Influence of prostaglandin F2 alpha on sperm production and seminal characteristics of the stallion

Six mature stallions were used to test the effect of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha ) on sperm production and seminal characteristics. Semen was collected from each stallion twice weekly 1 hr following a 10 mg intramuscular injection of PGF2 alpha or a sham injection. A switchback design was used so that three stallions received PGF2 alpha and three served as controls during the first 9 weeks (period 1). Treatment regimens were reversed during the second 9 weeks (period 2). Treatment of stallions with PGF2 alpha resulted in an increase (P less than .05) in gel free seminal volume and a decrease in sperm cell concentration. Total spermatozoa, sperm cell motility, and percentage of primary and secondary sperm abnormalities of ejaculates were not significantly affected by treatment of stallions with PGF2 alpha before semen collection. All treated stallions exhibited a pronounced sweating response to the drug. During the experiment, two of the six stallions masturbated within 20 to 30 minutes after PGF2 alpha treatment without achieving an erection.

Bacteriocin-like activity within the genus Actinomyces

Actinomyces strains were tested for evidence of bacteriocin-like antagonism. Prevalence of inter-strain antagonism was low, and, when present, zones of inhibition were generally small and poorly defined. Strains of A. viscosus were very susceptible to bacteriocin-like inhibition by S. mutans. Prevalence of inhibition was high, and zones of inhibition tended to be large and well defined. Inhibitors produced by S. mutans were generally heat stable, nondialyzable, and sensitive to proteolytic enzymes. Individual strains of A. viscosus could be differentiated on the basis of sensitivity patterns to a battery of S. mutans strains.

Effects of aphids on seedling growth of lucerne lines 3. Blue green aphid and spotted alfalfa aphid: a glasshouse study

Seedlings of 23 lucerne (Medicago sativa) lines introduced into Australia from the United States of America and two Australian cultivars (Hunter River and Falkiner) were screened for resistance to the blue-green aphid (Acyrthosiphon kondoi Shinji) and the spotted alfalfa aphid (Therioaphis trifolii (Monell) f. maculata) in separate experiments under glasshouse conditions. All lines were kept heavily infested from the unifoliate leaf stage, until the Hunter River controls died. The indices of resistance were plant mortality, suppression of plant height and dry matter production, and chlorosis of leaf veins (SAA experiment only). CUF 101 and WL 51 4, and to a lesser. extent, DK 185, AS 13R, WL 311, WL 508, PS 545, PS 581 and UC Cargo, were the most resistant to BGA, while AS 49, WL 600, Matador and Hunter River were the most susceptible. WL 508, PS 545 and PS 572, and to a lesser extent DK 185, WL 51 2, WL 51 4, CUF 101 and UC Cargo were the most resistant to SAA. While Hunter River was the most susceptible line, Falkiner, Amador, PS Victoria and AS 13 were severely debilitated.

Genetic and biological aspects of Zebu adaptability

The utility and documentation of traits and characteristics of Zebu, Bos indicus, cattle in beef production in the United States are discussed with reference to adaptation. Zebu cattle are uniquely suited to hot climates due to coat, hide, skin and hematological attributes. Form, growth and physiological aspects are unique genetic attributes which are different from those of Bos taurus cattle. Compared with Bos taurus cattle, Zebu cattle are lower in reproduction, later maturing, slower growing and lower in beef quality. Zebu cattle are valuable in crossbreeding, with adaptive aspects transmitted and large amounts of heterosis in growth, maternal effects and reproductive traits.

Effects of aphids on seedling growth of lucerne lines. I. Blue-green aphid in field conditions (Acyrthosiphon kondoi Shinji)

Twenty-three lucerne lines introduced into Australia from the United States of America and two Australian cultivars (Hunter River and Falkiner) were screened for resistance to the blue-green aphid (Acyrthosiphon kondoi Shinji) (BGA), in the seedling stage under rain grown field conditions. Considerable tolerance to BGA was shown by seedlings of all lines infested at the 2-3 trifoliate leaf stage, as no seedling mortality occurred in the presence of high aphid populations. Using the suppression of both plant height and dry matter production as indices, six imported lines exhibited greater resistance than the others. These were DK 167, AS 49, WL 31 8, AS 13, WL 51 4 and CUF 101. There was no relation between the resistance expressed and the aphid population carried.

Effects of aphids on seedling growth of lucerne lines. 2. Spotted alfalfa aphid (Therioaphis trifolii f. maculata (Monell)) in field conditions

Seedlings of 23 lucerne lines introduced from the USA, and 2 Australian cultivars (Hunter River and Falkiner), were screened for resistance to the spotqed alfalfa aphid (Therioaphis trifolii f. maculata (Monell) (SAA) under field conditions during summer. This was assessed by measuring changes in plant mortality and yields from surviving plants in plots infested with SAA at the unifoliate leaf stage, compared, over a period of 19 days, with controls sprayed with insecticide. Cultivar Hunter River was extremely susceptible to SAA. It was the only line in which all seedlings died. Cultivar Falkiner was relatively susceptible, but no more so than 12 imported lines. Seven imported lines (WL 508, WL 512, WL 514, WL 600, CUF 101, UC Cargo and PS 572, all of which are known to be winter-active) exhibited greater resistance than the others. There was no association between the total number of SAA carried and their seedling resistance among the imported lines.

The effectiveness of trigeminal thermocoagulation for recurrent paroxysmal trigeminal neuralgia after previous intra-cranial surgery

Six patients are described in whom recurrent trigeminal neuralgia was treated by thermocoagulation. Their initial symptoms had been relieved by intra-cranial operation usually many years previously. In the majority, cerebro-spinal fluid was obtained and physiological corroboration of probe placement was satisfactory. Symptoms were relieved in all cases. Trigeminal thermocoagulation is safe and effective in relieving recurrent trigeminal neuralgia in patients who have had a previous intra-cranial operation for their symptoms.

Effects of sustained-release testosterone on marking behavior in the Mongolian gerbil

Utilizing subcutaneous silastic implants containing testosterone the effect of sustained low-level release of testosterone on marking behavior in castrated Mongolian gerbils was determined. Castration resulted in a decrease in marking frequency from 38 +/- 4 to 4 +/- 1. Sustained release of 6 micrograms testosterone per day from implants did not stimulate marking behavior. Daily release of 11 micrograms increased marking 550% after one week. Release of 17 micrograms per day was required to restore marking to intact levels. Similar release rates of cholesterol did not increase marking. Release rates which increased marking in males did not increase marking in females. The minimum effective sustained-release dose of testosterone necessary to stimulate marking in females was five times greater than that in males. This difference is not due to a sex difference in plasma testosterone removal rates, since the circulating half-life of 3H-testosterone measured by testosterone-specific radioassay was not different in castrated males (72 +/- 5 min) and females (66 +/- 4 min). The present data are consistent with the hypothesis that there is a sexual dimorphism in the testosterone responsiveness of the neural substrate regulating territorial marking behavior.

Monitoring of cortical excitability during induced hypotension in aneurysm operations

The electrical excitability of the cortex was monitored during craniotomy in 10 patients with ruptured aneurysms, to test their ability to tolerate hypotensive anesthesia. Excitability was assessed by measuring the direct cortical response, a response evoked and recorded from the surface of the brain. Previous animal experiments had shown that this response can be used as an index of cerebral blood flow. In the 10 patients the response progressively declined as the blood pressure was lowered and increased when the pressure was restored. Observation of the direct cortical response during aneurysm operations is a practical method for evaluating the electrophysiological responsiveness of the cortex during hypotension, and the authors suggest that decreases in the amplitude of the response are related to decreased in local cerebral blood flow.

Comparative studies on the nature of purified cytomembranes of the rabbit parotid gland

Centrifugation procedures have been evolved for isolating purified samples of rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi, zymogen granule and plasmalemmal membranes from homogenates of rabbit parotid gland tissue. The purification process was monitored using morphometry and enzyme and chemical marker assays. The membrane preparations were analysed by sodium dodecylsuphate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, quantitative phospholipid thin layer chromatography and by enrichment studies. The results were used to evaluate various possible general models for the behaviour of membranes during the secretory cycle of parotid acinar cells.

Computed tomography in the diagnosis of colloid cyst

The diagnosis of colloid cyst of the third ventricle is notoriously difficult and contributes significantly to the high mortality. Three cases are presented in which computed tomography has contributed to the diagnosis by showing (1) the dilatation of the lateral ventricles without dilatation of the midline ventricular system, and (2) the lesion as an area of increased density within the third ventricle. Computed tomography may reduce the overall mortality in this condition by reducing the number of patients who succumb undiagnosed during an acute phase of raised intracranial pressure.

Characterization of hemoglobin Burke [beta 107 (G9) Gly replaced by Arg]

Hb Burke [beta 107 (G9) Gly replaced by Arg] was discovered in a young woman with hemolytic anemia. A substitution in this position has not been previously reported either in the human beta-chain or in any of the animal beta-chains so far sequenced. The abnormal hemoglobin shows heat instability and a lowered oxygen affinity. The substitution of a large charged arginine residue for the small glycine residue in the G helix next to a heme contact (Leu-106) may be responsible for these effects. Hb Burke is compared with five other hemoglobins having Gly-Arg substitutions in other parts of the molecule.

Two unusual causes of peripatellar nonmetastatic positive bone scans in patients with malignancies: case reports

Bone scans performed with 99mTc-polyphosphate in two patients with epidermoid carcinoma of the lung each showed activity in one knee area. In the first case, radiographs of the area revealed Pellegrini-Stieda calcification over the internal femoral condyle. Uptake corresponded to this process, rather than to a lesion deep in the bone. In the second case, the activity accumulation in the right tibia was the only abnormality noted in the scan. An open biopsy revealed Paget's disease, and no radiographic evidence of Paget's disease was found in any other bone. These cases again illustrate that localized accumulation of a bone-scanning agent, in patients with known primary tumors, does not necessarily denote malignancy in bone.

Prognostic signs and nonoperative peritoneal lavage in acute pancreatitis

Three hundred patients with acute pancreatitis have been studied. Pancreatitis was associated with alcoholism in 207, biliary tract disease in 51 and other conditions in 42. Twenty-two patients died, and an additional 34 patients required more than one week of treatment in the intensive care unit. Retrospective analysis of the first 100 patients identified 11 objective findings which correlated with the occurrence of serious illness or death. They were, on admission, age over 55 years, blood glucose level over 200 milligrams per cent, white blood count over 16,000 per cubic millimeter, serum lactic dehydrogenase level over 350 International units per liter and serum glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase level over 250 Sigma Frankel units per cent. During the initial 48 hours of therapy, the findings were hematocrit value decrease over 10 percentage points, serum calcium level below 8 milligrams per cent, base deficit over 4 milli-equivalents per liter, a blood urea nitrogen level increase over 5 milligrams per cent, estimated fluid sequestration over 6 liters and arterial oxygen tension less than 60 millimeters of mercury. Prospective application of these signs in the latter 200 patients permitted the accurate early identification of those with severe pancreatitis. Only one of 162 patients with fewer than three of these early features was seriously ill or died, while 24 of 38 patients with three or more early positive findings were seriously ill or died. The objective early identification of patients with severe pancreatitis permits more vigorous management of this group and also provides a basis for the selection of patients for the evaluation of proposed improved therapies. Percutaneous peritoneal dialysis in severe pancreatitis was evaluated in ten patients, with three or more positive early signs, who were randomly assigned to dialysis or continued conventional care. Morbidity was strikingly reduced in patients who underwent dialysis, and while death or more than nine days of intensive care occurred in two of five patients who did not receive dialysis, all five patients having dialysis recovered after fewer than nine days of intensive care treatment. Serious illness or death occurred in 31 of the first 100 patients but in only 26 of the more recent 200 patients. There has been a similar fall in mortality from 15.0 to 3.5 per cent. Factors which may contribute to this improvment include the objective early identification of patients with severe disease, the avoidance of early laparotomy whenever practical, the prolongation of nasogastric suction until all evidence of pancreatic inflammation has resolved, careful monitoring of respiratory function and early treatment of pulmonary complications and peritoneal dialysis in patients with severe disease.

Residual splenic function in the presence of thorotrast-associated hepatic tumor: case report

A 50-year-old man had received intravenous colloidal thorium dioxide (thorotrast) 27 years previously. Scintiscans with both 99mTc-sulfur colloid and 131I-rose bengal revealed an extensive intrahepatic defect. At operation, the lesion proved to be an infiltrating hemangiosarcoma. The spleen was small but the chronic internal radiation of the spleen had not completely destroyed the function of radiocolloid uptake. Review of the literature disclosed other cases in which the spleen was still capable of accumulating radiocolloid some years after thorotrast administration. In at least one other instance, radiocolloid uptake was not accompanied by splenic ability to clear Howell-Jolly bodies: a disassociation of splenic functions. The effects of the internal radiation dose to the spleen from thorotrast are discussed and compared with the effects of external radiation. The discrepancy between the effects of the two doses may be related to the high relative biologic effectiveness of the alpha rays from thorotrast compared with gamma-radiation, to nonuniformity of distribution, and to the effects of reticuloendothelial blockade.