Potential new artificial sweetener from study of structure-taste relationships

4-(Methoxymethyl)-1,4-cyclohexadiene-1-carboxaldehyde syn-oxime is a new sweetening agent developed by systematic synthesis and taste evaluation of 80 new oximes analogous to the little-used osime sweetener, perillartine.     

Complement activation in vivo in cancer patients receiving C. parvum immunotherapy

Serum complement levels were assayed in 26 patients with disseminated cancer, who received immunotherapy with infusion of C. parvum. Complement activation, indicated by the consumption of C3 or C4 or both, was found in 46% of the patients. Serum samples showed direct correlation between decreased C3 and conversion of C3 proactivator, whereas such conversion did not occur when C4 alone was decreased. It is concluded that the bypass (properdin) pathway was activated in patients in whom C3 consumption was detected, while the classical (C1) pathway was activated in the patients with C4 consumption unaccompanied by C3 decrease. Direct correlation was observed between delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions to recall antigens and the incidence of C. parvum-associated complement activation.     

Age and features of adrenal cortical function in cerebral circulatory disorders

The indices of glucocorticoid and androgen activity in the adrenal cortex (the level of circulating eosinophils, the daily urine excretion of 17 OCS and 17 CS) and the functional reserve after an ACTH loading was studied in 2 groups of patients with disorders of cerebral circulation under 45 years of age (247 cases) and over 55 (234 cases). In the acute period of a cerebral stroke there was an increase of the glucocorticoid activity which was more definitely expressed in the younger group and a certain inhibition of the androgen function seen mainly in the older group. In transient disorders of cerebral circulation significant age difference in the functioning of the adrenal cortex was not established. In the period following a stroke the established and potential reserves of the adrenocortical glands were distinctly decreased in patients above 55 years and practically unchanged in the younger group.     

Conformations of satellite DNAs

X-ray fiber diffraction studies of satellite DNAs from Gecarcinus lateralis, Drosophila virilis and Mus musculus, all of which have highly repetitious base sequences but with different degrees of sequence complexity, reveal only classical polynucleotide duplex structures in contrast to some highly repetitious synthetic DNAs.     

(Vinylaryloxy)acetic acids. A new class of diuretic agents. 3. ((2-Nitro-1-alkenyl)aryloxy)acetic acids

A series of [(2-nitro-1-alkenyl)aryloxy]acetic acids was synthesized and tested in dogs for saluretic and diuretic activity. A number of these compounds exhibit a high order of activity on iv or po administration; representative of these is (E)-[2,3-dichloro-4-(2-nitropropenyl)phenoxy]acetic acid (5). The most highly active compounds are qualitatively similar in action to [2,3-dichloro-4-(2-methylenebutyryl)phenoxylacetic acid (ethacrynic acid) in causing a prompt increase in the excretion of water and of sodium and chloride ions in approximately equimolar amounts but are three to five times as potent. Potassium ion excretion is increased but less markedly than sodium excretion.     

Gated blood pool imaging following 99mTc stannous pyrophosphate imaging

Cardiac patients who have undergone 99mTc-stannous pyrophosphate (99mTc-PYP) myocardial imaging can be injected 24 hours later with 99mTc-pertechnetate (99mTc04) to assess left ventricular function. Reduction of 99mTc04 by tin remaining in the blood following the stannous pyrophosphate injection causes labeling of the red cells by 99mTc04 and the creation of a vascular tracer suitable for electrocardiographically gated imaging.     

Time utilization of a population of general surgeons in a prepaid group practice

Seven general surgeons in a prepaid group practice previously shown to have a mean operative work load of 9.2 hernia equivalents (HE) per week were found to have a standardized mean daytime working week of 56.2 hours, exclusive of evening activities of which 50.7 hours were devoted to professional activities. The surgeons also devoted a mean of 6.7 evening hours per week to professional activities for a mean net professional week of 57.4 hours. Comparisons with a population of previously studied community surgeons revealed that the prepaid group surgeons were able to produce a surgical output more than double that of the community surgeons while devoting only one and a half as much time to professional activities. Economies in the utilization of surgical manpower in the prepaid group appear to stem from: 1) restriction of practice setting to a single geographic location, 2) restriction of patients to surgical patients, 3) reduced surgeon waiting time in the office, and 4) the utilization of paraprofessional personnel for selected operative assisting. These economies were achieved while the prepaid group surgeons were observed to average more time per patient visit both on rounds and in the office than the community surgeons.