A spectrum of diseases of the thyroid gland as imaged by gray scale water bath sonography

A method of performing gray scale thyroid echography with a 3.5 MHz focused transducer and an open water bath is described. A preliminary echographic classification of abnormalities and representative echograms illustrating various thyroid disorders are presented.     

Insulin, glucagon, portal systemic shunting, and hepatic failure in the dog

The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) composition was studied in 54 premature infants. The pregnancy was normal and the delivery normal and non traumatic in all of them, and the 5 minutes Apgar score ranged from 6 to 9. No abnormalities were found on physical examination including neurological examination. Blood cell countings and blood gasometry were normal. CSF composition was studied as to: total cell count and total protein, glucose, bilirrubin and hemoglobin concentrations. Data found permit to stablish as physiologic the following values: leucocytes, until 16 per cumm; erithrocytes, until 1,280 per cumm; total protein content until 300 mgm/100 ml; bilirrubin until 80 micrometer/1; hemoglobin until 8 micrometer/1; glucose, two thirds of the concentration found in the blood. Protein, bilirrubin and hemoglobin are significantly increased as compared to values found for the CSF of 79 fullterm normal newborn babies evaluated previously. Hemoglobin was not detected in the CSF of any full term newborn baby. The differences found are probably due to a less efficient blood-CSF barrier in premature infants as compared to full-term newborn babies.     

PGM3 locus and its genetic polymorphism in lymphocytes of the pig

PGM3 activity was investigated by means of horizontal starch gel electrophoresis. In the pig of the German Landrace three different phenotypes have been recognized: F, S and FS. Family studies suggest the occurrence of at least two alleles--PGM3F and the PGM3S at an autosomal locus.     

The renal factor in the post-traumatic "fluid overload" syndrome

Hypervolemia with hypertension often occurs 36-72 hours following massive blood and fluid replacement for hypovolemic shock. This syndrome of "fluid overload" has been attributed to the rapid intravascular flux of previously sequestered fluid in patients with impaired diuresis. This hypothesis was tested in 35 injured patients who received a mean of 9.3 L of blood and 17.4 L of salt during resucitation. The renal parameters measured soon after resuscitation included: 1) renal clearance of inulin (GFR), para-amino hippurate (ERPF), milliosmoles, sodium, and free water; 2) inulin space, renal vascular resistance (RVR), O2 consumption, renin, renal blood flow (RBF), and response to furosemide. Eighteen patients developed hypertension, hypervolemia, and respiratory insufficiency. When compared to the 17 normovolemic, non-hypertensive patients, the 18 hypervolemic patients had significantly increased RVR, with a significant decrease in RBF despite an increase in plasma volume and cardiac output. Furosemide produced less diuresis and natriuresis in the hypertensive patients. The balance between hypovolemia and "fluid overload" seemed percarious in the hypertensive patients. Peripheral renin and catecholamine levels were normal in both groups. Patients with post-traumatic "fluid overload" appear to have a combination of hypervolemia, respiratory insufficiency, hypertension, increased cardiac output, decreased extracellular fluid space, and decreased renal perfusion. These findings suggest that decreased interstitial fluid space compliance rather than "fluid overload" is the underlying factor leading to respiratory insufficiency. The therapeutic aspects of these findings are discussed.     

Sources and dissemination of contamination in material handling operations

To assess the potential risks to personnel preparing feed for carcinogen bioassay research, a tracer was mixed with a meal diet to yield 10 kg batches of 100, 3,000 and 5,890 ppm. Wipe samples were obtained from horizontal and vertical surfaces, equipment and personnel before operations began, after they were completed, and following clean-up. Total and respirable suspended particulate matter samples were obtained. All operations led to contamination of clothing and equipment; cleaning did not remove all contamination. These results, obtained in a well controlled environment in which trained and well protected personnel were working, suggest that a higher level of process control may be required for adequate protection of personnel performing material handling operations with known or suspected carcinogens.     

The limitation of mitral echocardiography in combined mitral lesions

In combined mitral stenosis and incompetence, the mitral echocardiogram is able to estimate the degree of mitral stenosis (i. e. mitral valve area) without being able to detect or quantify mitral incompetence. A diastolic closure rate of 20 mm/sec or less does not exclude significant mitral incompetence as claimed by others. Cardiac catheterization is still necessary in mitral stenosis, where concominant mitral incompetence is suspected clinically, to confirm its presence and quantify its degree.