Studies on the enhancement of rat islet allografts

Attempts to improve the induction of immunological enhancement of (AS X August)F1 pancreatic islet allografts in diabetic AS rats have been carried out. First, by treating the diabetic AS recipient with enhancing serum obtained from AS rats with functioning enhanced (AS X August)F1 islet allografts. In these rats on 1 of 5 islet allografts had a prolonged survival, the other 4 being rejected by 2 days. Second, by transplanting (AS X August)F1 islet allografts into diabetic AS rats bearing functioning enhanced (AS X August)F1 cardiac allografts. All of these islet allografts were rejected by 2 days.

Dietary therapy of gastrointestinal disorders

Diet therapy is mandatory in only a very small number of GIT disorders. While the available evidence does not support its use in other conditions, many physicians will wish to make an individual decision regarding diet therapy according to the patient's symptoms, to the patient's attitudes and expectations and very importantly, to the financial and social implications of the diet in question.

Tests for treponemal antibody in CSF

We studied the potential usefulness of CSF treponemal tests in the diagnosis of neurosyphillis. The CSF was tested with the microhemagglutination test for Treponema pallidum (CSF-MHA-TP test) and with the CSF-FTA test by using undiluted CSF and CSF diluted in saline and in sorbent. In a prospective evaluation, of 177 nonsyphilitics, none had reactive CSF-MHA-TP tests and only one had a reactive CSF-FTA test. However, five of 15 syphilitics with no other evidence of neurosyphilis had reactive CSF-FTA tests. The CSF-FTA test reactivity appeared most likely when the titer of the serum FTA test was high. In a retrospective evaluation of syphilitics with reactive CSF-FTA tests, similar patterns of reactivity occurred in patients with and without other evidence of neurosyphilis. Without other supporting clinical or laboratory data, the diagnostic value of a reactive CSF-FTA test is unknown.

[A comparison of intravenous and infusion cholangiography with intraoperative and tomocholangiography (author's transl)]

Seventy-four patients are described who were examined by various cholangiographic methods. 1. In the diagnosis of stenosis of the papilla, intraoperative cholangiography was found to be the most reliable. Intravenous and infusion cholangiography were of equal value and provided less information than the intra-operative examination. 2. For stones, intravenous and infusion cholangiography is significantly better than the intro-operative cholangiogram. Tomography provides no additional information. 3. For stones in the papilla, the intra-operative method is best and is superior to intravenous and infusion cholangiography. Pre-operative tomography resulted in a loss of information.

Innervation of the ventral diaphragm of the locust (Locusta migratoria)

1. Innervation and some electrical properties of the locust ventral diaphragm were investigated with electrophysiological and histological methods. 2. Muscle fibres are coupled electrically. Electrical stimulation evokes a graded active membrane response. 3. Each segment is innervated by four motor neurones as follows. Two motor neurones are situated in each abdominal ganglion. Branches of their axons supply the ventral diaphragm in the respective and the next posterior segment. 4. This pattern of innervation was confirmed by axonal Co and Ni staining of the motor nerve endings. 5. Neuromuscular junctions are excitatory. EPSPs show summation but no facilitation. 6. Spontaneous electrical activity of the diaphragm is to a certain degree coupled to activity of the main inspiratory muscles.

Comparative survival of pancreatic islets, heart, kidney, and skin allografts in rats, with and without enhancement

Enhancement of (AS X Aug)F1 pancreatic islet allograft survival in diabetic AS rats was achieved by treating the recipient with a course of antidonor antiserum. Their survival in both untreated and treated recipients was compared with the survival of transplanted heart, kidney, and skin allografts similarly treated. The islet allografts in the untreated group were rejected by a mean of 3.2 days whereas the other allografts were rejected by a mean of 8.3 days. In the enhanced group all of the kidney allografts, 7 of 11 heart allografts, and 4 of 10 islet allografts had a prolonged survival, whereas none of the skin allografts had a prolonged survival. Islet allografts are thus more susceptible to rejection than other tissues, but their survival can be prolonged using specific immunosuppression. The reasons for the increased susceptibility to rejection are discussed.

Complete remission of metastatic malignant melanoma following immunotherapy with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG): report of a case

A complete response to BCG is described in a case of recurrent melanoma. In a woman aged 38 years, intracutaneous metastatic deposits confined to the limb of origin had occurred after excision of a malignant melanoma from the ankle, and elective groin dissection had shown two lymph nodes infiltrated with melanoma. BCG vaccine was applied to the buttock, initially by scarification and later by a multiple puncture gun. All metastases slowly regressed, and biopsy of a metastatic site at six months showed no tumour cells. The patient remains free of detectable disease 36 months after the commencement of therapy. It is inferred that BCG may facilitate remission of melanoma, perhaps by reason of antigenic cross-reactivity between BCG and surface components of human melanoma cells.

Phaeochromocytoma in a footballer

A young footballer with phaeochromocytoma showed classical exercise-induced symptoms. Noradrenergic clincial phenomena suggested an extra-adrenal site. The usefulness of urine metabolite estimation and of localizing procedures and the importance of preoperative alpha and beta blockade are stressed. Nitroprusside was used successfully to control hypertension during surgery. Unexplained fever after operation is reported.

Prolonged practice of a simple motor task by preferred and nonpreffered hands

After prolonged practice (1300 10 sec. trials) the tapping speed of the nonpreferred hand reached that of the preferred hand on a simple finger-tapping task. Analysis of the intertrap intervals showed the variability of the duration of intertrap intervals was smaller for the preferred than for the nonpreferred hand, the difference was not affected by the prolonged practice for N = 1.

Unilateral control of bilaterally symmetrical movement as factor in lateralization of speech

A number of bilaterally symmetrical motor patterns, preformed in their basic topography at brainstem levels, are most efficiently guided through unilateral input. This concept is related to the lateralization of speech.

Response to influenza vaccine in adjuvant 65-4

A comparison was made of the antibody response and subjective reactions to zonally-purified influenza vaccine in aqueous suspension and in peanut oil adjuvant 65-4. Both preparations contained 700 CCA units of A/Aichi/2/68, and 300 CCA units of B/Mass/1/71. Subjective reactions were recorded by asking the volunteers to complete a record daily for 5 days. Pain at the injection site was recorded by 64 per cent of the recipients of the oil adjuvant vaccine compared with 35 per cent of the aqueous recipients, but local redness was more frequent after aqueous vaccine. Systemic symptoms was recorded a little more frequently after aqueous than oil adjuvant vaccine. When measured 71/2 weeks after a single dose of vaccine, the HAI geometric mean antibody titre (G.M.T) to the A/Hong Kong/1/68 antigen (antigenically similar to the A/Aichi/2/68 antigen in the vaccine) increased 2-7 fold after aqueous and 16-4 fold after adjuvant vaccine. Sixty-two weeks after vaccination the antibody titres remained higher in those given adjuvant vaccine. The G.M.T. to B/Mass/1/71 increased 1-9 fold 71/2 weeks after aqueous vaccine and 3-7 fold after adjuvant vaccine. The antibody response to both influenza A and B antigens was broader in the recipients of adjuvant vaccine. The G.M.T. to A/England/42/72 increased 2-8-fold after aqueous and 13-fold after adjuvant vaccine; and to B/England/847/73 it increased 1-3-fold after aqueous and 1-9-fold after adjuvant vaccine.

Instrumental learning in autonomic nervous system: some questions

What appears to be instrumental learning of autonomic responses may in some cases be due to somato-visceral reflexes or state dependent autonomic responses. The autonomic nervous system is ill-suited for instrumental control for a good reason: voluntary interference with delicately balanced autonomic mechanisms can have adverse effects.