C3 nephritic factor in an individual with recurrent viral infection and lipodystrophy

A patient with nephritic factor in the serum following an attack of disseminated herpes is described. In the majority of cases, the factor is associated with mesangio-capillary glomerulonephritis, with or without partial lipodystrophy. It has, however, been described in cases of partial lipodystrophy alone, in one patient with recurrent pyogenic infections, and in one healthy individual. It has not previously been described in an individual with disseminated viral infection.

A study in two-handed input

Two experiments were run to investigate two-handed input. The experimental tasks were representative of those found in CAD and office information systems.

Experiment one involved the performance of a compound selection/positioning task. The two sub-tasks were performed by different hands using separate transducers. Without prompting, novice subjects adopted strategies that involved performing the two sub-tasks simultaneously. We interpret this as a demonstration that, in the appropriate context, users are capable of simultaneously providing continuous data from two hands without significant overhead. The results also show that the speed of performing the task was strongly correlated to the degree of parallelism employed.

Experiment two involved the performance of a compound navigation/selection task. It compared a one-handed versus two-handed method for finding and selecting words in a document. The two-handed method significantly outperformed the commonly used one-handed method by a number of measures. Unlike experiment one, only two subjects adopted strategies that used both hands simultaneously. The benefits of the two-handed technique, therefore, are interpreted as being due to efficiency of hand motion. However, the two subjects who did use parallel strategies had the two fastest times of all subjects.

Estimating blood supply of the skin and intestine with the fluorescence camera

We used fluorescein dye to evaluate the vascularity of flaps in 73 patients and of the left colon in 23 individuals after resection and replacement of the abdominal aorta. Instant photographs of the dye pattern were taken in the light using a specially modified Polaroid camera. All areas of skin and bowel that showed adequate staining with the dye survived, and all but one of ten areas that were nonfluorescent became necrotic unless they were excised or revascularized. The intraoperative use of fluorescein dye with the fluorescence camera is a useful technique for all surgeons who need to evaluate the vascularity of tissue.

Effect of prostaglandin PGE2 on alcohol-induced ulceration in the rat colon

The effect of pretreatment with topical prostaglandin E2, prednisolone and sulphasalazine in experimental colitis has been examined in the rat colon. Only prostaglandin E2 treatment significantly reduced mucosal ulceration. Long-term exposure of the rat colon to topical ethanol produced some of the histological changes seen in human colitis.

Eosinophilia in Caucasians returning from the tropics

A retrospective study was carried out on 119 Caucasians who were admitted to the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, London, for investigation of eosinophilia on return from the tropics. In 46 patients (38.7%) a definite parasitological diagnosis was made, and in all those followed up eosinophilia decreased with appropriate chemotherapy. In those patients where no cause for eosinophilia could be found, results suggest that empirical treatment with a broad spectrum anthelmintic agent may be justified in an attempt to produce a normal blood picture.

Effect of high tension and relaxing incisions on wound healing in rats

We developed four experimental models of rats and created abdominal wall wounds with various amounts of tension. We made the wounds under normal and high tension, both with and without relaxing incisions, and measured the bursting strengths and the rate of vascularization of the wounds. The results indicate that high closing tension impairs both of these parameters of wound healing and that relaxing incisions help in returning healing in high tension wounds toward normal.

How to make superb microangiograms at reasonable X-ray exposures

The technical factors in microangiography were studied, and we found that the main limiting factor in resolution was film grain size. Ultrafine grain films exist, but they are very slow, necessitating exposures of several hours at conventional settings. Using a modern beryllium window x-ray unit, equally good images can be made in 2 to 5 minutes by using the minimum tube-to-film distance (32 cm) and the maximum kilovoltage (110 kV).

Regulation of pro-opiomelanocortin synthesis by dopamine and cAMP in the amphibian pituitary intermediate lobe

The modulation of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) synthesis in Xenopus laevis pituitary intermediate lobe (IL) during background adaptation and the role of dopamine and cAMP in mediating this effect were examined. Neurointermediate lobes (NILs) were pulselabeled in vitro with [3H]arginine and analyzed for POMC synthesis by acid-urea gel electrophoresis. After black background adaptation of the animal (7 days), POMC synthesis increased 5-6-fold, while after white background adaptation (7 days), POMC synthesis decreased by 76%. Dopamine (50 microM) suppressed POMC synthesis in NILs in culture. In the absence of dopamine, POMC synthesis was stimulated. Several experiments were conducted to determine the category of dopamine receptor in the X. laevis IL. A D-2 dopamine receptor agonist inhibited immunoreactive alpha-MSH release from the NIL in a D-2 antagonist-reversible manner. A D-1 receptor agonist or antagonist did not alter the release of immunoreactive alpha-MSH from the NIL. Dopamine (10 microM) inhibited forskolin-stimulated cAMP accumulation. In addition, dopamine inhibition of POMC synthesis in cultured ILs was reversed by 8-Br-cAMP. These studies suggest that white background adaptation results in stimulation of the X. laevis D-2 receptor, which reduces cAMP production and POMC synthesis. Conversely, during black background adaptation the IL D-2 receptor is not stimulated, leading to increased cAMP production and POMC synthesis.

Severe acute metabolic acidosis (acute beriberi): an avoidable complication of total parenteral nutrition

Total parenteral nutrition is one of the most important recent advances in medicine. The delivery of total parenteral nutrition, however, can be associated with a broad spectrum of complications ranging from mechanical (catheter related) to metabolic. We have recently seen a previously unreported complication of total parenteral nutrition - three patients maintained on total parenteral nutrition, who did not receive vitamins and experienced the acute onset of life-threatening metabolic acidosis with pH values as low as 6.70. All responded promptly and completely to the administration of intravenous thiamine, and thus were probably examples of acute beriberi. Acute beriberi is a well-documented syndrome which usually occurs in nutritionally compromised individuals outside the hospital setting who lack thiamine in their diet. Without thiamine, glucose cannot enter the Krebs cycle in order to be completely oxidized for energy production and therefore, accumulates as lactic acid. This lactic acidosis is refractory to any treatment except thiamine and will result in cardiovascular collapse if the vitamin is not administered.

An evaluation of eight methods of using fluorescein to predict the viability of skin flaps in the pig

The brightness of the fluorescence of fluorescein can be increased by the use of special (interference) filters that allow visualization of the dye when much smaller doses have been given. Standard random-pattern skin flaps were made in pigs and low (1 mg/kg) and high (500 mg) doses of fluorescein were given intravenously. The dye distribution in the flaps was evaluated visually, photographically, and with a dermofluorometer. All the methods proved reasonably accurate in predicting survival, although in an occasional flap, readings by all the methods were off by as much as 3.5 cm. The traditional Wood's lamp visualization proved to be as accurate as any of the newer methods. The inaccuracies of the fluorescein test are probably inherent in the method, since it only measures vascularity at the time the dye is given--and blood supply can change. The main advantage of low-dose fluorescein is that it allows repeated injections at reasonably close intervals. For serial observations, the dermofluorometer is unquestionably the best method.

The development of sex role stereotypes in the third year: relationships to gender labeling, gender identity, sex-typed toy preference, and family characteristics

The onset and development of preschoolers' awareness of sex role stereotypes, gender labeling, gender identity, and sex-typed toy preference were explored in 26-, 31-, and 36-month-old children. Gender labeling, gender identity, sex-typed toy preferences, and awareness of adult sex role differences were observed in significantly more 26-month-old children than would have been expected by chance. Verbal gender labeling was observed in a majority of 26-month-olds, while verbal and nonverbal gender identity were observed in a majority of 31-month-olds. Nonverbal gender labeling and awareness of adult sex role differences were observed in a majority of children by 36 months. No evidence of awareness of sex differences in children's toys was found in the majority of children at any age. Awareness of sex role differences in children's toys was not related to awareness of adult sex role differences. Brighter children were more aware of adult sex role differences. Sex-typed toy preference was not related to awareness of sex role differences but was related to gender identity. Predictors of sex role development included the mothers' employment, and the father's personality traits, attitudes toward women, and sex-typed activities in the home. Implications for theories of early sex role development are discussed.

Phenotypic traits of fluorescent pseudomonads causing bacterial blotch of Agaricus bisporus mushrooms and other mushroom-derived fluorescent pseudomonads

Fluorescent pseudomonads isolated from diseased Agaricus bisporus mushrooms (bacterial blotch), internal mushroom stipe tissue, and reference cultures were subjected to an array of determinative tests including a recently described white-line reaction. All isolates recovered from fresh, healthy mushroom tissue proved to be in the range of Pseudomonas putida or P. fluorescens types, producing oxidase and arginine dehydrolase with growth at 4 °C, while failing to cause soft rot of potato tissue or to blotch mushroom tissue, produce pigment on King's medium A, or to grow at 41 °C. Significantly, 68 cultures identified as P. fluorescens belonged to biotype G, 35 having a similar nutritional profile, which suggests a unique identity. Six of eight P. tolaasii reference cultures were pathogens but their placement into a defined biotype is speculative. Dissociative tendencies were commonplace with all isolates. The white-line test was employed with P. tolaasii reference cultures. Those which caused blotch had an R reaction, white-line test. Of 90 isolates from diseased tissue, 76 were indicators (I) and 14 nonreactors (NR). The white-line reaction occurred in King's medium B as described and on three additional substrates. Hundreds of isolates responded as expected with either an I or an R reaction even though stored for up to 2 years. Reliable assessment of P. tolaasii pathogenicity using excised pileus tissue required three replicates read following 24 h incubation.

Intensive plasmapheresis in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy

Two insulin-dependent diabetic patients with advanced nonproliferative and early proliferative retinopathy showed regression of diabetic retinopathy after three weeks of intensive plasmapheresis. Because of the sudden unexplained death in one patient, the study was stopped. However, these observations in this pilot study suggest that factors mediated through plasma contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetic microangiopathy.

Elastin synthesis during perinatal lung development in the rat

The rate of soluble elastin synthesis was estimated in lung explants from rats of differing ages to better define periods in lung development important to the deposition of lung elastin. Lungs from rat pups at days 1, 3, 7, 9, 12, 15, and 21 post-parturition and from adult rats were incubated in a defined medium containing L-[3H]valine. Following incubation, labelled soluble elastin (tropoelastin) was separated from other soluble proteins by coacervation and electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels containing sodium dodecyl sulfate. The tropoelastin synthetic rate was then estimated after correcting for differences in recovery of radioactivity as tropoelastin and lung tissue L-[3H]valine specific activity. Maximal rates of elastin synthesis were observed in lung explants from 7-12-day-old rats. The rate of elastin synthesis during this period was 5-8-times the rate observed in adult rat lung (expressed per g of fresh lung) and represented approx. 2% of the total protein synthesis. Moreover, the values derived from lung explant culture for elastin synthesis were consistent with values for lung elastin deposition in the perinatal rat (5-10 micrograms elastin/h per g lung).

The fluorescence camera: how to use fluorescein dye in a normally illuminated room

The Polaroid SX 70 Sonar camera has been modified so that it will produce instant photographs of the fluorescence of fluorescein in illuminated rooms. The camera was used to record the dye pattern in 40 rats and 65 patients. The photographic method proved to be as good as--but no better than--the visual one in predicting the viability of skin flaps. The camera eliminates the need to totally darken the room and use an ultraviolet lamp; it provides useful information to the surgeon and a permanent record for the chart.

Cytopathology and the management of early invasive cancer of the uterine cervix

This study was designed to review the effectiveness of cytopathology as it entered into the evaluation of patients with possible microinvasive or early occult carcinoma of the uterine cervix. During the 7-year period of 1971 to 1977, 39 consecutive patients were found for whom either a cytopathologic diagnosis of early invasive carcinoma had been made or suggested, or a histopathologic diagnosis of early invasive carcinoma had been made. After review, 35 patients had an ample number of cytopathologic and histopathologic materials and clinical records to be included in the study. The results of these studies have shown that when cytopathology on review predicted a lesion more severe than carcinoma in situ, it was confirmed by histopathology in more than 78% of patients (22 of 28 cases). In those patients shown by histopathology to have microinvasive or occult invasive carcinoma, the cytopathology reflected it in 87% of patients (27 of 31 cases). In the cases of histologically proved microinvasive carcinoma, the corresponding genital smears either diagnosed or suggested invasive carcinoma in 81% of cases and carcinoma in situ in 19%. From these studies it has been concluded that diagnostic cytopathology is potentially a highly reliable tool when used in conjunction with other modern diagnostic modalities to aid the decision-making in cases of probable early cancer of the uterine cervix.