Measles virus and subacute neurological disease: an unusual presentation of measles inclusion body encephalitis

A 20-year-old girl developed a subacute neurological illness characterized by seizures and epilepsia partialis continua, which resulted in her death within 10 weeks of her first symptom. Although she had a history of unusual reactions to viral infections, there was no evidence of any underlying disorder resulting in immunosuppression. Histopathology demonstrated the presence of dense infection with measles virus. The unusual clinical features of this cases suggest that measles virus may be responsible for a wide spectrum of neurological disease ranging from measles inclusion body encephalitis on the one hand to subacute sclerosing panencephalitis on the other.

[Carcinogenicity test in long-term bioassay of Fermosin-yeast grown on petroleum hydrocarbons]

To test "fermosinR'-yeast grown on petroleum hydrocarbons for carcinogenic potency the product was fed chronically at a dietary level of 15% to male and female rats (Wistar). Animals of the control group received the Institute's stock diet, similar to the yeast diet but without "fermosinR'. Feeding of "fermosinR'-diet did not affect the incidence nor the latency period nor the type of tumors compared with the control rats. Studies in mice (XVII) included two separate experiments. In the first one the dorsal skin of the animals was painted by extracts from yeast twice weekly and treated with the co-carcinogenic agent croton oil once a week. In the second experiment the mice were painted by extracts from pork of animals feed with "fermosinR'. The results obtained in rats and in mice did not reveal any evidence for carcinogenic potency of "fermosinR'-yeast.

Expired air volumes of males and females during cold water immersion

Expired air volumes were measured from a random population of adult male and female human volunteers before and during short-term immersion in either cold (13.53 +/- 0.13 degrees C) or warm (33.18 +/- 0.11 degrees C) water. A statistically significant difference was found in the pulmonary ventilation over the first 4 min of immersion between males and females when immersed in cold water. The swim suits worn could not account for the differences observed. No statistically significant difference in pulmonary ventilation was found between males and females during warm water immersion. A numerically smaller group of volunteers was preheated in a sauna before immersion in cold or warm water and this resulted in an attenuated ventilatory response. In this instance there is no statistically significant difference in ventilation between males and females. Also, in another small group of volunteers, surface and deep skin temperatures were continuously measured before and during immersion in cold water. The rates of change of deep skin temperature between males and females were found to be similar.

Factors which affect shivering in man during cold water immersion

Six subjects were immersed in cold water (15.15 +/- 0.42 degrees C) and were asked to perform two tasks. Shivering elicited by the cold water immersion was attenuated and/or abolished by the mental arithmetic task and in some instances by a voluntary isometric contraction of forearm muscles. Some reasons for these results are discussed. Key words: Cold water immersion, mental arithmetic forearm isometric contraction, attenuation of shivering.

Interaction of beta-adrenoceptor agonists with the serotonergic system in rat brain. A behavioral study using the L-5-HTP syndrome

The effect of beta-adrenoceptor agonists on the behavioral effect of L-5-HTP in rats and mice was studied. All beta-agonists potentiated the behavioral syndrome elicited by L-5-HTP. However no indication for a correlation between their potencies to stimulate peripheral beta-receptors and their potencies to enchance L-5-HTP effect was found. The potentiating effect of salbutamol in rats was intensified by the MAO A inhibitor clorgyline, completely inhibited by (+/-)-propranolol and partly inhibited by WB-4101, while practolol was without effect. Lesions of 5-HT pathways by i.c.v. injections of 5,7-DHT impaired the potentiating effect of salbutamol in rats. In contrast, 6-OHDA lesions or alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine pretreatment were without effect. A central site of action of salbutamol is suggested by the fact that it intensified L-5-HTP effects also after i.c.v. administration. Therefore the results suggest that salbutamol facilitates 5-HT transmission in rat brain probably via stimulation of central beta receptors.

Staging of carcinoma of the larynx: comparative accuracy of ct and laryngography

The accuracy and clinical usefulness of both computed tomography (CT) and laryngography were evaluated in 30 patients with carcinoma of the larynx. The radiologic results were correlated with the surgical and pathologic findings. The accuracy in determining tumor compartmental localization (supraglottic, glottic, or subglottic) was as follows: CT provided the correct diagnosis in 26 cases. There were three false negative and one false positive diagnoses. Laryngography provided the correct diagnosis in 19 cases. There were six false negative and six false positive diagnoses. In virtually all cases, CT provided information equivalent to or more accurate than laryngography. CT is recommended as the radiologic procedure of choice when additional diagnostic information is required to supplement the findings of laryngoscopy in determining the feasibility of conservation surgery.

Patient recovery from type A botulism: morbidity assessment following a large outbreak

A large outbreak of foodborne botulism provided an opportunity to study the recovery from type A botulism in a group of 27 patients. Patients were interviewed either nine or 13 months after the outbreak, and a written questionnaire was mailed at 24 months, to obtain information on each patient's symptom complex and on subsequent symptom resolution. Recovery from symptoms of botulism was slow. Patients reported that resolution of 50 per cent of their original symptoms occurred by an average of 5 months. Thirteen of 14 patients contacted 13 months after onset of botulism reported some persistent symptoms. This study, although limited to interview data, strengthens the concept of a prolonged recovery phase in botulism, as previously suggested in individual case reports. Physicians and other health workers caring for patients with botulism should anticipate physical and psychological problems resulting from a lengthy and difficult convalescent period.

Familial polymorphous cold eruption

An erythematous, burning papular eruption, constitutional symptoms, fever, and arthropathy developed in a 65-year-old patient after cold exposure. Involvement of other family members occurred in an autosomal dominant pattern. Histopathologic examination of a biopsy specimen revealed telangiectasia and primarily neutrophilic perivascular inflammation, consistent with earlier biopsy reports of this syndrome. Although previously called "familial cold urticaria," this disease is not characterized by urticaria and may be best descriptively termed, "familial polymorphous cold eruption."

Supersensitivity to L-5-hydroxytryptophan after 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine injections in desmethylimipramine- and nomifensine-pretreated rats: behavioral evidence for postsynaptic supersensitivity

The behavioral syndrome induced by L-5-hydroxytryptophan (L-5-HTP) in rats was used to study the supersensitivity to L-5-HTP and 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeODMT) which develops after unilateral intracerebroventricular (ICV) injections of 200 microgram 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT). Pretreatment of the animals with a combination of desipramine and nomifensine was found to protect dopamine neurones better than desipramine alone. Maximal behavioral supersensitivity to L-5-HTP and 5-MeODMT was found as early as 24 h after injection of the neurotoxin, even in the presence of the specific 5-HT uptake inhibitor CGP 6085 A, or the MAO-A inhibitor clorgyline. The results indicate that a quickly occurring postsynaptic event contributes to the development of behavioral supersensitivity after ICV injections of 5,7-DHT.