Increased glutamate decarboxylase activity in the red nucleus of the adult cat after cerebellar lesions

Glutamate decarboxylase (GAD)activity, a marker for GABAergic structures, was studied in the cat red nucleus. GAD is more concentrated in the rostral than in the caudal third of the structure.GAD levels were measured after chronic unilateral lesions of the cerebellum. Destruction of the dentate area and of the nucleus interpositus induced increases of GAD in the contralateral but not in the ipsilateral red nucleus. Similar changes also occurred in the denervated nucleus ventralis lateralis (VL) and nucleus ventralis anterior (VA) of the thalamus.Results show that loss of the excitatory cerebellar input could lead to changes in inhibitory GABAergic nerve terminals. This increase may be induced transsynaptically within existing neurons or, more likely, additional GAD-containing nerve terminals may be formed by axonal sprouting.     

Two cases of children of homosexuals

The literautre is reviewed with reference to parental attitudes related to homosexuality, sex role typing, and object choice. Two cases of children of opposite-sexed homosexual parents are presented with projective testing indicating difficulties with gender role identity. It is our impression that the manifestation of sexual conflict in these homosexual parents expressed in attitudes and behavior toward the child is not unique and does not differ significantly from that of the heterosexual parent who has sexual conflicts. More long-term data are necessary to help us to understand the influences of parental homosexuality on the growing child.     

Schimmelpilzbefunde an exhumierten Leichen und ihre gerichtlich-medizinische Bedeutung

Zusammenfassung Es ist uns gelungen, aus dem Pilzbewuchs, den wir an verschiedenen Teilen der Körperoberfläche der in den Jahren 1947–1950 in der Umgebung von Szeged exhumierten 20 Leichen, vorgefunden haben, 31 Pilzsorten zu züchten. In diesen Fällen scheinen Zusammenhänge zwischen der Ansiedlung der Pilze auf der Leiche und der seit der Beerdigung bis zur Exhumierung verstrichenen Zeit zu bestehen. Gewisse Gruppen des überwiegenden Teiles (87%) der Pilze haben wir stets an den aus derselben Beerdigungszeit stammenden Leichen vorgefunden. Das weist darauf hin, daß die Feststellung der Pilzsorten an unbekannten Leichen zur approximativen Bestimmung der Zeit des Ablebens geeignet sein kann. Aus den wenigen geprüften Fällen kann man natürlich noch keine endgültige Folgerung ziehen. Es war daher wünschenswert, die Ergebnisse unserer Prüfungen weiterzuverfolgen.     

Distribution of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes in Nantes Hospital (1969-1978) (author's transl)]

Between 1969 and 1978 at the CHR of Nantes we isolated Streptococcus pneumoniae from 815 swabs taken from 591 patients and which provided 595 different strains. Serotyping of all the strains was carried out using the capsular reaction test. The prevalence of the different serovars varied according to the year and the type of swab. No resistant strains to benzylpenicillin or ampicillin were observed. There was significant resistance to sulphonamides and tetracycline : 24,3 and 29,6% respectively. The American vaccine containing the greatest number of serovars was effective for only 69,8% of the strains isolated in Nantes.     

Vaccination with irradiated Ancylostoma caninum third stage larvae induces a Th2 protective response in dogs

While X-irradiated live parasites are not an acceptable proposition for human vaccination, they offer a ready experimental system to explore mechanisms by which immunity against hookworm infection may be induced in humans. As such, we sought to further elucidate the details of this highly protective immune response induced by the irradiated vaccine in canids, with special emphasis on the cellular aspects of the response. Vaccination with irradiated L3 induced high production of antibodies and strong PBMCs proliferation to crude L3 antigen preparation. Elevated IL-4 production was also observed in vaccinated dogs, especially in relation to IFN-gamma production (IL-4/IFN-gamma ratio). Serum from vaccinated animals inhibited penetration of L3 through canine skin in vitro by 60%. Finally, vaccinated animals had a strong antibody response to ASP-2, a promising vaccine antigen that is an excretory-secretory product of L3. These results add further support the idea that the Th2 immune response is required to generate protective immunity against hookworm larvae and that ES molecules released during this developmental stage are likely targets of this response.