Multiple birth risk factors and the distribution of handedness

In this study, we attempted to maximize the likelihood of replicating Bakan's (1971, 1977a) observations that left-handedness was more probable in college students who were the progeny of "high-risk" births. To do this, the relationships between handedness and a combination of factors known to be associated with birth risk were computed. The observed relationships proved to be trivial and thus the validity of Bakan's hypothesis was questionned.

Cryofibrinogenemia, monoclonal gammopathy, and purpura. Report of a case and review of the literature

A patient with purpura, acral blisters, and ulcerations was evaluated and found to have cryofibrinogenemia and an IgG K light chain monoclonal gammopathy. No other systemic illness was found. The overall incidence of significant cryofibrinogenemia include neoplastic, thrombotic, infectious, and miscellaneous disorders. The patient described was not easily classified. This case is probably best considered primary or idiopathic cryofibrinogenemia.

Microbicidal function of the neutrophils in hairy-cell leukaemia

The ability of neutrophils from patients with hairy-cell leukaemia to kill Candida guilliermondii and Staphylococcus aureus in vitro was investigated. Of 10 patients, 8 showed defective candida killing, 5 defective bacteria killing, in comparison with normal controls. Study of those patients who underwent splenectomy suggests that neutrophil function can be improved by splenectomy. The possible causes of defective function in this disease are discussed.

Increased frequency of HLA-DRW4 in chronic active hepatitis

HLA-A, B, C and DRw typing was performed on peripheral blood lymphocytes of 17 adults with the diagnosis of chronic active hepatitis made by liver biopsy as the only criterion for study. An increase in the frequency of HLA-DRw4 (71 vs. 24%, p less than 0.005) was observed, but there was no increased frequency of HLA-A1, B8 or any other HLA locus specificity.

The relationship of deep and surface skin temperatures to the ventilatory responses elicited during cold water immersion

Subjects were immersed for 10 min in water at 14.5 degrees C, after exposure either to ambient temperature or sauna heating. During the immersions, total ventilation, end-tidal PCO2, the mean of three surface skin temperatures, and deep skin temperatures were measured. There was a statistically significant correlation between the rate of change of deep skin temperature and the initial ventilatory responses evoked during both cold water immersions. After the sauna heating and cold water exposure, the temperature gradient through the skin appeared to be related to the ventilatory response. There was no significant correlation between the rate of change of mean surface skin temperature and the ventilatory response. The results suggest that the primary drive to increased ventilation during cold water immersion is the rate of change of deep skin temperature.

The effect of clothing on the initial ventilatory responses during cold-water immersion

The effect of clothing on ventilatory responses during cold-water immersion was studied. Subjects were immersed in water at 13.9 degrees C on two occasions wearing either a bathing suit only or clothed with jacket, shirt, pants, and sports shoes. It was found that the initial gasp and subsequent minutes of expired ventilation were significantly attenuated, whereas the changes in end-tidal PCO2 were only significantly different for the 2nd and 3rd min of the immersion. It would appear that the use of clothing may prove beneficial during the first few minutes of a cold-water immersion by decreasing the powerful drive to increased respiration.

[Hybridization between Mus musculus L. and Mus spretus Lataste under laboratory conditions (author's transl)]

2 species of mice Mus musculus brevirostris and Mus spretus are sympatric in Southern France and reproductively isolated. However, under laboratory conditions, they breed and give fully viable F 1 hybrids. This indicates that premating isolating mechanisms probably occur in nature and have yet to be investigated. Moreover, it now enables us to introduce new genetical markers in laboratory strains.

Basal cell nevus syndrome in a black patient: report of a case and review of the literature

An 80-year-old black man had multiple basal cell epitheliomas (BCEs), palmar pits, and mandibular cysts. This patient is unusual, not only because of multiple BCEs, but also becuase they developed when the patient was at age 77. Only three other black patients with multiple BCEs in association with basal cell nevus syndrome have been reported previously.

Defective microbicidal function of neutrophils in haematological malignancies and lymphomas: correction by levamisole in vitro

The ability of neutrophils to kill Candida guilliermondii was investigated in patients with various haematological malignancies and lymphomas. Twelve of 24 patients showed significant depression of Candida killing in vitro in comparison with normal controls. The addition of levamisole to the test system, in a concentration of 1 X 10(-7)M, resulted in the correction of the Candida killing defect in 7 of 8 patients.

The distribution of Feulgen stained nuclei in the periphery of human head and neck tumours--cytophotometric investigations

With single cell cytophotometry we investigated the distribution of Feulgen stained cell nuclei of ENT tumours. In the periphery of exophytically growing tumours these cells seem to be distributed homogeneously. Because of the difficulties in determination of the DNA synthesizing cells Feulgen cytophotometry should be completed by other cell kinetic methods e.g. pulse cytophotometry and autoradiography.

Alcohol and respiratory and body temperature changes during tepid water immersion

Resting subjects were immersed for 30 min in water at 22 and 30 degrees C after drinking alcohol. Total ventilation, end-tidal PCO2, rectal temperature, aural temperature, mean skin temperature, heart rate, and oxygen consumption were recorded during the experiments. Blood samples taken before the immersion period were analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography. The mean blood alcohol levels were 82.50 +/- 9.93 mg.(100 ml)-1 and 100.6 +/- 12.64 mg (100 ml)-1 for the immersions at 22 and 30 degrees C, respectively. There was no significant change in body temperature measured aurally or rectally, mean surface skin temperature, or heart rate at either water temperature tested. Total expired ventilation was significantly attenuated for the last 15 min of the immersion at 22 degrees C, after alcohol consumption as compared to the ventilation change in water at 22 degrees C without ethanol. This response was not consistently significantly altered during immersion in water at 30 degrees C. It is evident that during a 30-min immersion in tepid water with a high blood alcohol level, body heat loss is not affected but some changes in ventilation do occur.