Chorioretinitis with a combined defect in T and B lymphocytes and granulocytes. A new syndrome successfully treated with dialyzable leukocyte extracts (transfer factor)

A patient with immune deficiency, recurrent pyogenic infections and active chorioretinitis is described; in addition to agammaglobulinemia, both quantitative and qualitative T-cell deficiencies were documented. Furthermore, the patient's granulocytes (polymorphonuclear leukocytes), although normal in their bactericidal capacity for Staphylococcus, responded poorly to both leukocyte migration inhibition factor and neutrophil immobilizing factor obtained from normal cells. The immunologic features of this patient appear to comprise a new syndrome. Remarkable diminution of the ocular lesions and increased visual acuity occurred within two months after the initiation of therapy with dialyzable leukocyte extracts (transfer factor). Concurrent testing of the patient's cell-mediated immunity showed increased numbers of circulating T lymphocytes and improved T-cell function following dialyzable leukocyte extract [DLE] therapy. The dramatic clinical results indicate that similar therapy may prove to be beneficial in other patients with chorioretinitis and T-cell deficiency.

Hemodynamic effects of xylazine in the calf

The hemodynamic effects of sedative level doses of xylazine in five chronically instrumented calves were studied. These effects included immediate and prolonged reductions in heart rate, cardiac output, arterial blood pressure, and left ventricular dp/dt max. Stroke volume showed an initial decrease in value with a return in 15 minutes to base-line values. Total peripheral resistance, end-diastolic left ventricular pressure, end-diastolic left ventricular volume, and left ventricular residual fraction were increased after drug administration. The results indicate that a depressed myocardium results from xylazine administration. With one exception (the absence of a hypertensive response), these effects largely parallel, both quantitatively and qualitatively, those seen with this drug in other species. Sedation by xylazine is produced in cattle at doses which are small compared to those which is required for sedation in other species. These same small doses in cattle also cause hemodynamic changes.

Urine screening of arrestees as a source of drug abuse indicator data

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) recently sponsored a study which examined the utility of jail urine screening programs as a source of drug abuse indicator data. During the study, short-term urine screening programs were set up in the central jail facilities of four urban counties. To determine whether jail urine screening programs have the capacity to detect patterns of drug use not readily detectable through existing indicators, the urinalysis findings for each county were compared with data generated by the DAWN and CODAP systems. The results of the study suggest that jail urine screening programs can be useful as a supplement to existing sources of information on drug use patterns in local communities.

Ensheathment and myelination of regenerating PNS fibres by transplanted optic nerve glia

Interactions between PNS axons and CNS glia were studied morphologically by transplanting optic nerves into peripheral nerves in groups of rats and mice. Four to 11 months after grafting, small numbers of axons from the peripheral nerves had penetrated the CNS grafts where they became ensheathed and myelinated by CNS glia. Glial protuberances observed at the CNS-PNS interfaces suggested that there had been an active glial response to innervation by PNS axons. These findings provide experimental evidence that denervated CNS glia can be reinnervated and form myelin.

Relation of Motor Fitness Test Items to Gross Motor Skills

To develop an instrument to screen firefighter applicants, 2 samples totaling 225 young men were tested for 10 motor fitness and task-related items. Body fat and other anthropometric data were estimated. Principal components factor analysis indicated three primary factors for both samples: I = Motor Fitness; II = Size/Strength; III = Physical Maturity. The results indicated motor fitness was not necessarily related to these 10 gross motor skills required of firefighters.

Pulmonary oil deposition in patients subjected to lymphography: Detection by thoracic photoscan and sputum examination

During clinical trials of intralymphatic therapy with radioiodinated ethiodized oil (Lipiodol Ultra-Fluid; Ethiodol) [LUF-I(131)] for malignant disease involving lymph nodes, significant pulmonary deposition of radioactive material was demonstrated by thoracic scan in each of five cases treated. Radioactivity was detected in sputum obtained from two cases. Induced sputum specimens were subsequently obtained from patients undergoing lymphography. Fat demonstrated in sputum was confirmed as Lipiodol in one of six patients tested. Sputum examination and use of tracer doses of LUF-I(131) plus photoscanning are suggested as sensitive methods of assessing the incidence of oil deposition in the lungs of patients undergoing lymphography. Despite limitation of the volume of oil injected, monitoring of the infusion, and absence of radiographic evidence of contrast medium in the lungs, some degree of pulmonary oil deposition appears to be an inevitable result of lymphography. Further study of lung dosimetry is being undertaken by the authors before clinical usage of endolymphatic radioisotope therapy is expanded.