Amaurosis fugax and carotid artery disease: indications for angiography

A prospective study of 80 patients presenting with amaurosis fugax was performed in an attempt to relate clinical features to angiographic findings in the internal carotid artery. Carotid bruit, transient cerebral ischaemic attacks, hypertension, and claudication were associated with a high prevalence of angiographic abnormality. Every patient who showed all these features had an operable lesion, as did 88% of those who had three features. In patients over 50 years of age carotid stenosis and atheromatous ulceration were occasionally found in the absence of bruit and transient cerebral ischaemia, but only one patient aged under 50 had an operable lesion and no associated features. Clinical features were therefore valuable in predicting the outcome of angiography, but it seems prudent to restrict angiography to patients aged over 50, who are most likely to benefit from surgery on the carotid artery.     

Canine hyperthermia with cerebral protection

The influence of ATP and AMP injected into the lateral cerebral ventricle in doses of 50, 100 and 200 mug on behavior in rats was studied. ATP in the doses administered had no effect on behavior of rats. AMP in these doses enhanced motor activity of the rats. Chemical sympathectomy by intracerebral injection of 6-hydroxy-dopamine did not affect the action of either of the compounds on behavior of rats. AMP potentiated the action of intracerbrally administered noradrenaline on behavior of the animals.     

Evidence for an association between ABO blood group and goitre

Pulmonary perfusion (Q) and ventilation (V) scintiphotography was performed in 16 patients undergoing diagnostic fiberoptic bronchoscopic examinations. Regional V/Q did not change in the majority of the patients who developed hypoxemia after bronchoscopic studies. An improvement in V/Q was detectable in the patients with a rise in arterial oxygen pressure (PaO2) after bronchoscopic examination, and this rise was associated in most with the removal of mucous plugs or extensive secretions. The data indicate that the behavior of PaO2 after bronchoscopic study is dependent upon both the extent of lavage and the yield of the procedure in terms of secretions and plugs. The results also indicate that the removal of secretions or plugs can be associated with rapid return of regional V and Q.     

Acute inflammation of epiglottitis and supraglottic structures in adults

Acute epiglottitis, an unusual cause of acute upper airway obstruction in adults, is probably more common than previously recognized. While the history and physical findings are characteristic, the clinical diagnosis is often unsuspected. Radiographic findings include swelling of the epiglottis, aryepiglottic folds, arytenoids, uvulae, and prevertebral soft tissues, with ballooning of the hypopharynx and mesopharynx and obliteration of the valeculae. The epilgottic airway may show a characteristic pencil-thin configuration due to edema.     

A micromethod for the stereospecific determination of triglyceride structure

Triglyceride lipase and diglyceride kinase can be used in a sensitive stereospecific analysis of the separate fatty acid compositions at the 1, 2 and 3 positions of a triglyceride. Diglyceride kinase fromEscherichia coli selectively catalyzes the phosphorylation of 1,2-diglycerides but not the 2,3-diglycerides. The composition of the 3-position in rat liver triglycerides is clearly different from that at the 1-position. A preliminary report of this work has been presented (1).