Circadian rhythmic plaque-forming cell response of spleens from mice immunized with SRBC

Studies under controlled conditions of lighting and temperature revealed clear evidence of circadian periodicity with respect to the number of PFC present in the spleens of BALB/c mice 3 or 4 days after immunization with SRBC. Striking differences in proliferative responses of spleen lymphocytes to PHA or Con A were also observed at two different circadian times. Large proliferative responses occurred at the time when injection of antigen and/or sampling for PFC yielded a low PFC formation (early in the daily dark span) and small proliferative responses occurred at the time when antigen injection and sampling yielded high formation of PFC (early in the daily light span). These findings indicate that care should be taken to control the circadian timing of stimulation and sampling in studies of immune responses, and that rhythmically varying aspects constitute a new dimension of immunologic processes awaiting further analysis in both the circadian and weekly spectral regions.     

Noninvasive predictors of sudden cardiac death in men with coronary heart disease. Predictive value of maximal stress testing

In a follow-up study of 1,852 men with coronary heart disease, 195 deaths occurred within the first 3 years (33 +/- 13 months [mean +/- standard deviation]). Analysis of these cases indicated that the risk of sudden cardiac death in ambulatory men with clinical manifestations of coronary heart disease may be readily estimated from noninvasive clinical and exercise criteria. The important predictors are indexes of the severity of coronary heart disease and impairment of peak left ventricular function demonstrated with symptom-limited maximal exercise. The advantages of these predictors are that they may be elicited on the initial study as well as on follow-up noninvasive examinations of ambulatory patients. The appearance of nonelectrocardiographic predictors in serial examinations may provide an indication for invasive studies and be a more important finding than the ischemic S-T reponse to exertion.     

Influence of glucagon replacement on the hyperglycemic and hyperketonemic response to prolonged somatostatin infusion in normal man

Somatostatin was infused for 6 h into seven normal subjects with and without a replacement dose of glucagon. The addition of glucagon to somatostatin resulted in a 30-40% rise in plasma glucagon, whereas plasma insulin declined by 40-50% in both treatment groups. Plasma glucose and glucose production initially increased 2-fold with glucagon replacement, and subsequently declined by 2-3 h to levels comparable to those observed with somatostatin alone. After 6 h plasma glucose and glucose kinetics were no different whether or not glucagon was present. The rise in blood ketones after somatostatin was not exaggerated by glucagon replacement. We conclude that glucagon lack is not a modifying factor in the late hyperglycemic and hyperketonemic response to prolonged infusions of somatostatin.     

Erythrocyte basophilic stippling in the Mongolian gerbil

Basophilic stippling of the circulating erythrocytes is characteristic of the Mongolian gerbil. Its enzymatic digestion along with the concomitant removal of diffuse erythrocytic polychromasia by the action of ribonuclease demonstrates that it represents microscopically visible aggregates of cytoplasmic ribonucleoprotein, presumably of ribosomal origin. Up to 40% of the total circulating erythrocytes may be stippled in foetal and newborn animals. There is then a progressive decline in incidence until adult levels are attained at least by 20 weeks of age. The bone marrow of the adult gerbil contains a higher proportion of stippled red cells than the circulating blood. The stippling can be either coarse or fine and observable in both polychromatophilic and orthochromic cells. It is suggested that erythrocytes with basophilic stippling are relatively immature red cells still demonstrating remnants of cytoplasmic ribonucleoprotein.     

Dacryoscintigraph evaluation of the repaired lacrimal drainage system

We have used dacryoscintigraphy to study the efficiency of the lacrimal system following the repair of a divided lower canaliculus in 4 children. This test has been reliable in evaluating lacrimal function and suggests that a canaliculus can be repaired and splinted satisfactorily. Our experience with dacryoscintigraphy confirms that it is a safe comfortable, and reliable method for studying the patency of the lacrimal drainage system.