Evaluation of fecal technics for the diagnosis of cat liver fluke infection

The comparative efficiency of 5 standard technics for the detection of feline liver fluke ova in feces was evaluated. The formalin-ether technic proved superior to direct smear, sugar flotation, zinc sulfate flotation, or detergent sedimentation technics. The formalin-ether technic correctly diagnosed all Platynosomum concinnum-infected cats studied, as confirmed by necropsy findings.     

Interaction between radiation and drug damage in mammalian cells. II. The effect of actinomycin-D on the repair of the sublethal radiation damage in plateau phase cells

The effect of actinomycin-D (AMD) on radiation damage repair was studied in plateau phase V79 Chinese hamster cells. Sublethal radiation damage repair, as demonstrated by survival fluctuations following two x-ray exposures separted by time, was observed in our plateau phase cells. Plateau phase cells exposed to 0.01-0.04 mug/ml AMD (a nontoxic regimen to 8 hours) between x-ray exposures were less able to repair sublethal damage. If plateau phase cells were plated at low dilutions into fresh medium (conditions for resuming exponential growth) immediately after the first x-ray dose, and exposed to 0.01--0.04 mug/ml AMD until the second dose, inhibition of sublethal damage repair and additional cell killing were observed particularly at 0.04 mug/ml AMD. It is suggested that radiation-drug damage interactions should be studied in plateau phase cells and in cells resuming exponential growth after plateau phase (possibly analogous to "recruitment"), as well as in exponential phase cultures.     

Comparison of human and hamster mitochondrial transfer RNA. Physical properties and methylation status

In a comparative study, the effective of intraventricularly or intraperitoneally injected p-chloroamphetamine (p-CA) and some chloroindoles on cerebral levels of serotonin was evaluated. 5-Chloroindole depressed 5-HT levels in the brainstem and telencephalon for three days, 6-chloro-2-methylindole (6-CMI) only during the first day. 5-Chloroindazole had no effect at all. p-CA was more toxic to guinea pigs than to rats. p-CA and 5-chloro-2-methylindole (5-CMI) had no effect on cerebral 5-HT in chicks. Apparently, none of these compounds represented or was converted to a metabolite possibly responsible for the neurotoxic effects of p-CA.     

Sparganosis in the United States. Report of a case

A 20-year-old Philadelphia woman (recently moved from South Carolina) had sparganosis of her lower anterior abdominal wall. In the United States sparganosis occurs when man enters the life cycle of dog or cat tapeworms of the genus Spirometra. Most of the American cases have been reported from the southeastern United States, and the most probable source of infection is contaminated drinking water. Sporadic cases have also been seen in other parts of the country. If the pathologist is familiar with the morphology of spargana, the gross and histologic features are sufficient for identification of genus Spirometra.     

Antilipidemic drugs. Part 4: The metabolic fate of the hypolipidemic agent isopropyl-[4'-(p-chlorobenzoyl)-2-phenoxy-2-methyl]-protionate (LF 178) in rats, dog and man

The excretion and plasma concentrations of radioactivity and chromatographic patterns of radioactive components in plasma and excreta have been compared in rats, dogs and man after oral doses of the hypolipidemic agent isopropyl-[4'-(p-chlorobenzoyl)-2-phenoxy-2-methyl]-propionate (LF 178; procetofene; Lipanthyl?). 2. In rats, 48.1% of a single dose of 25 mg/kg was excreted in the urine, and 48.6% in the faeces. In dogs, 23.1% of a single dose at the same level was excreted in the urine, and 71.8% in the faeces, but 88.1% of a dose of 300 mg to man was excreted in the urine, and only 5.1% in the faeces. Peak levels of radioactivity in the plasma of all three species studied were similar (20--30 mug/ml) after doses at these levels and concentrations declined thereafter with half-lives of 7--24 h in rats and dogs, and 7 h in man. The half-life of radioactivity concentrations in rat plasma was not altered by repeated daily doses for 7 days. 3. Whole-body autoradiography of rats showed that radioactivity was largely associated with the liver, kidneys and gut, which are the organs of biotransformation and excretion, although relatively high levels were present in lungs and blood, and small amounts of radioactivity had a widespread distribution into some peripheral tissues during 2--7 h after dosing. 4. The available chromatographic evidence indicated that the most important biotransformation pathway appeared to be ester hydrolysis to LF 178 acid and formation of water soluble conjugates of this acid. This pathway appeared similar to that of the related drug clofibrate (ethyl p-chlorophenoxyisobutyrate).     

Clinical experience using a small-gauge needle for arterial puncture

The present study was undertaken to ascertain the feasibility of using a 25-gauge needle for arterial punctures. A total of 11,500 arterial punctures were performed over the past four years by this technique without any major complication. Repeated arterial punctures were well tolerated by all patients, and the necessity for indwelling arterial catheters was almost totally eliminated during this period of study.     

An evaluation of procedures used in staging carcinoma of the cervix

A review of 227 cases of invasive carcinoma of the cervix was undertaken to determine the efficacy of procedures using in the staging of this disease. All patients had a pretreatment chest radiography and intravenous pyelogram. 96.5% had pretreatment cystoscopy, 98.6% had pretreatment proctoscopy, and 92% had a pretreatment barium enema. These patients were retrospectively staged on the findings of physical examination only. Each additional procedure was then evaluated by comparison with the initial staging. Cystoscopy and chest film findings each would have changed the clinical stage in fewer than 1% of cases, barium enema in 1.4%, and proctoscopy in 2.2%. No patient had a positive barium enema without a positive proctoscopy, while two patients had positive proctoscopies with negative barium enemas. The overall yield of positive findings by pretreatment intravenous pyelography was 7.3%. Lymphangiography, although inconsistently done, yielded positive findings in all stages. Chest radiographs, intravenous pyelography, proctoscopy, and lymphangiography are recommended as part of the pretreatment workup of patients with carcinoma of the cervix. Routine barium enema is no longer recommended, and cystoscopy is only recommended in patients with clinical stage IIB disease or greater.     

A biochemical basis for obligate methylotrophy: properties of a mutant of Pseudomonas AM1 lacking 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase

The effects of PGE1 on the dog heart were studied using the blood-perfused sinus node and papillary muscle preparations isolated separately from the same animal. PGE1 administered into the papillary muscle artery as bolus injections in doses of 1-1000 ng caused a dose-dependent increase of the developed tension and dT/dt of the papillary muscle. The effect was not inhibited by the beta-adrenoceptor blocking agent pindolol. PGE1 injected into the sinus node artery in doses of 3-300 ng did not change the rate of contraction of the sinus node preparation. PGE1 in the blood concentrations of 4.4 X 10(-9) to 1.7 X 10(-7) M enhanced the positive inotropic responses to noradrenalin and field stimulation as well as to calcium. The influence of PGE1 on the positive inotropic effect of perivascular nerve stimulation was not consistent: the action of perivascular nerve stimulation was enhanced by PGE1 in the majority of preparations but was reduced in one third of preparations. PGE1 in the same blood concentrations as used in the papillary muscle significantly depressed the positive chronotropic responses to noradrenaline and dopamine. The present results indicate that PGE1 induces multiple actions on the dog heart. Its predominant effect on the ventricular myocardium appears to be enhancement of the adrenergic stimuli probably via the facilitation of calcium movement through the myocardial cell membrane. In addition, PGE1 may decrease the sensitivity of beta-adrenoceptors to adrenergic stimuli in the sinus node.