Cranio-osteoarthropathy in sibs

Primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy is a condition characterized by clubbing, arthropathy and periostosis of long tubular bones. Three variants of primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy are distinguished: pachydermoperiostosis, which shows as additional symptom pachydermia; cranio-osteoarthropathy, which has a decreased neurocranium ossification as additional feature; and a secondary form. Primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy is also genetically heterogeneous, with evidence for both autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive inheritance. We describe two sibs with cranio-osteoarthropathy and briefly review previously reported cases. The present cases demonstrate the phenotypic variability of the condition. The consanguinity in the present family and analysis of previously described cases support autosomal recessive inheritance for cranio-osteoarthropathy.     

Controlled natural cycle IVF: experience in a world of stimulation

A total of 134 controlled natural IVF (nIVF) cycles were reviewed retrospectively and compared with 370 stimulated IVF (sIVF) cycles. The clinical pregnancy rate per embryo transfer following nIVF was 27% and 47% in sIVF cycles for patients aged less than 35. However, natural cycle patients could attempt consecutive cycles with much less impact on their lives, both medically and financially. In patients under 35 years of age, the choice of controlled nIVF reduces the cost and risk to the patient, permitting her to have multiple, consecutive attempts, and cumulatively offers a clinical pregnancy rate which approaches that of sIVF. The multiple pregnancy rate in nIVF is significantly reduced compared with sIVF treatment cycles. In patients over 35 years of age the benefits of nIVF were much less evident (clinical pregnancy rate: 8% per embryo transfer) and the opportunity to transfer multiple embryos in these patients seems to be advantageous.     

EXPERIMENTAL SYPHILIS OF ORIENTAL ORIGIN: CLINICAL REACTION IN THE RABBIT

Two oriental strains of T. pallidum of Chinese origin were compared with two well known occidental strains, the Nichols and the Zinsser-Hopkins, on the basis of the clinical reaction to infection in the rabbit. Four experiments were carried out, two each in Peiping and New York. Animals from American and Chinese sources were represented in each experiment. The results obtained showed that the reaction to both Chinese strains was generally comparable to that of the American strains. But with both Chinese strains, lesions of the eyes were more frequent, the time relations of certain phases of the reaction were shortened, and there was a higher incidence of complete recovery (latency) within the observation period. In view of the well known variability of the syphilitic reaction, however, it was not felt that these qualitative differences in clinical response could be ascribed to inherent or biologically fixed properties of the strains.     

THE HEMOCYTOLOGICAL CONSTITUTION OF ADULT MALE RABBITS FROM FIFTEEN STANDARD BREEDS

A study of the red blood cells, hemoglobin, blood platelets, and the total and individual white blood cells was made on 180 male rabbits of known age and representing fifteen standard breeds. An attempt was made to eliminate or bold constant such variables as age, sex, season, time of examination, technical errors, food, housing, and disease. The mean, variance of the mean, and standard deviation were calculated for each breed sample and for the group as a whole. An analysis of the variance showed that the variation between the breed samples was significantly greater than the variation within the breed samples for the red blood cells, hemoglobin, blood platelets, total white blood cells, basophiles, eosinophiles, and lymphocytes per cubic millimeter and in per cent and the neutrophiles in per cent. No significant variations were detected in the monocytes except when the breeds were divided into heavy and light breeds. No variation in the neutrophiles per cubic millimeter was detected; a large number of the breeds had exactly the same mean neutrophile level. Characteristic blood formulae were found for the various breed samples having an adequate numerical representation. It was concluded that the varying blood formulae could not be explained on any other, except an hereditary (genetic) basis.     

THE EXTENT OF THE CAPILLARY BED OF THE HEART

By means of injections made into the coronary arteries of beating hearts it has been possible to determine the number of capillaries in the normal heart muscle. This study has shown a very rich blood supply with an average of approximately one capillary for each muscle fibre in the ventricular walls and papillary muscles, and a less abundant supply in the auricular muscle and Purkinje system. The number of capillaries per sq. mm. of ventricular wall or papillary muscle is about twice that found by Krogh in skeletal muscle. Capillaries were not found constantly in the valves of hearts in which there was apparently a complete injection of the capillary bed. The method described for injecting the capillaries of the heart also provides a means of studying the blood supply to the muscle, valves and aortic wall in pathological hearts.     

EFFECT OF A FILTERABLE VIRUS (VIRUS III) ON THE GROWTH AND MALIGNANCY OF A TRANSPLANTABLE NEOPLASM OF THE RABBIT

A study of a malignant disease in rabbits has been made with reference to the presence or absence of a filterable virus, Virus III, in the tumor. The results are analyzed from the standpoint of certain characteristic features of the tumor process in order to determine any differences in degrees of malignancy. It was found that a more severe disease developed in the series in which the virus-bearing tumor was used than in the series in which the tumor was free of the virus, although the differences were not very marked and were not entirely constant. The influence of Virus III as a factor affecting malignancy has been discussed from the standpoint of its possible effect upon (α) the tumor cells and (b) the host reaction. It has been suggested that the greater malignancy of the pathological process usually induced by the virus-bearing tumor is attributable to a change in the response of the host to the tumor, which change is of the nature of a decreased resistance associated with the reaction of the host to the virus infection.     

THE RELATION BETWEEN BODY AND ORGAN WEIGHTS IN THE RABBIT

Data from 645 normal rabbits were used as the basis of an investigation of the relation existing between body and organ weights. Actual and relative weights were correlated with both gross and net body weight. The results obtained varied with different classes of organs but it was found that, in general, there was an agreement between the form and degree of the correlation shown and the structural and functional properties of the organs concerned.     

STUDIES BASED ON A MALIGNANT TUMOR OF THE RABBIT : VI. VARIATIONS IN GROWTH AND MALIGNANCY OF TRANSPLANTED TUMORS. PART 1. RESUTLTS OF TRANSPLANTATION FOR THE FIRST TWENTY GENERATIONS.

A report is given of the results obtained by intratesticular inoculation of a malignant tumor of the rabbit based on a study of the first twenty generations. The subject is presented from the standpoint of variations in growth and malignancy as they occurred with continued transplantation. Essential features of the experimental conditions and of clinical and postmortem observations are condensed and recorded graphically. On analyzing the results of these experiments, it was found that many changes had occurred in the behavior of the tumor during transplantation, but that the changes were of a very irregular character and as a rule did not proceed constantly in any given direction. Moreover, the evidence as to the effect of transplantation on the growth and malignancy of the tumor was contradictory in that there was a great deal of evidence to show that there had been a decided increase in the activity and capacity for growth on the part of the tumor cells. But, with the exception of a few generations, there was an apparent reduction in the incidence and percentage distribution of secondary tumors, while the death rate was unaltered or actually diminished. It was believed that this paradoxical situation afforded a basis for an explanation of the results that had been obtained by transplantation.     

PENETRATION OF NORMAL MUCOUS MEMBRANES OF THE RABBIT BY TREPONEMA PALLIDUM AND THE INFLUENCE OF THIS MODE OF INFECTION UPON THE COURSE OF THE DISEASE

Experiments were carried out with three strains of Treponema pallidum to determine whether infection could be produced by applying an emulsion, rich in spirochetes, to normal mucous membranes of rabbits and whether an infection produced in this manner differed in any respect from one produced by other methods of inoculation. It was found that a simple instillation of a spirochete emulsion into the conjunctival sac or the sheath was all that was necessary to obtain an infection. Still, the infection produced in this manner differed from that produced by intracutaneous or testicular inoculations in that it tended to pursue a mild or asymptomatic course and frequently without the development of a characteristic chancre. It is pointed out that these experiments may have a bearing on problems pertaining to obscure and atypical cases of human syphilis as well as the more immediate question of the infectivity of Treponema pallidum.