[The post mortem alterations of myofibrilar proteins and adenosintriphosphatase activities of the skeletal muscles (author's transl)]

Immediately after the death of rabbits and at different times within 48 hours, we took out a part of the psoas muscle, from which we made myofibrilar preparations. The carcasses providing the muscle samples were held at two different temperatures. One group was held for 48 hours at 25 degrees C, imitating room temperature. The other group was held for 12 hours at 25 C degrees and at 25 C degrees and 12 hours at 10 C degrees, imitating daily temperature changes. Each myofibrilar sample was subjected to SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In addition we determined the Ca++ activated and the EGTA inhibited ATPase specific activity of the myofibrils. We found that within 48 hours the myofibrilar proteins were subjected to some characteristic proteolytic changes, which were dependant on the environmental temperature. The most interesting change was found in carcasses held constantly at 25 C degrees for 48 hours, where the EGTA inhibited ATPase activity was increased to about seven times its initial value, reflecting impairment of the troponin complex.

Histochemical and ultrastructural study of human muscles after spontaneous rupture of the tendon

The authors studied the histochemical and ultrastructural alterations of human muscles after spontaneous rupture of the tendon. Both succinate dehydrogenase (in type 1 fibres), and ATPase (in type 2 fibres) activity decreased in all injured muscles. In the intact antagonists and in contralateral muscles alterations were not found. The creatine phosphokinase and aldolase activity were decreased also in the injured muscles. The lactate dehydrogenase activity was various both in affected and in unaffected antagonists muscles. 2 weeks or more after the rupture of the tendon, in the injured muscles the number of type 1 fibres were decreased and therefore a statistically significant type 2 fibre predominance occurred. Ultrastructurally the disruption and disorientation of the myofibrils, streaming and disorganisation of Z line were found. The sarcolemma was arranged, the sarcoplasmic reticulum was dilated; both normal, pycnotic and enlarged mitochondria were observed. The motor end-plates were not discernible.

Hepatitis syphilitica. A clinico-pathological study of 25 cases

Specific histological alterations have been observed in 23 of the 25 patients with early syphilis with laboratory findings suggesting liver damage. Treponema has been detected in the areas of liver lesion in 70 per cent of the patients. Control examination carried out after penicillin therapy showed regression of the alterations. On the basis of the findings authors assert that treponema might induce hepatitis in early syphilis differing from liver damage of other origin.

[Serum immunoglobulin and glycoprotein concentration and mesenchymal reaction in chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis]

In the liver needle biopsy specimens of 45 patients with hepatitis chronica persistents, hepatitis chronica aggressiva and cirrhosis of the liver the number of lymphoid cells and fibroblasts, and in the serum of the same patients concentration of IgG, IgA, IgM, alfa-2-macroglobulin and coeuroplasmin was examined. It was established that 1. the number of lymphoid cells and fibroblasts in the liver tissue of patients with hepatitis chronica aggressiva and cirrhosis of the liver increases significantly, 2. there exists a correlation between the number of lymphoid cells and the concentration of IgG, 3. the serum level of the alfa-2-macroglobulin increases parallely with the number of fibroblasts of the liver in hepatitis chronica aggressive and in cirrhosis of the liver.

[Observations of ultrastructural changes on prepared homologous tendon transplants in humans (author's transl)]

Authors have investigated the ultrastructural morphology of transformation of homologous human tendon transplants. Tenoblasts and mast cells were found next to collagenous fibres originating in the transplant and disintegrating in the voluminous ground substance. The formation of new collagen tissue was of different grades; areas of only a few fibres and areas with oriented fibres were both present. Twenty months after implantation parts characterised by apparently mature structure were found as well as abundant new fibre formation and mast cells.

[Ultrastructural changes of human skeletal muscle after tendon and nerve injuries. I. Fine-structural changes of the hand muscles after tendor injuries (author's transl)]

During reconstructive procedures performed 4--16 weeks after the tendon lesion the specimens obtained from the injured muscle have been examined by the authors. It was found that after the tendon injury inactivity atrophy develops and a condition of equilibrum could be observed at this time. The most important changes in the fine structure were seen in the contractile elements: there were atrophied, homogenized, fragmentated and ragged independently from the functional unities. The number of the mitochondria was considerably decreased, the sarcoplasmatic reticulum was increased, and the difference between the originally red and white muscular fibres was indistinct. The glycogen content of the musculature was decreased, or it disappeared completely. No pathological changes have been observed in the sarcolemme, the cell nuclei and the motor nerve end-plates.

[Ultrastructural changes of human skeletal muscle after tendon and nerve injuries. II. Fine-structural alterations of the hand muscles after injuries of the motor nerve (author's transl)]

The authors examined the fine structural alterations of the muscles after traumatic neurotomy. The most important changes were forro found on the contractile elements, especially atrophy, and fragmentation. The number of mitochondria and sarcoplasmatic reticulum decreased both the glycogen content of sarcoplasma increased. The motor end plates were complete destroyed. On the motor motor-neurons typical Wallerian degeneration could be seen.

Early syphilitic hepatitis

17 out of 175 cases of early syphilis had clinical, biochemical, and immunological evidence of liver damage. Before penicillin therapy the histological appearance of the liver was abnormal in 14 of the 15 patients from whom biopsy specimens were obtained. In 7 cases, treponemes were seen in the liver. After two months' penicillin therapy the extent and severity of the histological abnormality was reduced. In the repeat liver-biopsy specimens obtained after penicillin treatment no treponemes could be demonstrated. It is suggested that the hepatitis found in these 17 cases of early syphilis was produced by treponemes.