Bacteriology of the lower respiratory tract as determined by fiber-optic bronchoscopy and transtracheal aspiration

For assessment of the validity of cultures of tracheobronchial secretions and exudates (TBSE) obtained by fiber-optic bronchoscopy, the aerobic and anaerobic flora of expectorated saliva and TBSE obtained by fiber-optic bronchoscopy from nine healthy volunteers and eight patients were compared with those obtained by fiber-optic bronchoscopy as well). Normal volunteers yielded both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in amounts usually less than 104.5 colony-forming units (cfu)/ml in TBSE obtained by fiberoptic bronchoscopy. In patients with chronic bronchitis, 42 isolates of aerobic bacteria (104-105.5 cfu/ml) and only 10 isolates of anaerobes (usually less than 104 cfu/ml) were reovered from 15 samples obtained by trantracheal aspiration. The data lead to the conclusion that low-level contamination (less than or equal to 104 cfu/ml) with oral flora is common in TBSE obtained by fiber-optic bronchoscopy. A single potential pathogen in numbers of greater than or equal to 105 cfu/ml may be of etiologic significance, particularly if recovered from purulent drainage material from a localized portion of the lung. Under circumstances in which quantitative bacteriology cannot be done, TBSE obtained by transtracheal aspiration will most reliably reflect the bacterial flora present in the lung.     

The glycerylphosphorylcholine content of the rat epididymis after injecting alpha-chlorohydrin and ligating the vasa efferentia

There are few reports which discussed normal RI-cisternography in infancy and childhood. The cisternograms of the children between 2 months and 13 year-old were classified under a criteria into three groups; 17 normal cases, 135 borderline cases and 77 abnormal cases. The former two groups were compared with each other and characteristic findings of RI-cisternography in infants and children were appreciated clinically. And we attempted to establish normal RI-cisternography. The characteristic findings are: 1) When the images of cisterna magna is dilated, it can not be concluded directly that the abnormality of posterior fossa are suspected. 2) The bulk flow of CSF in infancy and childhood flows faster in intracranial subarachnoid space as well as intraspinal than the flow of adults. 3) Early ventricular reflux seems to be not valuable clinically. But we would like to emphasize that the incidence of these findings are variable as children grow older. The mechanism of this phenomenon needs further investigation.     

Effect of stretch on passive transport in toad urinary bladder

In order to gain further information about the effect of stretch on the urinary bladder of the toad, transepithelial movement of radioactive sucrose, chloride, and urea was measured across bladder sacs during acute changes in the internal volume. Short-circuit current (SCC) and total tissue conductance (Kt) were also measured in each experiment. It was found that sudden large increases or smaller graded increases in volume resulted in a consistent fall in the tracer permeability (P*) of all three isotopes. However, this fall was due entirely to the larger area term in the calculation of P* rather than any real change in isotope movement. When total diffusion (TD) of each isotope was calculated by a method that eliminated the changes in surface area, it was apparent that stretch produced no significant effects on the transepithelial movement of any of these three molecules. Large stretch also resulted in parallel increases in SCC and Kt in most bladders. We conclude from these observations that the intercellular pathway for sucrose and chloride and the transcellular pathway for urea are unaltered by degrees of stretch that enhance SCC and sodium transport. By inference, the observed increases in Kt appear to represent changes in specific active pathway conductance (Ka), and may relate importantly to the changes in sodium transport.     

Post-mortem study of the hip joint. III. Correlations between observations

Correlations between alterations in hip joints, described in a post-mortem study, have established the independence of limited and progressive alterations, and in addition have shown that there is a weak association between limited alterations and osteophytes and a strong one between progressive alterations and osteophytes. Nevertheless limited alterations may rarely undergo progressive damage. Cysts relate strongly to osteophytes but only moderately with progressive alterations. Limited alterations of both head and acetabulum can be subdivided. Some implications of these findings are discussed.