Lipofuscin pigment in cerebellar Purkinje neurones and choroid plexus epithelial cells of macaque monkeys with Plasmodium knowlesi cerebral malaria: an electron microscopical observation

Experimental infection of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) with a virulent (W1) strain of Plasmodium knowlesi resulted in cerebral malaria. Electron microscopical examination of the brain revealed large numbers of intracytoplasmic lipofuscin pigment deposits in cerebellar Purkinje neurones and choroid plexus epithelium of the lateral ventricle. This lesion may be part of the nervous system response to ischaemic hypoxia.     

Effect of clomiphene citrate on gonadotropin responses to LRH administration in secondary amenorrhea and oligomenorrhea

Clomiphene citrate was administered to 17 patients with either secondary amenorrhea or oligomenorrhea to study its effect on hypothalamic-pituitary response. Measurement of pulsatile gonadotropin output was accomplished utilizing samples collected every 20 minutes for 6 to 8 hours before and after clomiphene administration. Response to 100 mug synthetic luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LRH) was measured at the end of the sampling period. Patients with polycystic ovarian disease who ovulated showed increased baseline FSH and LH, decreased peak LH, and a decrease in the percentage increase over baseline for both LH and FSH. On patient wil clinical anorexia nervosa responded to clomiphene as an estrogen, with lowered baseline LH and FSH values. Patients with resolving anorexia responded to clomiphene as an antiestrogen, with increased baseline gonadotropins, and decreased gonadotropin peak values. A patient with a surgically treated chromophobe adenoma showed no change in parameters measured before and after clomiphene administration. Baseline and pulsatile LH output appear to reflect the tonic output of gonadotropin as affected by estrogen acting in a negative feedback system, and the peak response to LRH administration, the response to the positive feedback of estrogen. Thus, LRH stimulation in clomipheneresistent patients may be of value in diagnosing the site and degree of the defect and aid in improving therapy.     

Hormonal influences on sexual dimorphism in rate of extinction of a conditioned taste aversion in rats

The hormonal influences on the slow extinction rate of a conditioned taste aversion shown by male rats and the fast extinction rate shown by female rats were investigated. When males were castrated, they extinguished as quickly as females. When castrated males were given testosterone propionate replacement, they had a slow extinction rate. Castration had no effect on the extinction rate of females. But when testosterone propionate was administered to castrated or intact females, they had a slow, malelike extinction rate. Thus, sexual dimorphism in the extinction rate of a conditioned taste aversion seems to be due to the activational effects of testosterone.     

Community experience with small bowel bypass for morbid obesity

A comparison of small bowel bypass performed at university centers and by private practitioners in a large metropolitan area demonstrates definite stmilarities in terms of patient selection, mortality and morbidity, and weight loss results. The only aspect of small bowel bypass in the private sector that could be criticized would be the adequacy of follow-up. An operation with as many known and probably other unknown long-term complications as jejunoileal bypass necessitates prolonged careful patient follow-up. We belive the person most qualified to provide such follow-up is the surgeon who performed by bypass procedure.     

Sensitive colorimetric determination of cholesterol in dairy products

Cholesterol can be determined colorimetrically in dairy products at levels of larger than or equal to 10 mug (coefficient of variation = 5.3%) with an o-phthalaldehyde reagent when non-cholesterol lipids are eliminated prior to color development. Absorbance for 2 mg tripalmitin was found to be equivalent to about 20 mug cholesterol. Saponification followed by hexane extraction removed interfering lipids. Using the described procedure, 238 individual raw milk samples were found to contain 144.4+/-37.9 mug cholesterol/ml, while their skim milk portions had 26.5+/-6.4 mug cholesterol/ml (mean +/- standard deviation). The o-phthalaldehyde cholesterol estimates agreed with those obtained by a gas-liquid chromatographic procedure when cheese and ice cream were analyzed by the colorimetric procedure with and without prior fat extraction.     

Potential antitumor agents. 14. 4-Substituted 2-formylpyridine thiosemicarbazones

A series of 4-substituted 2-formylpyridine thiosemicarbazones has been synthesized which contain a tertiary N at the 4 position. These materials were obtained by reacting 4-nitro-2-picoline N-oxide, either directly or after conversion to the corresponding 4-chloro derivative, with a variety of secondary amines. Rearrangement of the 4-substituted 2-picoline N-oxides with Ac2O yielded respective methyl acetates, which upon acid hydrolysis, MnO2 oxidation, and reaction with thiosemicarbazide resulted in the desired compounds. An alternate procedure which consisted of reacting 4-chloro-2-formylpyridine ethylene acetal with various amines, followed by hydrolysis and reaction with thiosemicarbazide, was also employed. Introduction of an alkyl group at the 3 position of the pyridine ring of 4-morpholino-2-formylpyridine thiosemicarbazone was achieved by utilizing 2,3-dimethyl-4-nitropyridine N-oxide; this material was converted to the corresponding 4-chloro derivative which was then subjected to nucleophilic substitution. 4-Morpholino-2-formylpyridine thiosemicarbazone was the most active antineoplastic agent of this series in mice bearing Sarcoma 180 ascites cells and was significantly superior to 5-hydroxy-2-formylpyridine thiosemicarbazone in this test system.     

The role of the Family Planning Association in Hong Kong's fertility decline

The fertility decline in Hong Kong appears to be the result of 1) the economic and social development achieved during the 1960s which created an environment favorable to the development of a family planning program, and 2) the changes in the practice of and to a lesser extent the attitude toward contraception induced by the Family Planning Association (FPA). The FPA has motivated people to accept family planning services and has provided them with an inexpensive and convenient source of contraceptives. Prior to 1966, posters, pamphlets, and newspaper advertisements were the main sources of publicity with radio and television used only on a limited basis. Since 1966 the existing channels of communication have been modified and new approaches in the form of film showings, contests, and telephone inquiry services have been developed to inform and motivate couples to begin contraceptive practice. After many years of these publicity campaigns, over 95% of all married women in Hong Kong understand that contraceptives can be used for limiting births and practically all of them are familiar with the FPA. Additionally, the most important referral source, accounting for over 85% of all new acceptors, has been the person-to-person contact made by the FPA family planning workers as well as satisfied clients. In 1966 fieldwork operations were expanded and a new recruitment strategy was initiated in which activities were increasingly concentrated in maternal and child health centers. The effect of reaching young and low parity women in the mid- to late 1960s has been cumulative. Since 1969 there have been indications that fertility decline is increasing in the older age groups. Although the extent to which the FPA's activities encouraging the use of the more modern methods of contraception affected the fertility decline is difficult to determine, it is obvious that the population was receptive to the new and improved methods as evidenced by the boom of acceptors in 1965 when IUD insertions were at their peak and by the 2nd boom in 1969 when the large-scale distribution of orgal contraceptives began.