Inferotemporal neurons of the monkey responsive to auditory signal

Responsiveness of single inferotemporal (IT) neurons to a tone as a start or warning signal in each test trial was investigated in monkeys performing visual discrimination of 4 patterns. It was found that the same IT neurons were responsive to both auditory signal and visual discriminanda with different response characteristics from each other. The activity of IT neurons for the auditory signal in the visual discrimination paradigm reflects an engagement process in attention to the visual discriminanda.

Analysis of local and wide-field movements in the superior temporal visual areas of the macaque monkey

The middle temporal (MT) and medial superior temporal (MST) areas of the macaque cortex have many cells that respond to straight movements in the frontoparallel plane with directional selectivity (D cells). We examined their responses to movements of a bar, of a wide dot pattern, and to combined movements of the two in anesthetized and immobilized animals. D cells in MT showed a wide variety in the strength of the inhibitory field surrounding the excitatory center field. Responses of SI+-type cells to a bar moving across the excitatory field were suppressed when a wide dot pattern moved over the surround field in the same direction and at the same speed as the bar. Inhibition was selective to the direction and speed of the surround movement, and the effective area for inhibition occupied a wide area, which expanded in all radial directions. Responses of SI- -type cells to a center bar movement were changed little by a conjoint movement over the surround field. Consequently, SI- -type cells responded to wide-field movement as well as to stimuli confined within the excitatory field. Although D cells in MST commonly had large excitatory fields, a proportion of them (Figure type) responded to bar movement much more strongly than to wide-field movement. Their responses to a bar movement were suppressed direction-selectively by a conjoint movement of a wide dot-pattern background. The effective area for inhibition coexisted with the excitatory field in these cells. MST cells of the Nonselective type responded comparably well to the two stimuli, and those of the Field type responded much more strongly to wide-field movement than to bar movement. It is thus suggested that MT cells of the SI+ type and MST cells of the Figure type can detect a difference between movements of an object and its wide background, whereas MST cells of the Field type can detect a conjoint movement of a wide field, neglecting the movements of a single object.

Integration of direction signals of image motion in the superior temporal sulcus of the macaque monkey

Using anesthetized and paralyzed monkeys, we have studied the visual response properties of neurons in the cortical area surrounding the middle temporal area (MT) in the superior temporal sulcus (STS). Systematic electrode penetrations revealed that there is a functionally distinct region where three classes of directionally selective cells with large receptive fields cluster. This region is anteriorly adjoined to the dorsal two-thirds of MT, has a width of 4-5 mm mediolaterally, and therefore may correspond to the dorsal part of the medial superior temporal area (MST), which was previously defined as a MT-recipient zone. One class of cells responded to a straight movement of patterns in the frontoparallel plane with directional selectivity (D cells: 217/422, 51.4%). The second class of cells selectively responded to an expanding or contracting size change of patterns (S cells: 66/422, 15.7%). These cells responded neither to a change in width of a slit of any orientation or any length, nor to a change in brightness. The third class of cells responded only to a rotation of patterns in one direction (R cells: 58/422, 13.7%). A majority of these cells (41/58) responded to the clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of patterns in the frontoparallel plane (Rf cells), while the rest responded to a rotation of patterns in depth (Rd cells). We will suggest that these cells acquire the ability to discover whole events of visual motion--i.e., unidirectional straight movement, size change (radial movement), and rotation--by integrating elemental motion information extracted by MT cells. The receptive fields of D, S, and Rf cells can be constructed by converging signals of MT cells, the preferred directions of which are arranged in parallel (D cells), radially (S cells), and circularly (Rf cells). The receptive fields of Rd cells can be constructed, in turn, by the convergence of signals of S cells.

[Comparative studies of the efficacy, safety and usefulness of S6472, cefaclor and cephalexin on complicated urinary tract infection by the double-blind method]

To objectively evaluated the usefulness of the standard formulation of cefaclor (CCL) and the long-acting formulation of cefaclor (S6472) in noncatheterized complicated urinary tract infection (UTI), a double-blind comparison study was carried out using cephalexin (CEX) as a control. Patients were orally treated with either 500 mg of CCL 3 times/day, 750 mg of S6472 2 times/day, or 500 mg of CEX 4 times/day for 14 days. Overall clinical effect was evaluated on days 5 and 14 in accordance with the UTI therapeutic evaluation standard, with check for recurrence on day 21. There was no demographic difference between the groups. There was no difference in the effective rate on day 5 among the 3 treatment groups: 58.1% in S6472 group, 66.0% in CCL group and 61.9% in CEX group. Nor on day 14, was there any significant difference in the effective rate among the 3 groups: 70.8% in S6472 group, 63.4% in CCL group and 61.8% in CEX group. Stratification analyses (by UTI group, infection site, in- or out-patient, time of starting treatment, pretreatment severity of pyuria, total number of bacteria before treatment) revealed no significant difference among the 3 groups. Therapeutic effect evaluated by physicians in charge was not significantly different among the 3 groups on day 5 or day 14. In terms of overall therapeutic effect, all 3 products were very effective in patients infected with sensitive bacteria: On day 5, 85.4% in S6472 group, 84.4% in CCL group, and 83.7% in CEX group. There was no significant difference among the 3 groups on either day. The incidence of side effects was not significantly different among the 3 groups: 4 out of 129 patients treated with S6472 (3.1%), 2 of 131 treated with CCL (1.5%) and 2 of 128 with CEX (1.6%). Clinical laboratory tests revealed 4 abnormal findings in 4 patients treated with S6472, 6 findings in 4 treated with CCL, and 4 findings in 2 treated with CEX, showing no significant difference in incidence among the 3 groups. Both side effects and abnormal clinical laboratory findings were mild and reversible. Physicians in charge judged the usefulness of the 3 drugs on days 5 and 14, taking efficacy and safety into consideration. Significant difference was not observed. The presence of recurrence was examined 7 days after drug withdrawal in patients regarded as remarkable responders to 14-day treatment by overall therapeutic effect evaluation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Urinary diversion: anastomosis of the ureters into a sigmoid pouch and end-to-side sigmoidorectostomy

From 1978 to 1982 bilateral ureterorectostomy and end-to-side sigmoidorectostomy were done following cystectomy for carcinoma of the bladder in 7 patients. No patient had recurrent pyelonephritis or ureterointestinal obstruction. Rectography showed the absence of rectoureteral reflux of contrast medium but rectosigmoid reflux appeared after injection of more than 150 ml. opaque solution. Adequate alkali therapy was performed in 2 patients with hyperchloremic acidosis. While there were some problems concerning the quality of urinary and fecal control achieved in our patients they were no worse than those of ordinary ureterosigmoidostomy. This operation might be recommended for patients in whom a collection appliance is unacceptable. However, before this surgical procedure can be performed the fact that the end result in terms of fecal urinary continence is unpredictable must be explained thoroughly to the patient.

Insulin response to glucose and glucose tolerance following feeding in sheep

Sheep offered a roughage diet for 4 h daily were injected intravenously with glucose before and at various times after feeding. The insulin secretory response to glucose and the rate of disappearance of injected glucose were determined. While the basal concentration of plasma insulin was unchanged, the base-line plasma glucose concentration tended to decrease during the meal. The glucose load brought about an increase in the plasma insulin concentration at each injection, but the insulin response to glucose and the rate of glucose disposal were increased during the meal. On varying the time of feeding between 08.00 and 16.00 hours, the increase in the insulin response to glucose and in the rate of glucose disposal always appeared to be related to the giving of food, independent of the time food was offered. It is concluded that feeding increases the insulin response to an intravenous glucose load even when the increase in the basal level of plasma insulin on feeding is very modest in sheep given a roughage diet. The increased insulin response and glucose disposal rate following feeding did not appear to be related to diurnal rhythms in insulin secretory activity or glucose metabolism.

[Clinical studies on recurrence of acute uncomplicated cystitis]

Recurrence rate and symptoms after chemotherapy against acute uncomplicated cystitis (AUC) were studied. Upon completion of a 7-day treatment with two regimens, one of CEX alone (Group C) and the other of a combination of CEX with Lysozyme (Neuzym) (Group L), at a dose of 1 g CEX daily, efficacy of the drugs was assessed according to the criteria established by the UTI Study Group. The forty one cases in Group C and 38 cases in Group L showing an excellent response were evaluated for recurrence. The rates of recurrence were 12.2% in Group C and 21.1% in Group L during the first 7 days after treatment. In recurrent cases, bacteriuria was seen in 84.6% (11/13), pyuria in 53.8% (7/13) and miction pain in 30.8% (4/13). Thus, bacteriuria and pyuria should be the items of the criteria for AUC recurrence.

Stimulatory effect of insulin on ruminal epithelium cell mitosis in adult sheep

1. The rumen adapts to increased food intake by the hyperplasia of epithelial cells. 2. Volatile fatty acids (VFA) stimulate cell mitosis of sheep ruminal epithelium in vivo. 3. Since VFA generally inhibit cell proliferation in vitro insulin was proposed in this study as the possible mediator of the mitotic stimulation in vivo. 4. Infusions (6 h) of insulin (0.125 U/kg per h) plus glucose (300 mg/kg per h) (n 5), and glucose alone (300 mg/kg per h) (n 2) resulted in higher mitotic index of biopsied rumen epithelium (MI) during 3 or 6 to 24 h after the start of infusion, and higher plasma immunoreactive insulin (IRI) and higher plasma glucose (PG) during the infusion. 5. Insulin plus glucose infusion showed higher MI, higher IRI, and lower PG than glucose infusion. 6. Sheep infused with saline for 6 h (n 1) showed no marked changes in MI, IRI, and PG. 7. Increased IRI by insulin plus glucose or glucose alone infusion was considered to stimulate cell proliferation in rumen epithelium. 8. Other possible mediations were discussed.

[An experimental study on the regeneration of the peripheral nerve--adaptation of the funiculus at the sutured site (author's transl)]

We consider it necessary to investigate the passage of axon through the sutured site, besides problems of misdirection, in order to understand the factors which affect the regeneration of the peripheral nerve. We performed the following experiments assuming that different situations occurring at sutured site is to be considered as mono-funiculus situation, and studied them mainly from the histological point of view.

METHOD

Twenty-five adult hybrid dogs were used. We performed several different experiments, mentioned below, on the sciatic nerve, at about 3 cm below the greater trochanter with 9-0 monofilament nylon by microsurgical technique. The sciatic nerve was separated 4 cm away from the surrounding tissue, and only the peroneal nerve funiculus was isolated 2 cm away from the other funiculus and was cut at the center. Models of experiment. 1. Proper suture of both cut end...Optimum. 2. Suture by tension after excision of 1 cm in length...Tension, 3. Suture by compression...Compression, 4. Suture by shifting both cut ends about 1/2 of their surface...Offset, 5. Suture by buckling...Buckling, 6. Suture with gap of 5 mm after excision of 5 mm in length...Gap. Five weeks and ten weeks after the operation, the nerves were examined electrophysiologically and histologically. The nerve was stimulated at about 1 cm proximal to the sutured site directly using needle electrode, and the most distal part was searched for, where the nerve action potential was recorded. For the histological study, the nerve was sectioned longitudinally and transversely. These specimens were stained by H. E., Holmes' (for the axon), and L. F. B. method (for the myelin sheath). The regeneration of the nerve was classified into four grades, according to the number and the size of the axon passing through the sutured site, namely poor, fair, good, excellent.

RESULTS

1) The offset of the funiculus at the sutured site is the most important factor which disturbs the regeneration of the axon. 2) The influence of about 5 mm gap is not so big for the regeneration of the axon, compared to the severe offset. 3) The moderate tension which can be produced by the ordinary microsurgical suture does not much influence the regeneration of the axon, and the compression at the sutured site has not much influence to the nerve regeneration as long as the adaptation is good.

Clinical evaluation of pivmecillinam in intractable urinary-tract infections with complications. A comparative study with amoxicillin by a randomized double-blind technique

A comparative study was made by the double-blind technique in order to make clear the usefulness of pivmecillinam in the treatment of intractable complicated urinary-tract infections using amoxicillin as a reference drug. Pivmecillinam was given in dosage of 400 mg (potency) per day which was one-fifth the dose of amoxicillin 2,000 mg (potency) per day. In global judgement, pivmecillinam was found superior to amoxicillin. It showed a "significant" superiority over amoxicillin for the treatment of, among others, the urinary-tract infections after prostatectomy, which are intractable diseases. When evaluated by symptoms, pivmecillinam improved bacteriuria "significantly" better than amoxicillin. When seen by causative organisms, the pivmecillinam treatment was "significantly" superior to the amoxicillin treatment against E. coli infections. Pivmecillinam was active against amoxicillin-resistant E. coli. Incidence of adverse reactions was less frequent with pivmecillinam than with amoxicillin. These results indicate that pivmecillinam is a drug of high usefulness for the treatment of intractable complicated urinary-tract infections when evaluated using amoxicillin as a reference drug.