Rewarming from immersion hypothermia: a comparison of three techniques

Analysis of measurements from the tali of 21 individual fossil primates from Africa shows that the specimens fall into five clearly defined groups. Accordingly, these specimens have been included as groups along with extant species in a subsequent canonical analysis thus allowing the fossils to play their part in the determination of the canonical separations. The results of this procedure show that the five fossil groups lie in a part of the canonical space not occupied by any extant African primate. Their positions are between the envelope of Asiatic apes (Hylobates and Pongo) and the envelope of African forms near the edge which contains Pan and Papio. One fossil group is so similar to Hylobates that its talus may have functioned in locomotion in a parallel manner. Others lie near to Pongo in directions proceeding towards Pan and Papio and it is possible that this similarity may indicate remnants of morphological adaptation for climbing in these fossils. At the same time, however, individual specimens are closer to one or another of the extant groups and this considerable spread suggests that the locomotor adaptations as evidenced by talar morphology, of the primate fauna in Africa, may have been very different from those of the present day. This would not the inconsistent with the different habitats, floras and non-primate faunas that may have characterized the East African scene at these earlier times. Particular fossils from Olduvai and Kromdraai that are supposed to be australopithecine and therefore bipeds, are confirmed (Oxnard, '72; Lisowski et al., '74) as being totally different from man in their talar morphology and essentially rather similar to the majority of the other fossil tali examined.     

Skeletal resistance to the calcemic action of parathyroid hormone in uremia: role of 1,25 (OH)2 D3

Studies were carried out to investigate the role of 1,25(OH)2D3 in the skeletal resistance to the calcemic action of parathyroid hormone. The change in serum calcium after the intravenous infusion of 2 U of parathyroid extract (PTE)/kg body wt/hr for eight hours was evaluated in thyroparathyroidectomized (T-PTX) dogs before, and one, two and three days after, induction of uremia by bilateral ureteral ligation (11 dogs) or by bilateral nephrectomy (8 dogs). In another six nephrectomized and T-PTX dogs, 0.68 ug of 1, 25 (OH)2D3/day was given on the day of nephrectomy and for two days thereafter. Serum creatinine in each day of the study was not different among the three groups. The study also included the evaluation of the effect of sham operation (five dogs) and the administration of 1,25 (OH)2D3 to dogs with normal renal function (four dogs) on the calcemic response to PTE, as well as the reproducibility of such a response in the same animal. The results showed that 1) the calcemic response to PTE was markedly impaired after one day of bilateral ureteral ligation or nephrectomy, but the impairment was more severe after nephrectomy; 2) the calcemic response to PTE after two or three days of bilateral ureteral ligation was similar to that seen at one day after nephrectomy; 3) 1, 25 (OH)2D3 partially restored the calcemic response to PTE in the nephrectomized animals to levels similar to those seen after one day of bilateral ureteral ligation; 4) sham operation did not affect the response to PTE, and repeated infusion of PTE produced similar changes in the concentrations of serum calcium. The data indicate that (a) a deficiency of 1,25 (OH)2D3 is at least partly responsible for the skeletal resistance to the calcemic action of PTH in uremia; (b) uremia, per se, may also contribute to this phenomenon; and (c) the kidney after one day of complete bilateral ureteral ligation may still produce 1,25 (OH)2D3, but this ability is compromised after two days of ureteral obstruction.     

Screening and confirmatory methods for determining lincomycin residues in animal tissues

Methods for screening and for confirming residues of lincomycin in animal tissues, both sensitive to 0.1 ppm, are described. In the screening technique, residues are extracted, cleaned up by solvent partition, and detected by microbiological plate assay. In the confirmatory technique, residues are cleaned up on an unfunctionalized macroreticular-type resin column, concentrated, chromatographed on thin layer plates, and detected by bioautography. This system was effective in identifying lincomycin in the presence of 20 other antibiotics and chemicals used in the animal health industry.     

Antipyrine: radioimmunoassay in plasma and saliva following administration of a high dose and a low dose

The body's equilibrium is possible thanks to the integration of skeletal structure, vertebrae, ligaments and muscles to form one functional unity. The forces which determine posture are composed of two complementary systems, the ligamentary and the muscular systems, which together determine a dynamic act of balance. The ligaments operate mainly against the visco-hydraulic pressure of the nucleus pulposus and bind the vertebral bodies together, whereas the muscles exhibit an antigravity function and support spinal stability. A mathematical model based on a mixed theory of directed and oriented curves is proposed. Through this model it is possible to develop an exact theory governing the deformation of the ligamentous spine. This theory should be universal in the sense that it can be used to supply the spine in any of its environments.     

On the nature of brain stem disorders in severe head injured patients

In head injured patients changes were found in the CSF levels of metabolites of the dopaminergic and the serotonergic neurotransmission (HVA and 5-HIAA). After the fifth day following trauma a significant decrease of the HVA levels in the lumbar CSF after probenecid treatment was found. The intensity of this decrease was found to be related to the severity of the trauma (period of unconsciousness), but not to the state of consciousness. Also the probenecid-induced 5-HIAA levels in conscious patients were decreased after the fifth post-traumatic day. In unconscious patients, the period of unconsciousness, particularly in the period of 5-20 days after trauma. Between 21 and 60 days after trauma the 5-HIAA concentrations in unconscious patients decreased remarkably, but they were still significantly higher than in the conscious patients. It can be concluded that during unconsciousness serotonergic neurons have a high rate of turnover, but that both neurotransmitter systems are damaged by the direct or indirect consequences of the injury.     

Mental symptoms in Parkinson''s disease during chronic treatment with levodopa

The influence of epidural block with bupivacaine (Marcaine-adrenalin) on fetal heart rate, uterine activity, and the frequency and intensity of contractions was studied in twenty-five nulliparae at term. Uterine activity was found to decrease during the first 30 minutes following epidural block. In the time interval 30 to 40 minutes after epidural block uterine activity increased again and attained the same level as during the last 10 minutes before analgesia. The frequency of uterine contractions did not decrease after the block. The lower levels of uterine contractility were due only to a lower amplitude of the contractions. The regularizing effect of epidural analgesia on incoordinate uterine action was noted. The recording of fetal heart rate in the time interval studied revealed no pathological findings. Mode of delivery, mean labour duration and Apgar scores after epidural block were comparable with earlier studies of a larger patient population. This study suggest that epidural analgesia does not induce any important changes in fetal heart rate but temporarily decreases uterine activity.     

Hepatitis among plasma fractionation workers. An industry-wide study

An industry-wide survey of plasm fractionation facilities in the United States was conducted during 1973-74. Hepatitis was reported among the workers with varying degrees of plasma contact at all plant sites. For each of fourteen facilities in this investigation, field inspections disclosed: (1) numerous overt instances of employee-product contact: (2) inconsistent methodologic approaches at virtually all stages of the plasma fractionation process; (3) at low level of management and employee awareness regarding the potential bio-hazard identified; and (4) disparate examples of hepatitis surveillance and prophylaxis. Our data suggests that there is a high risk of hepatitis among plasma fractionation workers and, as such, much more attention needs to be focused on the reduction of health hazards within this industry.     

Transient ischemic attacks not produced by extracranial vascular disease: a plea for complete and early angiographic investigation

Six patients with classical transient ischemic attacks that were not directly related to extracranial carotid disease are presented. These cases were selected to include a variety of pathologic conditions: one case each of brain tumor, arteriovenous malformation, chronic subdural hematoma, cervical spondylosis, and two cases of giant intracranial aneurysms. These case histories are significant because they illustrate that without complete angiographic investigation, tragic results could have and did occur in some cases. Transient ischemic attacks should be considered as a symptom of various possible pathologic conditions, and a careful search for the cause must be pursued aggressively.