The influence of the mode of administration of adsorbed toxoids on the rate of development of immunity to tetanus and gas gangrene

Summary It was demonstrated in experiments on white rats that the rate of immunity development in primary immunization with sorbed tetanus and gangrenous toxoids is the same, irrespective of whether these toxoids be injected in a single dose or in 9 fractions at the same site and with an interval of 3 hours. These data differ from the results obtained with liquid tetanus toxoids, the fractional administration of which causes an earlier appearance of immunity than a single injection. The efficacy of the sorbed toxoids appeared to be the same in subcutaneous and intramuscular injection. Several experiments in which fractional administration of sorbed tetanus toxoid appeared to be more effective than a single one are discussed from the standpoint of modern conceptions on the mechanism of antigen action.Presented by Active Member AMN SSSR N. N. Zhukov-Verezhnikov     

The influence of obesity on the frequency and distribution of medication

Obesity is a serious health problem in industrialized countries and is associated with a significant increase in total health care costs. Only few data are available about the costs of drug therapies in patients with an increased body weight treated under clinical routine procedures. Such data could support efforts to intensify obesity prevention and treatment programmes in order to reduce comorbidities and costs. We have evaluated body mass index (BMI), diagnosis, and medication in 3360 outpatients (2175 women and 1185 men; mean age: 56.7 +/- 17.5 years). All patients underwent physical examinations, including BMI determination, and provided a detailed record concerning medication. In 1809 patients, the percentage of body fat content was measured with a bioimpedance method (OMRON BF 302 body fat monitor). Continuous variables were compared using the t-test or Wilcoxon U-test. Frequency distributions were compared using chi-squared tests. With respect to BMI, most of the patients (n = 1793; 53 %) were overweight or obese, 1349 (40 %) showed a normal BMI and 218 (7 %) a low BMI. The majority of cardiovascular (61 %), rheumatological (61.1 %) and metabolic (60.4 %) medication was administered to overweight and obese patients. Parallel findings could be obtained by analysing the percentage of body fat and the frequency of medication. Overall, 82.5 % of all medication was given to patients with a body fat content >20 %. Our results support the importance of weight-reduction programmes in order to prevent an overall increase in the costs of medication as a consequence of overweight and obesity.     

短时授精时间对卵母细胞的受精情况及胚胎发育情况的影响

目的探讨短时授精的时间对常规IVF的受精率及胚胎发育情况的影响。方法将病人授精时间分为4h、6h两组,观察卵母细胞的受精情况及胚胎发育情况。结果两组受精数占获卵数的比率分别为71.1%、75.9%,两组比较差异有显著性意义。受精后正常受精的卵比率为78.4%、79.9%,两组比较差异无显著性意义。卵裂率分别为97.1%、94.5%,两组比较差异有显著性意义。胚胎发育D3优质胚胎率分别为59.9%、54.83%,两组比较差异无显著性意义。结论延长短时授精的时间可以增加受精率,并不能增加正常受精卵的比率,反而使卵裂率降低。     

Effects of colchicine on the development of tachyphylaxis to calcitonin gene-related peptide in the guinea pig heart

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) induced a concentration-dependent positive inotropic and chronotropic effect on the spontaneously beating right atrium subject to tachyphylaxis upon extended incubation. This stimulatory effect was mimicked by capsaicin. After incubation with colchicine there was a marked attenuation of the decline in the prolonged response to CGRP or capsaicin and no development of CGRP tachyphylaxis. Colchicine incubation did not influence the capsaicin-induced stimulation of the frequency or CGRP outflow in whole heart preparations. Thus, the present data suggest that the development of CGRP tachyphylaxis is a specific receptor-mediated event which can be inhibited by colchicine, probably by disruption of membrane bound proteins.     

The correlation of changes in the volumetric rate of coronary blcod flow and cardiac oxygen consumption under the influence of adrenaline,noradrenaline, ephedrine,and phenamine

Summary Investigations were carried out on anesthetized cats. The blood outflow volume velocity from the coronary sinus was registered. Simultaneously a photometric recording was made of the cardiac oxygen intake. As shown, adrenaline and noradrenaline caused a marked but brief increase of the coronary blood flow velocity. The effect of ephedrine and phenamine (benzedrine) on the cardiac blood supply was less pronounced than that of adrenaline and noradrenaline but more lasting. The rise of the coronary blood flow volume velocity under the effect of the substances investigated parallels the intensified oxygen absorption by the heart. A rise of cardiac loading under the effect of phenylalkylamines is not completely attributable to the increased oxygen absorption by the heart.(Presented by Active Member, AMS, USSR, V. V. Zakusov) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 52, No. 10, pp. 67–71, October, 1961.     

The effect of ephedrine on carotid chemoreceptors

Summary The carotid sinus was isolated by the method of Moiseev-Heymans-Anichkov, respiration serving as a test. Perfusion of 150.000 solution of ephedrine caused respiration to be lowered by acetylcholine and enhanced by the sodium cyanide. Thus, it has been shown that ephedrine accelerates sensitivity of the carotid body to the cyanides.Cyanides are anoxic poisons, their effect being like that of oxygen insufficiency. Hence, ephedrine enhances the sensitivity of the carotid body to oxygen insufficiency accelerating its participation in the control of blood oxygen.Submitted by Active Member AMS USSR Professor S. V. Anichkov     

The influence of vitamin C administration on the mechanical efficiency of the human organism

Summary The effect of vitamin C administration on the mechanical efficiency has been studied in test persons.The double-blind method was applied, according to which vitamin C (for 5 days 1 g m per day in the form of Redoxon effervescent tablets) was administered to some of the test persons, and placebo tablets to some others, the distribution being unknown to the test persons and the investigators. Only after termination of the investigation were the investigators told which test persons had been given vitamin C and who had taken placebo tablets.The values of the vitamin C content found in the blood indicated that before vitamin C administration (and before placebo administration) the organism of the test persons was not saturated with vitamin C. After C-vitaminization a state of saturation was found to exist (see Table 1).The effects of this adequate C-vitaminization (i. e. by which saturation is realized) were found to be a decrease in excess metabolism of exercise and an increase in mechanical efficiency. The average increase in efficiency was about 10%.Previous investigations (Hoitink) had shnow that an adequate C-vitaminization increases the working capacity and that in some respects there is a resemblance between the conditions of training and of adequate C-vitaminization, both conditions being accompanied by a corresponding complex of effects. This complex can now be extended by the noteworthy effect of efficiency increase, so that this resemblance forces itself upon us with all the more reason.Our investigation leads to the conclusion that the adequate C-vitaminization improves the working economy of the organism (clearly manifested by an increase in mechanical efficiency) and renders the organism better suitable for performing work (resemblance between C-vitaminization and training effects.The increase in working capacity by an adequate C-vitaminization found in a former investigation, is in agreement with this finding.     

Subsensitivity to epinephrine following the administration of epinephrine and ephedrine to normal individuals.

Cardiovascular and metabolic responses to exercise and consecutive epinephrine infusions 24 hours apart were measured in 7 normal individuals before and following a week's administration of ephedrine sulfate. There was evidence of less beta adrenergic response to the second control epinephrine infusion compared to the first control infusion, and the depression of the rise in blood lactate was significantly different. A week of ephedrine produced more profound depression of the beta adrenergic responses to epinephrine with significant differences in the rise in blood glucose and lactate, and the pulse and blood pressure responses. Furthermore, these same responses remained significantly altered when a second epinephrine infusion was performed 36 hours following the last dose of ephedrine. The alterations in the response to epinephrine induced by ephedrine are consistent with the concept of effector cell "subsensitivity," an adaptive response to prolonged excessive stimulation.     

Skill and selection bias has least influence on motor unit action potential firing rate/frequency

INTRODUCTION: Motor unit action potential (MUAP) rise time in quantitative electromyography (QEMG) using multi-MUAP analysis may influence neuromuscular disease diagnosis. OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate in QEMG that MUAP firing rate/frequency (FR) is the parameter least dependent on electrodiagnostician skill (EDXc) skill and selection bias. METHODS AND MATERIALS: During minimal contraction (< 6 MUAPs/4.8 s analysis period) of tibialis anterior, 20 MUAPs were selected for QEMG at each of the 3 insertion sites. There were three EDXcs (professor & two fellows), each an independent MUAP selector + EMG machine itself (EMGM), for a total of four independent MUAP selectors. EDXc and selector order variation at each site involved the following. At insertion site1, during EMG by EDXc 1, the MUAP selector order was EDXc 1, EMGM, EDXc 2 and EDXc 3. At the following two sites, the previous 1st selector was sequentially rotated to become the last selector during EMG by the subsequent EDXc. The protocol was repeated in two subjects. MUAP inclusion criteria by EDXcs was MUAP rise time < 1 ms by visual inspection and, by the EMGM, any and all MUAPs during the 4.8 s analysis period. RESULTS: The reproducibility of measurements between MUAP selectors for mean frequency was satisfactory (correlation coefficient for inter-EDXc was 0.57, and 0.66 between the most experienced EDXc and EMGM. Inter- EDXc correlation coefficient was poor for amplitude (0.10), duration (0.34), size index (0.35), phases (-0.13) and turns (-0.22). Of the MUAPs collected by EMGM, the mean amplitude was smaller and mean duration was longer than those collected by the other 3 selectors with no significant differences for the other parameters. CONCLUSIONS: FR was the only satisfactorily reproduced parameter from QEMG of MUAPs between selectors, and least dependent on skill and/or selection bias. From this, FR appears a relatively objective parameter, while other parameters appear unduly influenced by EDXc skill and/or MUAP selection bias.     

The variation in fatigue rate with frequency using kHz frequency alternating current

The most commonly used stimulus for functional electrical stimulation is low frequency, short duration pulsed current. A disadvantage is the associated rapid fatigue. The present study investigated the effect of kHz frequency alternating currents on the rate of fatigue with electrically induced skeletal muscle contractions in normal subjects. Alternating current with frequencies between 1 and 15 kHz, interrupted at 50 Hz and applied in 3-s surges with an effective 1:1 duty cycle, was applied transcutaneously for a 10-min period, during which time electrically induced wrist extensor torque was measured. The decline in torque with time was analysed in terms of "fast" and "slow" fatigue components. A systematic frequency dependence was found in each. "Fast" torque decline is interpreted as reflecting fast-fatigue muscle fibre activity and "slow" torque decline, that of fatigue-resistant fibres. With this interpretation, over the frequency range 1-10 kHz, the proportion of fatigue-resistant fibres contributing to the torque increases. It is argued that this is due to selective dropout of fast-fatigue fibres. The findings suggest the potential usefulness of kHz frequency alternating current for functional electrical stimulation.     

The influence of thymic abnormalities on the development of autoimmune diseases

The relationship between thymic abnormalities and development of autoimmune diseases was studied in MRL/l and NZB/NZW F1 (NZB/W F1) mice. Thymic abnormalities, including plasma cell infiltration into the thymus, were observed in 25% of MRL/l mice as early as 1 mo and in all mice after 2.5 mo. The thymic abnormalities preceded both infiltration of lymphoid cells into the kidney and salivary glands, and also preceded an increase in the titer of circulating immune complexes (CIC). When MRL/l and NZB/W F1 mice were divided into two groups for each strain at the critical age when the mice had begun to show thymic abnormalities, the group with abnormal thymuses showed more marked pathological findings in other organs and a higher level of CIC than the group with more normal appearing thymus. In addition, the group with abnormal thymus demonstrated lower responsiveness of their lymphocytes in mixed-lymphocyte culture than the group with normal thymus. Thymus grafts from donors of autoimmune or non-autoimmune strains into nude mice revealed that thymic functions, reconstitutive of immunologic parameters of nude mice, are rapidly lost with age. These results suggest that morphological and functional abnormalities of the thymus are involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases.     

The influence of exercise intensity on the power spectrum of heart rate variability

Summary The power spectral analysis of R-R interval variability (RRV) has been estimated by means of an autoregressive method in seven sedentary males at rest, during steady-state cycle exercise at 21 percent maximal oxygen uptake. (% V _{O 2max}), SEM 2%, 49% V_{O 2max}, SEM 2% and 70% V_{O 2max}, SEM 2% and during recovery. The RRV, i.e. the absolute power of the spectrum, decreased 10, 100 and 500 times in the three exercise intensities, returning to resting value during recovery. In the RRV power spectrum three components have been identified: (1) high frequency peak (HF), central frequency about 0.24 Hz at rest and recovery, and 0.28 Hz, SEM 0.02, 0.37 Hz, SEM 0.03 and 0.48 Hz, SEM 0.06 during the three exercise intensities, respectively; (2) low frequency peak (LF), central frequency about 0.1 Hz independent of the metabolic state; (3) very low frequency component (VLF), <0.05 Hz, no peak observed. The HF peak power, as a percentage of the total power (HF%), averaged 16%, SEM 5% at rest and did not change during exercise, whereas during recovery it decreased to 5%–10%. The LF% and VLF% were about 50% and 35% at rest and during low exercise intensity, respectively. At higher intensities, LF% decreased to 16% and VLF% increased to 70%. During recovery a return to resting values occurred. The HF component may reflect the increased respiratory rate and the LF peak changes the resetting of the baroreceptor reflex with exercise. The hypothesis is made that VLF fluctuations in heart rate might be partially mediated by the sympathetic system.