Occurrence of tumors and effects on longevity after limited x-irradiation in man

An analysis was made of survival times and causes of death of patients given local irradiation in small dosage during 1948--1960. The study involved 61 patients with peptic ulcers in whom hyperacidity was treated by partial gastrectomy and gastric irradiation, and their mortality was compared with that of 61 age- and sex-matched gastrectomized but nonirradiated control patients. For both groups the survival rates were related to "normal population" survival rates calculated from age-, sex- and year-specific mortality rates for the population of Victoria. Ten years after irradiation the relative survival rates of the irradiated and control groups began to diverge, due to more deaths than expected in the irradiated group. The irradiated group had a significantly increased number of deaths due to cancer, particularly carcinoma of the stomach, as well as an increase in deaths not caused by cancer. The mortality of the nonirradiated control patients was not significantly greater than that of the normal population.

Fungal infection associated with gastroduodenal ulceration: endoscopic and pathologic appearances

Three patients with peptic ulcers diagnosed at upper gastrointestinal endoscopy are reported. All were seriously ill (2 debilitated alcoholics) and died soon afterwards. Fungi were recognized in the antemortem specimen of one of the two ulcers biopsied at the time of endoscopy and in the postmortem specimens of all. In two, demise appears to have been precipitated by erosion of the wall of a major artery by fungal invasion. Culture of the ulcer based as well as throat swabs and stool examination for mycelial and yeast forms of fungus in susceptible patients may allow a more accurate diagnosis to be made and therapy to be instituted.

Amoebic liver abscess: a retrospective clinical evaluation of twenty-seven cases

Twenty-seven patients with Amobebic Liver Abscess were observed during the last two years and were analysed retrospectively with respect to diagnostic procedures and therapeutic strategies. Seven of the 27 patients had surgery and were subsequently referred to our hospital. Those patients with surgery had a longer duration of illness and hospitalization (3.3 months) compared to the other 20 patients with chemotherapy alone (2 months). Most important diagnostic parameters for extraintestinal amoebiasis were: typical clinical findings, time spent in tropical or subtropical countries, strongly positive Latex agglutination against Entamoeba histolytica antigen, and isotope and/or ultrasound scanning to confirm abscess formation in the liver. The vast majority of abscesses were found in the right liver lobe. Response to treatment with complete cure was seen in all patients, regardless of whether Metronidazole alone or combinations of Metronidazole with Chloroquine and Metronidazole and Dehydroemetine or Chloroquine and Dehydroemetine were used. There is a need for prospective therapeutic studies to compare the different drug regimen concerning side-effects, toxicity, costs, application, and duration of hospitalization. From the retrospective data it seems that surgery is not beneficial for the patients.

Left-Handers and Right-Handers Compared on a Motor Task

Finger-tapping performance of 45 subjects of each sex and handedness combination, for a total of 180, was compared. Performance measures were speed (mean intertap interval) and regularity (standard deviation of intertap interval). Males tapped faster but not more regularly than females. The between-hand differences in performance were smaller for both measures in left-handers. When absolute magnitudes of between hand differences were compared, females showed smaller differences in regularity of tapping than males. Speed and regularity of tapping were statistically independent; both measures discriminated well between the preferred and nonpreferred hand of both handedness groups, but the differences in speed were more marked than the differences in regularity. Data on the performance of children on the same task are included for comparative purposes.

Suction capillaries with U-shaped opening for holding moving cells during intracellular electrical recording

The production of suction capillaries with an U-shaped cross-section is described. The capillary may be used for holding contractile cells during intracellular recording to diminish movement artifacts. In addition microelectrode penetration is facilitated by stretching the surface of the cell.

Motor innervation of the pharynx levator muscle of the snail, Helix pomatia: physiological and histological properties

(1) Motor innervation of the pharynx levator muscle of Helix pomatia was investigated with intracellular recording and axonal iontophoresis of cobalt chloride. (2) Muscle fibers respond to direct electrical stimulation of the muscle with active graded responses or non-overshooting spike potentials. (3) Each fiber is innervated via the external and internal lip nerves by several (mostly 3) excitatory nerve fibers each. Two types of EPSPs can be distinguished according to amplitude, duration, and facilitation. (4) Axonal CoCl2-staining via an external lip nerve branch revealed many nerve fibers entering the muscle and branching there into a rich network of blebbed fibers of various diameters.

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.