Our preliminary results show that prophylactic use of Fluosol-DA has favorable effects on hemodynamics and neurologic outcome in dogs with spinal cord ischemia produced by aortic crossclamping. The high propensity of the drug to carry oxygen and carbon dioxide and to provide nutritional support to the ischemic area with resultant improvement in local microcirculation and blood rheology are some speculative mechanisms advocated for these changes.

Heparinless extracorporeal bypass for treatment of hypothermia

In an attempt to assess the changes occurring to the coagulation profile during internal active core rewarming with partial cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) without heparin anticoagulation, five pigs were anesthetized, and a model for severe to moderate hypothermia was created. Femoral-femoral bypass with Bio-Pump, heat exchanger, and a membrane oxygenator were used during the rewarming for 64.8 +/- 8.5 minutes. There were no statistically significant changes in platelet count, platelet index, activated clotting time (ACT), partial thromboplastin time (PTT), prothrombin time (PT), fibrinogen, fibrinogen index and fibrin split products (p greater than 0.05). There were no thromboembolic sequelae seen at autopsy. The components of the CPB circuit showed no signs of formation of aggregates or thrombi. The results of this study are attributed to the nonthrombogenic, atraumatic design of the Bio-Pump and the enhanced physiological fibrinolysis seen in the first hour of CPB. We concluded that heparinless CPB may serve as a safe alternative for active core rewarming for severe to moderate hypothermia.

Completion of the sequence of bluetongue virus serotype 10 by the characterization of a structural protein, VP6, and a non-structural protein, NS2

The sequence of cDNA clones representing the entire genome of bluetongue virus serotype 10 (BTV-10) has been completed by the analysis of data obtained for the S8 and S9 segments. Each DNA clone has been sequenced completely and the deduced amino acid sequences have been analysed. The sequences of the S8 and S9 gene products as well as another two previously published small gene products (S7 and S10) have been compared with the corresponding size gene products of reovirus type 1. The data do not indicate a relationship between the small proteins of these two viruses except some distant homologies between the BTV VP7 protein and the sigma 1 protein of reovirus. The characteristics of all the BTV-10 genome segments, the deduced primary gene products and their possible functions are summarized.

Allergenicity of orange juice and orange seeds: a clinical study

Oranges are considered to be common allergenic fruits in China. They may induce severe food allergy in sensitive individuals. Allergic histories were analyzed in 26 orange-sensitive patients. Intradermal tests with extracts of orange juice and seeds were performed in 16 out of the 26 patients. P-K test was performed in one patient. The allergic history analysis suggested that clinical symptoms of some orange-allergic subjects were different from other fruit allergies but similar to nut and other oil plant seed allergies. The skin test and P-K test showed that the major allergenic components of orange reside in orange seeds instead of orange juice. Systemic reactions developed in 5 patients after intradermal tests with 1:20-200 (w/v) orange seed extracts. We considered that orange seed contains high potent allergens which may induce orange sensitivity due to careless chewing of orange seeds.

[Surgical treatment and observation of the therapeutic results in 11 cases of tuberculous adherent intestinal obstruction]

11 cases with tuberculous adherent intestinal obstruction treated by means of exfoliating and resecting of fibrous plate and tuberculous focus curettage were reported. All were females with an age range of 22 to 44 years. The diagnosis was confirmed by operation and biopsy. 8 of them were complete obstruction and incomplete in 3.5 cases were strangulated by fibrous band. Bowel necrosis occurred in 3. A thorough exfoliating and resecting of fibrous plate were carried out in all cases, associated with enterectomy in 2 cases and ileocecectomy on one. No mortality and fistula formation in this series. Follow-up from 1.5 to 7 years in 8 cases. No obstructive signs of recurrence were noticed. Weight gained about 10-15 kg. postoperatively.

Cloning of cDNA coding for carbamyl phosphate synthetase I and changes in levels of CPS1 mRNA during hepatocarcinogenesis

cDNA coding for carbamyl phosphate synthetase I was cloned from recombinant plasmid with insert complementary to the mRNA for CPS1 followed by hybrid-selected translation screening. The length of the insert CPS1 cDNA was approximately 800 base pairs. Using this cDNA as a probe, it was found by dot-blot analysis of the total RNAs and poly(A)+-RNAs isolated from rat livers with different pathological lesions induced by diethylnitrosamine that the levels of CPS1 mRNA were decreased, the decrease being correlated with the malignancy of hepatocytes during carcinogenesis.

The primary hamster kidney cell rabies vaccine: adaptation of viral strain, production of vaccine, and pre- and postexposure treatment

The hamster kidney cell rabies vaccine was investigated as a substitute for classical nervous tissue rabies vaccine. The Beijing strain of fixed rabies virus was adapted to primary hamster kidney cells (PHKCs), and four types of rabies vaccine (plain, adjuvant, concentrated, and concentrated adjuvant vaccines) were developed for human use. The potencies of the vaccines met the requirements of the World Health Organization, and these vaccines elicited rather satisfactory antibody responses in volunteers. The postexposure use of vaccine was evaluated in 301 individuals, 97 of whom had been bitten by proven rabid animals. None of the individuals contracted rabies during the observation period. After several years of field trials with both pre- and postexposure vaccines, the evidence indicates that the PHKC rabies vaccines are effective and safe for human use.

Withdrawal of beta-blocking drugs

Our early observations indicated that when treatment was changed from propranolol to placebo, anginal patients experienced a higher incidence of chest pain during the first week of placebo treatment compared to the second week. Since then, there have been several reports of myocardial infarction and sudden death occurring when propranolol therapy has been stopped. However, more formal hospital studies have indicated that ischemia from propranolol withdrawal is relatively infrequent. Studies in normal subjects and hypertensive patients have shown an increase in beta-receptor sensitivity as suggested by increased responsiveness to isoprenaline after propranolol withdrawal. Some investigators have found an increase in free triiodothyronine levels. Catecholamine levels do not appear to be raised. Other relevant factors in ischemic patients might be a reversal of the favorable rightward shift of the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve or a reversal of reduced platelet aggregation produced by propranolol. Last, propranolol withdrawal in patients who have received the drug for a considerable period might unmask a withdrawal in patients who have received the drug for a considerable period might unmask a progression of the disease process, so that in the absence of beta blockade oxygen supply is inadequate to meet the requirements of relatively ischemic areas even at rest. Whether all beta blockers are similar to propranolol in this regard is unknown. We are examining, in normal volunteers, the sensitivity of the beta receptor after the withdrawal of atenolol, pindolol, or propranolol, administered for at least 2 weeks after final dose adjustment to levels sufficient to produce maximum inhibition of exercise tachycardia. The sensitivity of the beta receptor is being assessed by the response of bolus injections of isoprenaline and the response to exercise tachycardia.

Distribution of growth hormone-release-inhibiting hormone (somatostatin) in the rat brain as observed with immunocytochemistry

The objective was to determine the distribution of growth hormone-release-inhibiting hormone (somatostatin) in the rat brain using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase immunocytochemical method with antisera prepared against unconjugated, synthetic somatostatin. Somatostatin occurred in low quantity in the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis. It was present throughout the full length of the median eminence and occupied the entire width between the tuberoinfundibular sulci. Most somatostatin was located in the dorsal portion of the external lamina, and the amount varied according to the mediolateral position. The bodies labeled for somatostatin were most often granules; occasionally they appeared as clusters of granules that seemed to be membrane-enclosed. Some of these bodies appeared to be portions of axons. Many of the larger bodies were arranged alongside tanycytes, but no label was distributed generally in tanycyte cytoplasm. Somatostatin was highly concentrated in the proximal one-quarter of the infundibular stem and appeared in lower concentration throughout the distal portion of the stem. It was absent from the pars nervosa and pars intermedia of the pituitary gland. The distribution of somatostatin in the median eminence differed considerably from that of gonadotropin-releasing hormone. Somatostatin was identified in the ventromedial and/or dorsomedial hypothalamic nuclei of only two animals. Here it was probably located in axons that terminated on neuronal cell bodies but also may have been present in a restricted portion of the perikaryonal cytoplasm.

Both NS and L proteins are required for in vitro RNA synthesis by vesicular stomatitis virus

Vesicular stomatitis virions, Indiana serotype, were solubilized with high salt solubilizer and separated by ultracentrifugation into a supernatant fraction containing L, G, NS, and M proteins and pellet fraction containing the RNA complexed with N protein. NS protein was purified from the supernatnat fluid by sequential chromatography on phosphocellulose and diethylaminoethyl cellulose columns. The purified NS protein was assayed in a standard transcription system in combination with purified L protein and purified template (pellet fraction) prepared by renografin or CsCl banding. Results of the polymerase assays indicate that both L and NS proteins are required to reconstitute transcription activity with a highly purified template composed of only RNA and N protein. The NS protein polymerase activity is destroyed by trypsin but withstands 90 C temperatures for 10 min. Cytoplasmic NS protein can substitute for virion NS protein in the in vitro transcription assay.