Oesophageal manometric studies of dysphagia in Vernet's syndrome

The case history is reported of a patient who developed Vernet's syndrome following radical excision of a chemodectoma involving the lower four cranial nerves on the left side. Immediately after operation there was a complete failure of deglutition, but normal swallowing returned spontaneously in 3 months. Radiological and manometric studies of the pharynx and oesophagus indicated that the main cause of the dysphagia was spasm in the upper oesophagus, distal to the cricopharyngeal sphincter. This is the first report of oesophageal pressure studies on this condition.

The separation of different cell classes from lymphoid organs. IV. The separation of lymphocytes from phagocytes on glass bead columns, and its effect on subpopulations of lymphocytes and antibody-forming cells

Four separate effects can be demonstrated when lymphoid cell suspensions are passed through columns of siliconed glass beads. (a) A temperature-dependent "active adherence" of phagocytic cells, such as macrophages and polymorphs. (b) A temperature-independent and selective trapping by "physical adherence" of particular classes of lymphoid cells, including certain antibody-forming cells. (c) A "size-filtration" effect that traps larger cells, but only becomes significant with beads below 100 micro in diameter. (d) A selective retention of damaged cells, which occurs with all columns under all conditions tested. An active adherence column technique has been developed to separate phagocytes from lymphocytes while minimizing selection within the lymphocyte population by physical adherence or size filtration. In less than 10 min at 37 degrees C it reproducibly produces a preparation of mouse spleen lymphocytes >500-fold depleted of active macrophages, and approximately 50-fold depleted of active polymorphs, with good over-all cell recoveries and cell viability. The lymphocyte fraction appears fully active in its ability to initiate immune responses to at least two different antigens, but is changed in over-all composition and selectively depleted in certain classes of antibody-forming cells.

Experimental studies on the chemosterilization of Schistosoma mansoni

Treatment of mice infected with S. mansoni by various sterilants effective against male rodents produced phases of inhibition of schistosome oviposition assessed by miracidial counts. In the treated worms, besides apparent disappearance of the testes, marked involution of ovarian tissue occurred. The gonads of both male and female worms seem to be directly affected by the antifertility substances. It is suggested that gamete production in both sexes follows similar lines in contrast to the finite reservoir of meiotic oocytes in mammals.

Ocular sarcoidosis

In 5529 new patients attending eye clinics 0·8% of patients were found to have endogenous uveitis. None had radiographic evidence of sarcoidosis. Of thirty-four who had a Mantoux test 56% were negative. A Kveim test done on twenty-four of the cases revealed that 12·5% were positive, and in two of these histological evidence of sarcoidosis was found.

Eighty-two patients with multisystem sarcoidosis were similarly investigated and in addition their lachrymal secretion was measured. Of these twelve (14·6%) had an ocular lesion, six having bilateral uveitis, two unilateral uveitis and four lachrymal gland enlargement. 58% of these cases were found to have reduced lachrymal secretion. In addition fifty-seven of these patients without ocular abnormality had their lachrymal secretion measured and 49% of these were found to have reduced lachrymal secretion.

Growth and respiration of an obligate psychrophile, Micrococcus cryophilus, and its mesophilic mutants

The temperature characteristic for growth (μ) has been determined for an obligate psychrophile, Micrococcus cryophilus ATCC 15174, and its mesophilic mutants. The use of μ. for characterizing psychrophiles and mesophiles is discussed.Solute-transporting and energy-yielding systems were shown to be unrelated to maximum growth temperature.Endogenous respiration and the temperature characteristic of substrate oxidation were both found to be unsuitable as a means of characterizing mesophiles and psychrophiles. The temperature coefficient of substrate oxidation (Q10), with reference temperatures set at 10 and 30 °C is suggested for this purpose, mesophiles having a higher value than psychrophiles.

Chemosterilant action of trimethylphosphate in rodents

Trimethylphosphate, the simplest tri-alkyl ester of phosphoric acid, produces marked antifertility effects in experimental male rodents (Jackson and Jones, 1968). The predominant effect is the "functional" sterilizing action involving spermatids from which intact motile but incompetent sperm continue to be produced. Relatively high doses are required in the mouse (5 X 1 gm/kg orally), whereas it is effective in the rat at 1/10 of this level. Trimethylphosphate is remarkable in that it possesses no anticholinesterase activity, is freshly soluble and stable in water, is effective orally, and has a high level of tolerance. Whereas 500 mg/kg orally render male rats sterile for the ensuing 3 weeks, 5 times this amount, although tolerable, completely disorganizes spermatogenesis without damaging tubular architecture. Such treated rats remain infertile for 20-25 weeks, apparently retaining sexual activity, though a proportion appear to be more permanently sterilized. Rats treated weekly at 5 X 100 mg/kg orally for over 1 year have remained sterile but recover fertility 3-5 weeks from terminating treatment. "Side effects" so far observed are a sedative action and, towards 1 year of treatment, hind leg paresis, although 5 times this dose rate caused progressive loss in weight. Using phosphorus-32-trimethylphosphate the sole phosphorus-containing metabolite is dimethylphosphate (Jackson and Jones, 1968), which has no antifertility activity. With carbon-14-trimethylphosphate, S-methyl cysteine was identified as a urinary metabolite, indicating that trimethylphosphate is involved, at least in its detoxification process, as an alkylating agent. The antifertility action of trimethylphosphate is probably related to methyl alkylation. This would bring it into line with the methyl ester of methanesulphonic acid which also produces the "functional" type of sterility in rats and mice (Jackson, 1964). Like methyl methanesulphonate (Partington and Bateman, 1964), trimethylphosphate in substerilizing doses induces so-called dominant lethal mutations. Preliminary structure/activity studies have shown that tri-n-propyl- and tri-iso-propylphosphates do not affect the fertility of male mice (5 X 1 gm/kg orally). Both these esters together with tri-n-propyl- and tri-n-butyl-phosphates still have the capacity to alkylate, and like trimethylphosphate, the only metabolites in the rat were the di-alkylphosphates and corresponding S-alkyl cysteines. Whereas all these substances interact with cysteine in vitro, only trimethylphosphate reacts readily with glutathione. This might be pertinent to its biological activity.

Mesophilic mutants of an obligate psychrophile, micrococcus cryophilus

Several mutants with elevated maximal growth temperature (MGT) were developed from an obligate psychrophile, Micrococcus cryophilus ATCC 15174, by ultraviolet irradiation. Two of the mutants, T8 and M19, have the most similar characteristics to those of their parent. The mutants lost the ability to grow well at 0 °C and showed changes in metabolic pathways while acquiring the ability to grow at elevated temperatures. Heat resistance and deoxyribonucleic acid thermal denaturation temperature were shown to be unrelated to maximum growth temperature. The significance of the mutants is discussed.

Apparent transformation of growth-temperature character in Micrococcus cryophilus

The apparent transformation of growth temperature character in Micrococcus cryophilus and mesophilic mutants is described.