Fine structure of the olfactory organ of elasmobranchs (Elasmobranchii)]

The study acetylene amines were capable of inhibiting the processes of lipids peroxidation both in the enzymatic and non-enzymatic peroxidation system. The inhibitory effect of the study compounds depended upon the degree of the compound unsaturation. An elevation of the unsaturation degree to a definite extent is attended also by an increased inhibitory action on the processes of the lipids peroxidation.     

The relation between scabies and hypersensitivity to antigens of house dust mites and storage mites

Twenty five non-atopic scabietic patients were examined to estimate their reaction to crude house dust mite Dermatophagoides farinae (D. farinae) and storage mite Tyrophagus putrescentia (T. putrescentiae) antigens. Skin prick testing (SPT) by extracts of both mites antigens showed significant higher positive results in scabietics when compared to non-scabietic control subjects. Moreover, 60% and 56% of scabietic patients showed positive levels of specific anti-D. farinae and T. putrescentia IgE respectively in comparison to 13.4% & 20% of control subjects. A significant difference has been obtained when the total number of positive results were compared to the total number of negative ones. The results revealed that there is an evidence of cross reactivity between Sarcoptes scabiei antigens and extracts of D. farinae and T. putrescentiae, and the hypersensitivity to house dust mite and storage mite antigens was significantly higher in scabietics than in controls. It could be concluded that there is some proof that other mites rather than Sarcoptes scabiei may have a role in the pathogenesis of scabies and the cross reactivity between S. scabiei and house dust mite and storage mite may explain the persistence of symptoms in some cases even after proper treatment of the disease.     

The soluble type 2 insulin-like growth factor (IGF-II) receptor reduces organ size by IGF-II-mediated and IGF-II-independent mechanisms

The soluble type 2 insulin-like growth factor (IGF) receptor or IGF-II/mannose 6-phosphate receptor (sIGF2R) is produced in vivo by proteolytic deletion of the transmembrane and intracellular domains of the cellular form of the receptor (IGF2R). There is evidence that sIGF2R is a negative regulator of growth. We have shown that transgenic mice expressing an Igf2r cDNA with a deleted transmembrane domain sequence (sDeltaIgf2r) show reduced local organ size. In the present study, we investigate whether sDeltaIGF2R can slow the growth induced by an excess of IGF-II and whether the biological activity of sDeltaIGF2R is due solely to its interactions with IGF-II. To this end, we crossed sDeltaIgf2r transgenics by mice overexpressing IGF-II (Blast line) or by mice carrying a disrupted paternal (active) allele of the Igf2 gene (Igf2(m+/p-)). Analysis of the phenotypes revealed that the soluble IGF2R affects the size of some organs (colon and cecum) exclusively by reducing the biological activity of IGF-II, whereas in other organs (stomach and skin) the biological activity of the receptor is at least in part independent of IGF-II and must involve an interaction with other factor(s).     

The legal basis of organ transplantation (author''s transl)

Report on the legal basis of organ transplantation in Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Iceland and Finland. Reference is made to the legal uncertainty in the Federal Republic of Western Germany. The Federation probably has no legislative competence for an adequate transplantation law. Amendments of the xi 168 StGB suggested by individual Federal States are discussed. The synopsis of the existing legal rules in the above mentioned countries suggests the proposal of general legal principles which should guarantee 1. the best medical care in transplantation medicine especially in renal explantates 2. a legal protection for the physician 3. a protection for personal rights of the donor. The author feels that the rights of those persons who provide for the corpses should be superceded by these considerations.     

The validity of degree and variety of carotid-artery-stenosis (author's transl)]

In cerebro-vascular deficiency the significance of carotoid artery-stenosis is determined by local and general risk factors. Indications for surgical treatment depend both on the degree and variety of stenosis. Clinical findings and measuring of blood pressure during operation have shown that cardiac efficiency, blood pressure, sympathetic affections of other brain-supplying arteries and above all function of arterious circle of Willis constitute further important risk factors.     

The fellow eye in acute angle-closure glaucoma (author's transl)]

With 5 years after the acute angle-closure glaucoma of an eye, in the fellow eye the same disease developed in only 15% of cases, but in 42% of cases in spite of the preventive miotic therapy a chronic angle-closure glaucoma developed unnoticed by the patients. Hence preventive iridectomy is suggested in the fellow eye.     

The use of peracetic acid for desinfection of tonometers (author's transl)]

0.1% Peracetic acid (Wofasteril) is suited for desinfection of tonometers, because it has a great rapid microbicidal effect and low concentration. Moreover it is very compatible with cornea and conjunctiva.     

Manifestation of diabetes (author's transl)]

Material of research: 350 cases of diabetes mellitus. The time between the manifestation of diabetes mellitus and the onset of retinopathy is reduced in two cases: with diabetes manifesting itself (a) at the age of puberty, (b) after the age of fifty. The retinopathy appears as "retinopathia simplex" (in all its different subvarieties) and as "retinopathia proliferans". Out investigation showed a gradual decrease in the benign forms of the retinopathia simplex with advancing years--from twenty to sixty--of diabetic manifestation, with retinopathia proliferans simultaneously gaining ground. With diabetes manifesting from sixty on, retinopathia proliferans dwindles to insignificance; there remains an indefinite form of retinopathia simplex.     

The influence of methoxyflurane (penthrane) on surface activity of the lung (author's transl)]

Methoxyflurane, at the moment the most potent inhalation anaesthetic, was examined in respect of its surfactant irritating properties in the rabbit. After a five hour anaesthesia with this compound there was, compared with a control group of animals which underwent only mechanical ventilation with room air for the same period, a significant decline of the compliance quotient from 2.99 to 2.55, indicating a relevant impairment of alveolar lining surfactant. A concomitant fall of arterial PaO2 from 84.8 to 71.3 mm Hg showed the resulting deterioration of respiratory function. Postanaesthetic preparations of these lungs examined using the Wilhelmy balance exhibited a significant fall of the stability index from 1.73 to 1.25, though hysteresis remained unaffected. Lung histology showed interstitial edema and patchy atelectasis, features which are found also in the early stages of post-traumatic pulmonary insufficiency. On this basis we recommend that methoxyflurane is not used in patients with impaired surfactant activity as such is found after severe traumatisation, head injury or in special preexisting pulmonary diseases. If this anesthetic is given to healthy individuals, the ventilatory pattern should include periodic sighs and prophylactic PEEP.     

Origins of the spontaneous receptor potential in the tuberous organ in a mormyrid fish

In an electroreceptor of a Mormyrid fish: 1. The correlations between the number of sensory cells in each receptor organ and the mode of the intervals of time between receptor potentials are not significant within the temperature ranges of 20.0-26.0 degrees C, 20.5-21.5 degrees C, 22.0-23.0 degrees C and are significant at a level of 4.9% within 25.0-26.0 degrees C. 2. The correlations between the mode of intervals of time between receptor potentials and temperature are significant at a level inferior to 1% for isolated receptor organs and also at a level of 5.8% for 21 different receptor organs from 9 different fishes.