A new method for estimation of nerve conduction velocity distribution in the frequency domain

Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) measurements have been widely used to assess the electrophysiological properties of peripheral nerves and to detect neuropathies at a subclinical stage. Conventional NCVs are usually expressed as the NCV for the fastest conducting fibers and the current standard methods do neither supply information about slower conducting fibers, nor detect information about individual fiber groups. We present a new analytical method, to estimate the distribution of conduction velocity (DCV), based upon spectral analysis of the wave forms of two compound action potentials (CAPs) recorded by surface electrodes from a nerve bundle. If the spectra of the two CAPs recorded at two different sites in response to supramaximal electrical stimulation at distances l1 and l2 are given as G11(omega) and G12(omega), the spectral representation of the latency distribution P12(omega) for the propagation distance l2 is expressed as follows: P12(l1 omega/l2) = [G11(omega)/G12(omega)]P12(omega), where omega is an angular frequency. We developed an algorithm that computes P12(omega) successively without using iterative calculation methods. Our estimation method is theoretically based upon the principle that the CAPs are recorded monopolarly to estimate the DCV, but in practical use, it is almost impossible to obtain appropriate CAP wave forms by monopolar recording methods, because of stimulation and muscle artefacts. In order to evaluate the efficacy of bipolarly recorded CAP wave forms for this computation algorithm, we examined the two CAP wave forms reconstructed by simulation techniques. We found that the difference between the monopolar and bipolar recording methods was reflected in the wave form extracted for the single fiber action potentials but not in the latency distribution. The distance between the bipolarly recorded electrodes (1.5 cm was the minimal distance used) did not affect the reproducibility of estimating the latency distribution. This new method is non-invasive and could be used for evaluation of peripheral neuropathies.

An HTLV-III peptide produced by recombinant DNA is immunoreactive with sera from patients with AIDS

Human T-cell lymphotropic retrovirus type III (HTLV-III), also called lymphadenopathy-associated virus (LAV), has been identified as the aetiological agent of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). The sera of most patients with AIDS or AIDS-related complexes, and of asymptomatic individuals infected with HTLV-III, contain antibodies against antigens of HTLV-III. The characterization of these antibodies and their corresponding viral antigens is important not only for understanding immunity against HTLV-III and the pathology of AIDS, but also for the development of diagnostic methods and preventive vaccine for AIDS. Following the successful establishment of a long-term T-cell line permissive for HTLV-III replication, large quantities of virus have been produced, facilitating the purification of viral proteins and the development of mouse monoclonal antibodies against several viral antigens. More recently, the structure of HTLV-III proviral DNA has been elucidated. We now report the production, by genetic engineering methods, of a peptide encoded by a gene segment of HTLV-III. A 1.1-kilobase (kb) EcoRI DNA segment from an isolate of HTLV-III was inserted into a lpp and lac promoter-coupled expression vector, pIN-III-ompA. Escherichia coli transformants of this plasmid produced a peptide of relative molecular mass (Mr) 15,000 (15K) which was strongly immunoreactive with anti-HTLV-III antibodies present in sera from AIDS patients. Lysates of the clones expressing this 15K peptide inhibited the reactivity of the p31 virion protein with AIDS sera, suggesting that it is a fragment of the viral p31 protein. The peptide reacted with sera from all 20 AIDS patients but none of the 8 normal controls tested. These results suggest that the peptide may be useful for detecting anti-HTLV-III antibodies in blood samples.

Expression in Escherichia coli of open reading frame gene segments of HTLV-III

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III), the causative agent of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), was recently isolated and its genomic structure analyzed by DNA cloning methods. In the studies reported here a combined cloning and expression system was used to identify HTLV-III encoded peptides that react immunologically with antibodies in sera from AIDS patients. Cloned HTLV-III DNA was sheared into approximately 500-base-pair fragments and inserted into an "open reading frame" expression vector, pMR100. The inserted DNA was expressed in Escherichia coli transformants as a polypeptide fused to the lambda CI protein at its amino terminus and to beta-galactosidase at its carboxyl terminus. Sera from AIDS patients containing antibodies to HTLV-III were then used to screen for immunoreactive fusion proteins. Twenty clones, each specifying a fusion protein strongly reactive with AIDS serum, were identified. DNA sequence analysis indicated that the HTLV-III fragments were derived from the open reading frame DNA segments corresponding to the gag and pol gene coding regions and also the large open reading frame region (env-lor) located near the 3' end of the viral genome.

Electron microscopic assessment of bile regurgitation of humans in extrahepatic obstructive jaundice

Thirty-seven patients were studied on the anatomic routes of bile regurgitation into the blood stream by electron microscopy. The aim was to identify the relationship between the clinical results and pathway of bile regurgitation. These patients were classified into 3 groups; recovered, delayed, and fatal. Transcellular, paracellular, direct communication, necrotic hepatocyte and ruptured ductule pathway were found. In the recovered group, the transcellular pathway was most frequent with an incidence of 54.17%, and a direct communication pathway was found to be 54.55% in the fatal group with a significant difference between that of the recovered and delayed group. Long-duration bile duct obstruction creates bile regurgitation by way of direct communication between the canaliculi and Disse's space, and usually with a poor prognosis, since the serum bilirubin reached the high level of 22.65 mg%. Therefore, it is better to relieve the intrabiliary pressure as early as possible to prevent the jaundice from producing the irreversible change of hepatic canaliculi and Disse's space.

Zinc-induced seizures: a new experimental model of epilepsy

Seizures produced by intracerebral injection of zinc sulfate in rabbits are a new chronic model of experimental epilepsy. The main features of this model are: the animals are easily controlled, the electrocorticogram is conveniently recorded, the endpoints are definite, and the rate of seizure is higher than with other methods. The commonly used antiepileptic drugs, such as phenobarbital (30 mg/kg), diphenylhydantoin (30 mg/kg), nitrazepam (3 mg/kg), and sodium valproate (300 mg/kg), have therapeutic effects in treating this experimental epilepsy, when they are given intravenously. But they can not protect the rabbits from death, except phenobarbital.

Sensation of rotation about a vertical axis with a fixed visual field in different illuminations and in the dark

This paper compares the motion sensations of a subject rotated about a vertical axis for two fixed visual fields (a large peripheral field and a single central spot) and in darkness. Motion sensation is described in terms of threshold, frequency response, and subjective displacement and velocity. The perception of angular acceleration showed significantly lower threshold and reduced latency time for the illuminated presentation. The level of illumination, however, produced no significant difference in threshold. The subjective frequency response, measured by a nulling method, showed a higher gain in the illuminated presentation, particularly at low frequencies and accelerations. With the subject rotating a pointer to maintain a fixed heading during triangular velocity stimuli, subjective displacements showed no difference for all different visual cues. Magnitude estimates of the after-rotation associated with deceleration from a constant velocity showed a quicker rising speed, larger subjective velocity and longer duration in the illuminated presentation. All the results suggest that the oculogyral illusion is principally responsible for producing a lower threshold in the illuminated presentation, although the fixed peripheral visual field tends to reduce reliance upon vestibular signals. At lower intensity rotation stimuli, this effect is especially apparent.

Experimental infection of pregnant sows with porcine enteroviruses

In a series of experiments, SMEDI A--porcine enterovirus serotype 8--was given by intrauterine route to pregnant gilts at intervals between gestation days 0 and 30, and SMEDI C-porcine enterovirus serotype 1--was given to pregnant gilts at intervals between gestation days 30 and 41 to 43. Antibodies were detected in fetuses from groups inoculated at gestation days 30 and 41 to 43, whereas virus was isolated from fetuses only from groups inoculated at gestation days 41 to 43. When inoculated directly into the uterus, embryonic or fetal infection with these viruses was observed regardless of the preinoculation serologic status of the gilts, indicating that maternal antibody had no effect on embryonic or fetal infections after the virus was in the uterus. Intranasal inoculation of SMEDI C caused embryonic or fetal infections in seronegative gilts but not in gilts that carried specific antibody to SMEDI C at the time of exposure. Antibodies in gilts that were seropositive at time of inoculation probably neutralized the virus before it could reach the uterus and thus prevented embryo or fetal infections.

Physarum myosin light chain binds calcium

Myosin from the slime mold Physarum polycephalum contains three sizes of polypeptides: a heavy chain and two light chains, LC-1 and LC-2. Using a simple qualitative test for calcium binding by comparing electrophoretic migration of the polypeptides in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) acrylamide gels in the presence and absence of calcium, we have found that Physarum myosin light chain LC-2 migrates with an apparent molecular weight of 16,900 daltons in the presence of the metal ion chelator ethylene glycol bis (B-aminoethyl ether) N,N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA). However, if calcium chloride is added to the sample prior to electrophoresis, the apparent molecular weight decreases to 16,100. Lanthanide and cadmium ions, but not magnesium, can substitute for calcium. Because the ionic radii of Ca2+, La3+, and Cd2+ are almost identical, we conclude that Physarum myosin LC-2 possesses a very size-specific binding site for calcium. Physarum myosin LC-1 and the heavy chain give no evidence for binding calcium by this test. Since cytoplasmic streaming in the plasmodium of Physarum requires calcium, our evidence indicates that the calcium-binding property of Physarum myosin LC-2 may be important in regulating the production of force by actomyosin in the ectoplasm. Unexpectedly, the myosin light chain in Physarum capable of binding calcium, LC-2, is the essential light chain, while LC-1 is a member of the regulatory class of myosin light chains [V. T. Nachmias, personal communication]. Until now, essential myosin light chains have not been shown to have high affinity divalent cation binding sites. This means a new version of the myosin-based model for actomyosin regulation by calcium may be required to explain cytoplasmic movement in Physarum, and perhaps in other motile systems involving cytoplasmic myosins as well.

Cephradine in the treatment of infective endocarditis

Ten patients with a mean age of 34.1 years with infective endocarditis (55% of cases due to Staphylococcus aureus) were treated with cephradine. The peak serum levels of cephradine (8-42 microgram/ml) were 3- to 17-fold higher than the minimum inhibitory concentrations of cephradine against pathogenic strains of S aureus (1.2-4 microgram/ml). Patients treated with cephradine became afebrile in 2 to 13 days of therapy, and their white blood cell count returned to a normal level in 3 to 30 days. Cephradine therapy was well tolerated without any incidence of phlebitis. The drug could be administered by three different routes. Cephradine is a useful cephalosporin for treatment of nonenterococcal gram-positive endocarditis in young heroin addicts.

A Method for Optimal Tolerance Selection

This paper introduces and formalizes a method for specifying independent functional tolerances in an optimal least-cost manner. Previous methods have been thwarted by formulation and computational difficulties presented by nontrivial designs. This method is versatile, submits to a diversity of mechanical problems, and relates the production process and cost to process tolerance in the optimization. This tolerance-specification scheme follows Balas’ zero-one algorithm. Generality and efficiency of the method are discussed. Effects of tolerance relaxation on costs are given. Small and large design problems, constructed to satisfy the requirements of the algorithm, show the practical ramifications. The problem is treated with limit, sensitivity, and probability analysis. Widespread adoption of the method throughout industry is encouraged.

Some pharmacological actions of 2,5-dimethoxy-4-ethylamphetamine (DOET) in rats and mice

DOET, like DOM, exhibited pressor action in rats. This increase of blood pressure was blocked by pretreatment with cinanserin. DOET at high doses decreased the spontaneous locomotor activity of mice at the first hour but increased the activity at the second hour; a low dose was less effective. DOET also increased the rectal temperature of rats and this hyperthermic action was suppressed by pretreating the animals with cinanserin or methysergide. These actions of DOET were compared with those of DOM.

Comparative chemistry of 30S ribosomal proteins of Salmonella typhimurium

Individual proteins from the 30S ribosome of Salmonella typhimurium were isolated and compared with their counterparts in Escherichia coli. Amino acid composition data reveal either no significant differences, or only minor differences in a few residues between paired proteins. Tryptic peptide fingerprints were used to amplify any possible differences between protein pairs.