The effect of papaverine,euphylline, and dibazol on the rate of the coronary circulation,the oxygen demand of the heart,and the work of the heart

Summary Experiments were performed on anesthetized cats. The author studied the effect of papaverine, euphylline, and dibazol on the volume velocity of the blood outflow from the coronary sinus, the oxygen uptake by the heart and the work of the heart. As shown by the experiments the changes of arterial blood pressure, minute volume, the work of the heart, and the frequency of the heart beat do not play a decisive role in the increase of the volume velocity of the coronary blood flow under the effect of the drugs under investigation. The changes of the volume velocity of the coronary blood flow and the heart oxygen uptake under the effects of the above vasculo-dilating preparations are strikingly parallel.Presented by Active Member AMN SSSR V. V. Zakustov     

Immunological responses of the toad, Xenopus laevis, to the antigens of the ciliate, Tetrahymena pyriformis

Toads, Xenopus laevis, were immunized with the ciliate Tetrahymena pyriformis and their sera examined for specific anti-Tetrahymena precipitating, immobilizing, agglutinating and lytic antibodies 65–75 days later. Precipitating antibodies were detected in whole antiserum by ring and Ouchterlony tests against soluble antigens of Tetrahymena. Immobilizing, agglutinating and lytic antibodies against living ciliates were also detected in whole serum. Antibody activity was localized in the serum fraction corresponding with mammalian γ-globulin after starch block electrophoresis and this was confirmed by immunoelectrophoresis. After fractionation on Sephadex G-200 precipitating antibodies were found to correspond with γG immunoglobulins and non-precipitating antibodies with both γM and γG. These results are comparable with the situation which exists in rabbits immunized against Tetrahymena pyriformis.     

Effect of exercise on the tissue respiration of the brain,skeletal muscle,heart, liver,kidneys, and spleen

Summary The effects of a single sustained physical exercise on the respiration of various tissues of rats were investigated with the aid of Warburg's method. The animals were made to run on a treadmill for 90 min, i.e., until distinct signs of fatigue. The oxygen uptake of skeletal muscles was increased, and that of brain and kidneys reduced, both by a statistically significant margin. Changes in the respiration of liver, heart, and spleen were not statistically significant.The authors attribute increased respiration of skeletal muscles during physical exercise to intensified carbohydrate metabolism in muscle and the concomitant increase in the activity of the oxidative systems of muscle.The observed inhibition by severe physical exercise of the oxygen uptake of brain may have been caused by the inhibitory effects of serotonin and, possibly, corticosteroids, or still other active substances whose level rises in the organism of a tired animal.Oxygen uptake in the kidneys was probably reduced by an adaptive lowering of the activity of that organ's respiratory enzymes, which was the result of a markedly diminished renal blood supply during physical effort.     

Effect of the progestogen, allylestriol, on the bursal development of the chicken

Fertile eggs were dipped on the fifth day of incubation into varying concentrations of allylestriol (AE), a synthetic progesterone, and testosterone propionate (TP). Concentrations of AE higher than 0.1% inhibited hatchability. The AE inhibited the differentiation of the bursal mesenchyme and follicular development and subsequently resulted in bursectomy. The AE caused bursectomy in 40–50 times lower concentrations than did TP. An unusual lymphocyte accumulation occurred around the postcapillary venules in the bursal mesenchyme of AE-treated birds. This observation suggested that inhibition of mesenchyme differentiation may lead to a modification in bursal function. The AE modification of bursal development was compared to those produced by TP. We demonstrated that AE caused immunosuppression of the B-cell system.     

Kant,cognitive psychotherapy,and the hardening of the categories

Contemporary models of psychotherapy owe a considerable intellectual debt to philosophy, even though the contributions of philosophers to contemporary practice in the field often go unrecognized. A case in point is Kant's epistemology, which is foundational to cognitive approaches to psychotherapy. Here, it is argued that the rigid use of certain judgments represented in Kant's conceptual scheme underlies patterns of distorted or dysfunctional thinking associated with emotional disorders. Kantian judgments of necessity, disjunction, particularity and universality have counterpoints in contemporary conceptions of cognitive distortions. Moreover, Kantian epistemology has important therapeutic implications with respect to helping people with emotional disorders recognize and challenge rigidly held judgments or categories of understanding. The Kantian perspective also leads us to consider the cognitive frameworks or thought structures that underlie dysfunctional thinking patterns.     

Blood,ideology, science and the birth of the ISBT

The ISBT/SITS was founded at the second international congress of blood transfusion in Paris in 1937. The world was influenced heavily by totalitarian ideologies, which a.o. tried to use science to confirm their superiority. The Nazi ideology was built on peculiar speculations on human blood, race and heritage, but although similar ideas were widespread, our society was founded as a purely scientific organization independent of ideological influence. The designation ‘International’ initially signified ‘European’, but after the end of World War 2, our society has become more and more of a global one.     

DCIS,cytokeratins, and the theory of the sick lobe

We postulate that ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and consequently breast carcinoma in general, is a lobar disease, as the simultaneously or asynchronously appearing, often multiple, in situ tumor foci are localized within a single lobe. Although the whole lobe is sick, carrying some form of genetic instability, the malignant transformation of the epithelial cells may appear localized to a part or different parts of the sick lobe at the same time or with varying time difference. It may be confined to terminal ductal lobular units (TDLUs), to ducts or both. The malignant transformation is often associated with aberrant branching and/or aberrant lobularization within the sick lobe. Involvement of a single individual TDLU or of a group of adjacent TDLUs generates a unifocal lesion. Multifocal lesions appear if distant TDLUs are involved. Diffuse growth pattern in DCIS indicates involvement of the larger ducts. The extent of the involved area in multifocal or diffuse cases varies considerably. Diffuse growth pattern with or without evidence of aberrant arborisation within the sick lobe seems to characterize a subgroup of DCIS with unfavourable prognosis. In this paper, we discuss the anatomical, embryological and pathological background of the theory of the sick lobe and present supporting evidence from modern radiological breast imaging, long-term follow-up studies and from our own series of 108 DCIS cases.     

Balint, the doctor, and the fear of being unscientific

The current debate on the contribution of Michael Balint's work to general practice has been initiated by Sowerby's (1977) lengthy critique.

Sowerby's arguments, however, depend on one particular definition of science, simplify some complex issues, and have rigid and restrictive qualities. I give some examples to illustrate this.

Secondly, Sowerby's definition of the science of psychology leads to an intellectual separatism which Balint sought to reduce. The alternative diagnosis of `depressive illness' is neither more helpful nor precise.

Finally, criticisms of Balint seminars which Sowerby perceives as dangerous are challenged. I argue that Balint's approach in verifying and refuting hypotheses in the face of prospective observations and evidence was truly scientific.

     

Immunocytochemistry of paraneurons in the female urethra of the horse,cattle, sheep,and pig

The aim of this study is to describe the presence of neuroendocrine (NE) cells (paraneurons), producing biogenic amines and/or peptidergic hormones, in the female urethra of cattle, sheep, pigs, and horses, by means of histochemical and double labeling immunofluorescent techniques. 5-Hydroxytryptamine-, chromogranin A-, cholecystokinin- and somatostatin-containing NE cells are present in the urethral epithelium of all the species studied, with the unique exception of the lack of somatostatin cells in the horse. Paraneurons containing 5-hydroxytryptamine colocalized with chromogranin A or cholecytokinin were also found in all subjects. Such active substances are hypothesized to play a role in the contraction of the urethral musculature, emission of urogenital fluids, and inhibition of endocrine and exocrine secretions. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.