THE INFLUENCE OF CHOLINE,CYSTINE, AND OF α-TOCOPHEROL UPON THE OCCURRENCE OF CEROID PIGMENT IN DIETARY CIRRHOSIS OF RATS

1. Five per cent l-cystine in a stock or low protein diet produces ceroid deposits in rat liver. This effect of l-cystine is much greater in low protein than in stock diets. 2. One per cent choline has an inhibiting effect on deposition of liver ceroid resulting from a low protein diet containing excess cystine. 3. The occurrence of ceroid pigment in the livers of rats on a low protein diet, with or without the addition of excess l-cystine, is transiently inhibited by the administration of α-tocopherol. Five per cent cod liver oil in the diet did not prevent this effect of α-tocopherol. 4. On low protein, vitamin E-deficient diets, there occurs after 4 months, a rapid and progressive weight loss. This does not happen when α-tocopherol is added to the diet.     

THE DISTRIBUTION OF FRIEDL?NDER'S BACILLI OF DIFFERENT TYPES

In a study of the distribution of the specific types of Friedländer''s bacillus, it is shown that: (1) Of 80 strains 52 per cent belong to Type A, 15 per cent to Type B, 9 per cent to Type C, and 24 per cent to Group X. (2) Type A contains for the most part strains derived from diseases of man and more than 70 per cent are associated with pneumonia in man. (3) Type B includes the greatest number of strains from animal sources, while the heterogeneous strains comprising Group X come from the greatest variety of diseases. It was demonstrated that in a patient suffering with pneumonia due to Friedländer''s bacillus (Type A), a specific precipitin reaction of the urine occurred in the corresponding (Type A) immune serum. A study of the sugar fermentation reactions of Friedländer''s bacillus shows that (1) there is no correlation between serological type and fermentative activity; (2) the fermentation reactions are variable and therefore not reliable for distinguishing Friedländer''s bacillus from closely allied organisms; (3) the strains of Group X show the greatest variation in fermentation, and (4) of 15 strains unable to ferment lactose, 13 belong to Type A.     

PATHOLOGY OF THE EXPERIMENTAL PNEUMONIAS IN MICE FOLLOWING INHALATION OF STREPTOCOCCUS H?MOLYTICUS,OF FRIEDL?NDER'S BACILLUS,AND OF PNEUMOCOCCUS

1. Pulmonary consolidation may be produced in normal mice by the inhalation of Friedländer''s bacillus or Streptococcus hæmolylicus. 2. The initial lesion is in both instances interstitial in character and the spread is by way of the interstitial tissue, though the ultimate consolidation may come to resemble in the gross a lobar pneumonia. 3. The lesions grossly and microscopically may be distinguished from the lobar consolidation associated with pneumococcus infection of the lung. 4. Friedländer''s bacillus and Streptococcus hæmolyticus give rise to pneumonia in mice previously normal, whereas the pneumococcus produces pulmonary lesions only under special circumstances, as when the animals are alcoholized after partial immunization.     

A STUDY OF THE PROTEOLYTIC FERMENTS OF THE LARGE LYMPHOCYTES IN A CASE OF ACUTE LEUK?MIA

The leucocytes of the blood of normal individuals and of patients showing a marked polymorphonuclear leucocytosis contain enzymes capable of digesting coagulated blood serum in neutral, alkaline or acid solutions. The cells in pus that is composed principally of polymorphonuclear leucocytes and the leucocytes of the circulating blood in myelogeneous leukæmia contain similar proteolytic enzymes, which act best when the reaction is alkaline. The leucocytes of the circulating blood and of the enlarged lymph nodes from a case of large cell, acute, lymphatic leukæmia contain proteolytic enzymes that act qualitatively in much the same way as the leucocytes of pus and as the white corpuscles of the blood in myelogenous leukæmia. These large lymphocytes in acute lymphatic leukæmia can be differentiated biologically from the small lymphocytes in chronic lymphatic leukæmia which possess no proteolytic enzymes, and from the large endothelioid cells of the hyperplastic lymph glands which are proteolytic only in the presence of acid. These results seem to show that the large cells of the so-called acute lymphatic leukæmia are not true lymphocytes, but are nearly related to the granular myelocytes and should probably be considered as the forerunners to these cells.     

THE FACTORIAL STRUCTURE OF THE ARABIC VERSION OF THE REVISED COLLETT–LESTER FEAR OF DEATH SCALE

A sample of 209 volunteer Kuwaiti undergraduates responded to an Arabic version of the Revised Collett–Lester Fear of Death Scale with 4 subscales: Death of Self, Dying of Self, Death of Others, and Dying of Others. Reliabilities of the 4 subscales and of the grand total score ranged from 0.75 to 0.92, which is considered adequate. A 4-factor solution was congruent with the allocation of items to 2 subscales (i.e. Dying of Self and Death of Others), whereas the theorized factor structure of the other 2 subscales were only partially supported by empirical analyses. The intercorrelations between the 4 total subscale scores yielded a general factor of death and dying, denoting good factorial validity of the scale.     

THE USE OF THE FINAL HYDROGEN ION CONCENTRATION IN DIFFERENTIATION OF STREPTOCOCCUS H?MOLYTICUS OF HUMAN AND BOVINE TYPES

1. Under the conditions of these experiments, there appears to be a distinct and constant difference in the final hydrogen ion concentration of Streptococcus hæmolyticus from human and bovine sources. 2. Of 124 strains of Streptococcus hæmolyticus from known human origin, 116 reached a final hydrogen ion concentration of from pH 5.0 to 5.3. Only 8 reached a pH more acid than 5.0 and none more acid than pH 4.8. 3. Of 45 strains of Streptococcus hæmolyticus from bovine sources, including 26 strains isolated from milk and the udder of cows, and 19 from cream cheese, 40 reached a final hydrogen ion concentration of pH 4.3 to 4.5. Of the remaining 5 which reached a pH of 5.0 to 5.2, two were of known human type and three of uncertain diagnosis. 4. A rapid and practical application of this method is proposed as a presumptive test in the differentiation of human and bovine types of Streptococcus hæmolyticus.     

STUDIES ON THE MECHANISM OF IMMUNITY IN TUBERCULOSIS : THE R?LE OF EXTRACELLULAR FACTORS AND LOCAL IMMUNITY IN THE FIXATION AND INHIBITION OF GROWTH OF TUBERCLE BACILLI

1. The fate of bacilli of reinfection at the portal of entry and in metastatic foci, and also the associated host responses, are essentially similar in rabbits and guinea pigs. 2. However, in the guinea pig tubercle bacilli of reinfection are more effectively fixed at the portal of entry than in the rabbit. 3. The guinea pig fixes at the site of reinfection unrelated substances, such as trypan blue and agar particles, more effectively than the rabbit. 4. At the site of a local non-specific inflammation precipitins from the circulating blood accumulate in higher concentration in tuberculous guinea pigs than in tuberculous rabbits. 5. These differing fixing capacities of the two species are associated with differences of extracellular character in the inflammation resulting from reinfection. (a) In the guinea pig, whose tissues are highly sensitized and greatly injured by the tubercle bacillus, the lymphatics adjoining the site of reinfection become thrombosed. In the rabbit whose tissues are moderately sensitized and less injured by the tubercle bacillus the corresponding lymphatics remain open. (b) In the guinea pig the fibrinous network at the site of inflammation forms a fine sieve-like structure. In the rabbit this network forms a coarse sieve-like barrier. 6. In rabbits and guinea pigs primarily infected, the destruction of tubercle bacilli takes place first and most extensively at the portal of entry. At this time they are less effectively destroyed in the nearest metastatic foci. Simultaneously they are still growing without hinderance in such foci in remote internal organs. 7. The cell-free body fluids of normal animals support the growth of tubercle bacilli in vivo. The body fluids of tuberculous animals under the same conditions are bacteriostatic for this microorganism. 8. Tubercle bacilli often multiply by preliminary subdivision into non-acid-fast granules, from which the acid-fast rods sprout. This confirms the work of Kahn.     

DOES THE INGESTION OF ALCOHOL INFLUENCE THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARTERIOSCLEROSIS IN FOWLS?

The effect of alcohol ingestion upon the development of naturally occurring and stilbestrol-induced arteriosclerosis was studied in the domestic fowl. In two experiments, a 15 per cent ethyl alcohol solution was used for drinking purposes, and in a third experiment wine containing 12 per cent of it was administered. The caloric intake of both food and alcohol was carefully controlled by pair-feeding, a glucose solution being used for drinking purposes to equalize the caloric intakes of the control birds with those of the alcohol-treated birds. A total of 224 cockrels was studied, and the period of observation for each experiment lasted 12 months. The degree of arteriosclerosis in the thoracic and abdominal aortas was determined in the gross and microscopically, and the degree of lipide infiltration was determined microscopically. The gross grading of arteriosclerotic lesions agreed closely with the microscopic analysis of intimal thickening and lipide infiltration of the arterial wall. The gross gradings were subjected to a critical statistical analysis which allowed precise statements to be made on the probability that a real effect would be overlooked. This analysis yielded no evidence that alcohol or the wine used had affected the degree of gross arteriosclerosis or lipide infiltration.     

THE FACTORIAL STRUCTURE OF THE REVISED COLLETT–LESTER FEAR OF DEATH SCALE

In a study of 144 college students, the factorial structure of the Collett–Lester Fear of Death Scale matched the face content of the subscales quite closely, ameliorating the criticism of the scale by R. A. Neimeyer et al. (2003) Neimeyer, R. A., Moser, R. P. and Wittkowski, J. 2003. Assessing attitudes toward dying and death. Omega, 47: 45–76. [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar].     

ENGLISH ABSTRACTS OF ORIGINAL ARTICLES

CT Imaging Analysis for Benign Solitary Pulmonary Nodule. Zhang Guo.zhen， Ke Qi et al. Department of Radiology, Hua Dong Hospital, Shanghai 200040     

THE VALIDITY OF 2‐DIMENSIONAL MEASUREMENT OF TRUNK ANGLE DURING DYNAMIC TASKS

Purpose/Background:

Injury screening methods that use three‐dimensional (3D) motion analysis accurately predict the risk of injuries, yet are expensive. There is great need for valid, cost‐effective techniques that can be used in large‐scale assessments. Utilizing two‐dimensional (2D) measures of lateral trunk motion may identify athletes at risk for lower extremity injury. The purpose of this research was to determine the strength of the relationships between 2D and 3D calculations of lateral trunk angle for female athletes performing a single‐leg cross drop landing.

Methods:

Twenty‐one high‐school female volleyball players performed a single‐leg cross drop landing onto a force plate. The 3D angular trunk motion was calculated, and four different 2D measures of lateral trunk angle were calculated for both left and right landing leg. A one‐way multivariate analysis of variance was used to compare 2D measures to the 3D measurements, and Pearson correlations were used to determine the strength of these relationships.

Results:

The angle formed by the medial shoulder joint center, medial ASIS, and vertical line (LTA4) was similar to the 3D measures of lateral trunk angle during landing (r‐values ≥ 0.62; p‐values ≤ 0.003; mean differences, ‐1.0° to 1.2°).

Conclusions:

Given the recent focus on the role of the trunk in lower extremity injury, using the 2D LTA4 assessment may expand existing assessments into a composite model that can more accurately assess female athletes at risk for injury than models that do not include trunk analysis.

Clinical Relevance:

Existing models that enable clinicians to effectively identify female athletes at risk for lower extremity injury may be enhanced by including accurate assessments of lateral trunk motion.     

REACTIONS OF MONKEYS TO EXPERIMENTALLY INDUCED INFLUENZA VIRUS A INFECTION : AN ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIVE R?LES OF HUMORAL AND CELLULAR IMMUNITY UNDER CONDITIONS OF OPTIMAL OR DEFICIENT NUTRITION

1. Macaca mulatta monkeys on a normal diet have proved resistant to intranasal but not to intratracheal inoculation of influenza virus. 2. Neutralizing antibodies appeared 8 to 10 days after inoculation with either living or heat-inactivated virus. The antibodies were noted to be still present as long as 9 months after infection with living virus. 3. A specific granulopenic leucopenia characteristically followed primary influenza virus inoculation, regardless of altered conditions of diet, exposure, and route of inoculation, but it was not observed in monkeys previously infected with the same virus, all of which invariably survived. 4. Nutritional deficiency and exposure to cold increased the susceptibility of monkeys on intranasal instillation of the virus; the leucopenia was profound and fatalities frequently occurred even though neutralizing humoral antibodies developed as promptly and in relatively the same titer as under optimum nutritional conditions.     

LAPAROSCOPIC TREATMENT OF ACUTE CHOLECYSTITIS

Objctive: To assess the current treatment of AC in a single institution in the series, which the best treatment modality for acute cholecystitis (AC) is still under debate, whereas early cholecystectomy is accepted as the optimal timing for surgery. Methods: From December 1996 to December 2001, 138 (102 women and 36 men) patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis confirmed by histopathological examination. The patients ranged in age from 21 to 85 years of age ( mean age: 45.3 years). Patients were divided into 2 groups (similar in age and ASA classification): group 1 (98 patients) underwent LC within 3 days after the onset of symptoms of acute cholecystitis and group 2 (40 patients) underwent LC after 3 days. Results: Approximately one half of the cases were uncomplicated, 26 %were empyema, 13 % had gangrenous changes and 7% had hydrops of the gallbladder. Conversion to open cholecystectomy was required in 21 (15.2%) cases. The principal reason for conversion was anatomic uncertainty (14 cases), uncontrolled bleeding (7 cases). The conversion rates in patients who underwent surgery before and after the onset of symptoms were respectively 6 : 15. There was no significant difference in operative time (122.0 min in 1 group versus 124.0 min in 2 group) and postoperative stay ( 5.1 days in group 1 vs 6.8 days in group 2). The hepatorenal space was drained in 78 (56.5 % ), and the drain is removed in 3rd postoperative days. Twenty six patients (18.8%) had undergone previous abdominal surgery. Thirty seven patients (26.8%) had spillage of bile and/or stones during the procedure. There were no deaths and major complications. Conclusions: LC for acute cholecystitis should be done immediately after the diagnosis is established because delaying surgery allows inflammation to become more intense, thus increasing the technical difficulty of LC. Intraoperative spillage of bile and stones does not lead to an increase in early complications. LC is safe and effective for acute cholecystitis even when complicated previous surgery, inflammatory adhesions and gangrene. LC has significantly fewer operative complications and provides shorter hospital stay which are medical and economic benefits. LC is safe and effective for acute cholecystitis.     

THE R?LE OF THE THEBESIAN VESSELS IN THE CIRCULATION OF THE HEART

In summary, evidence has been presented to show a direct connection other than through the capillaries between the coronary arteries and the chambers of the heart. This connection was shown by perfusion, injections and serial sections to be through the Thebesian veins. Communications between the larger coronary veins and the Thebesian veins were also demonstrated by the same methods. Serial sections through Thebesian veins have shown capillaries draining directly into them. Under certain conditions it has been shown that as much as 90 per cent of the arterial flow may escape via the Thebesian vessels. Lastly, in the event of gradual closure of the orifices of the coronary arteries, the Thebesian vessels can supply the heart muscle with sufficient blood to enable it to maintain an efficient circulation.     

IMMUNOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIPS OF CELL CONSTITUENTS OF ENCAPSULATUS PNEUMONI? (FRIEDL?NDER'S BACILLUS)

1. The soluble specific substance of Friedländer''s bacillus is non-antigenic when dissociated from the cell. It is different for each type and it is highly reactive in the corresponding anti-S serum. 2. The nucleoprotein is antigenic, induces the species or protein antibody which reacts with capsule-free cells and protein derived from all types. Antiprotein sera do not react with either the encapsulated cell or the polysaccharide derived from it, and they offer no protection against infection. 3. Anti-R and antiprotein sera are identical in their behavior. 4. The carbohydrate of Friedländer''s bacillus is demonstrable in filtrates of actively growing cultures and in the blood and urine of infected animals. 5. The protein is demonstrable in filtrates of only old, disintegrating cultures.     

THE VALIDITY OF PLANTARFLEXOR STRENGTH MEASURES OBTAINED THROUGH HAND‐HELD DYNAMOMETRY MEASUREMENTS OF FORCE

Purpose/Background:

Hand‐held dynamometers are commonly used to assess plantarflexor strength during rehabilitation. The purpose of this study was to determine the concurrent validity of measuring plantarflexion force using a hand‐held dynamometer (HHD) as compared to an electromechanical dynamometer as the gold standard. The hypothesis was that plantarflexor forces obtained using a hand‐held dynamometer would not show absolute agreement with a criterion standard.

Design:

Concurrent validity assessment for a diagnostic strength testing device.

Setting:

Institutional clinic and research laboratory

Participants:

Volunteer sample of healthy university students (N=20, 10 women, 10 men; 25.9±4.1 years).

Main Outcome Measure(s):

Maximal plantarflexion strength was measured using both a HHD and an electromechanical dynamometer (EMD) as a criterion measure.

Results:

Plantarflexor force measures with the HHD were significantly different (p<0.01) and not correlated with plantarflexor forces measured using the EMD for either limb (R² ≤ 0.09).

Conclusions:

Plantarflexor strength measurements acquired using HHD are different from those acquired using an EMD and are likely influenced by the strength of the examiner.

Level of Evidence:

Prospective cohort study, level II     

STUDIES ON ARTIFICIAL ANTIGENS : II. THE ANTIGENICITY IN GUINEA PIGS OF ARSANILIC ACID CONJUGATES OF COPOLYMERS OF D- OR L-α-AMINO ACIDS

An effort was made to immunize guinea pigs with arsanilic acid conjugates of copolymers of D- and L-α-amino acids; ASD-GAT and ASL-GAT. An immune response was observed only in the case of ASL-GAT. Antibodies specific for the arsanilic acid hapten were produced which could also react with ASD-GAT or ASGPA. These findings indicate that the proper metabolism of the antigen may be essential to the induction of the immune response.