Platelet coagulant activities and serum lipids in transient cerebral ischemia

To determine whether platelets play a part in the pathogenesis of transient cerebrovascular ischemia, we studied 22 patients with transient ischemia, 18 control patients and 38 normal subjects. Platelet aggregation and [14C]-serotonin release by ADP, epinephrine and collagen were normal in all patients, as were plasma coagulation assays, except for shortened partial thromboplastin times in the patients with transient ischemia. Platelet coagulant activities concerned with initiation and early stages of intrinsic coagulation were increased two to three times in 12 patients with transient ischemic attacks with normal serum lipids and normal in the 10 others with Type IV hyperlipoproteinemia. These results indicate an association between platelet coagulant hyperactivity and transient ischemic attacks in a group of patients with normal serum lipids.     

Standing-gradient osmotic flow. Examination of its validity using an analytical method

The development of pathological lesions in the organs of rabbits was examined at intervals from 1 h to 4 days after aerosol infection with Francisella tularensis. The earliest change, accumulation of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) in ulmonary alveolar ducts, occurred at 19 h. From the 2nd day multiple foci of necrosis and PMN infiltration were present in large airways and alveoli throughout the lungs and progressively increased in size. Pulmonary arteritis was a prominent feature of the infection. Areas of necrosis were present in the nasal mucosa, pharynz and trachea, and pyogranolomatous lesions consistently developed in the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes.     

Platelet antiserum inhibits hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in the dog

Six cases of posterior cervical fusion with rib grafts in children are reported. Four of the children had sustained cervical spine injuries in accidents, and two had congenital absence of the odontoid. Three-level fusions (C1-3) were done in four children, and four-level fusions (C1-4) in two. One child died of unrelated causes 3 months after the operation. The other five children have been followed for 5 to 13 years. All are doing well and each has a remarkably supple, stable neck and no neurological deficit.     

Growth depression and tissue reaction to the consumption of excess dietary methionine and S-methyl-L-cysteine

Similar depressions in growth were observed when rats consumed a 10% casein basal diet containing equal quantities of either methionine or S-methyl-L-cysteine. Supplemental glycine or serine partially alleviated the growth depression caused by the high levels of methionine but were ineffective in alleviating the growth depression caused by high levels of S-methylcysteine. Histological examination of five organs of rats fed the basal, high methionine or high S-methylcysteine diet for 6, 13 or 20 days revealed that only the spleens were affected in that there was erythrocyte engorgement and an accumulation of hemosiderin. The intensity of iron staining in spleens decreased from the second to the third week. The similarity in the depression of growth and splenic damage observed in rats consuming high levels of methionine or S-methylcysteine is consistent with an earlier suggestion that metabolism of the methionine or S-methylcysteine is consistent with an earlier suggestion that metabolism of the methyl group is in some way involved in the toxicity of methionine.     

Correlation between morning urine estriol concentration and 24-hour estriol excretion

In an attempt to circumvent the need for 24-hour urine collections for estriol analyses in assessment of fetal status, the possibility of using morning urine samples was investigated. Results indicate 1) good correlation between 24-hour estriol excretion and morning estriol concentration, and between corresponding E/C ratios, 2) similar morning and 24-hour estriol concentrations, 3) high dependence of estriol and creatinine excretion on 24-hour urine volume but not on morning volume, 4) larger variations in 24-hour than in morning urine volume, and 5) better consistency of values in morning than in 24-hour samples in pathologic pregnancy. The use of serial morning urine concentrations at least as an outpatient monitoring procedure is suggested.     

Neural basis for the genesis and control of digitalis arrhythmias

The author discussed the increase in the frequency of traumatic paralyses of the ocular muscles, and reported 6 cases of inferior oblique muscle paresis caused by local blunt or sharp traumas (haematoma, contusion, rupture, incarceration) and one case of traumatic Brownian pseudo-paralysis. The localisation of the injuries in 3 cases was on the inferior temporal part and in the other 3 cases on the superior part of the bulbar conjunctiva. Atypical horizontal deviation and characteristic vertical deviation, torsion and torticollis were observed in the majority of cases. One patient recovered spontaneously. 3 patients became asymptomatic after correction by prisms and one after recession of contralateral superior rectus muscle. The symptoms remained unchanged in the case of a "blow out" fracture (in spite of operation) and a Brown's syndrome (without treatment).     

Selective isolation of reversible cold sensitive variants from Chinese hamster ovary cell cultures

The fine structure and cellular associations of the large pigment cells (LPC's) of the compound eye of the house fly were studied with high voltage and conventional electron microscopy. Depending on the sector of the compound eye, the facets are either rectangular or hexagonal. The underside of each facet has indentations exactly aligned with those on top into which inserts an angulated sleeve of LPC's. Under the rectangular lens facet 6 or 8 small compact (in cross section) LPC's join four elongate LPC's. Clusters of compact cells alternate in this ring with elongate ones. Compact cells compress together and become quadrangular (in cross section) several microns below their insertion into the lens and form "building block" corners while elongate cells form "side rails" for the rectangular type of distal pseudocone enclosure. Beneath hexagonal facets all LPC's are rather elongate with out corner cells. In both facet types LPC's enclose the pseudocone for a longitudinal distance of 4 mum and then are displaced as bordering cells by a sleeve of two corneal pigment cells (CPC's), each of which encloses half of the proximal pseudocone. For the following 6 mum of longitudinal distance these concentric sleeves of CPC's and LPC's form a double layer around the pseudocone. At about 10 mum below lens base the two sleeves separate; LPC's become attenuated and extend cable-like to the basement membrane and CPC's enclose the proximal pseudocone, Semper cells and distal retinula. The junction between lens and LPC's has critical structural value in that (1) this is the sole anchorage to the lens by the lengthy remainder of the ommatidium, and (2) LPC's enclose the semiliquid pseudocone in the most distal portion of the pseudocone. In addition to vertical support, the LPC's send out numerous lateral processes that make structural contact among themselves, with the corneal pigment cells and the photoreceptor cells. The structural features of this array are discussed relative to possible physiological roles.     

An improved technique for prolonged arterial catheterization in infants and children

Arterial catheterization for blood gas analysis and direct monitoring of blood pressure in infants and children can be attended by a variety of complications, which limit its use to short periods of time. An improved technique, consisting of elimination of stopcocks, the use of a continuous flushing system adapted for infants and children, and meticulous care of the system, was used in 57 children whose ages ranged from the neonatal period to 16 years. The mean duration of cannulation was 5.5 days (range, 1-31 days). All but one of the catheters were functional at the time of discontinuation. There were no thromboembolic phenomena, local or systemic infections or accidental bleeding. We feel that our approach to prolonged arterial cannulation can be an extremely valuable aid in the management of critically ill children.     

Persistent obstructive jaundice, cholangitis, and biliary cirrhosis due to common bile duct stenosis in chronic pancreatitis

Long strictures of the intrapancreatic portion of the common bile duct were found in 6 patients with chronic pancreatitis. These strictures were responsible for painless obstructive jaundice, recurrent cholangitis, secondary biliary cirrhosis, and chronic abdominal pain difficult to distinguish from that caused by pancreatitis. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and intraoperative cholangiography were invaluable in making the diagnosis and in planning surgical correction. Decompression of the biliary tree by anastomosis of the gallbladder or common duct to the small intestine completely relieved symptoms and allowed liver function to improve significantly. Common duct stricture as a complication of chronic pancreatitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of extrahepatic biliary obstruction and whenever surgical treatment of chronic pancreatitis is contemplated.