Preferential involvement of chromosome 1q in a primary breast carcinoma

The cytogenetic findings by G- and C-banding in a primary breast carcinoma are reported. The tumor is characterized by a high modal number of chromosomes (79) and 14 markers of ten different origins. Chromosome #1 is more frequently involved in structural and numerical aberrations than is any other chromosome; nine copies of 1q were present in each cell examined. This observation supports the hypothesis that duplication of chromosome 1q may play an important role in the progression of malignant tumors.     

Simultaneous detection of SCE and Q-bands on human chromosomes by a double-staining technique

Human lymphocytes were cultured for two cell cycles in the presence of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), and the resulting metaphase chromosomes were first stained with quinacrine mustard (QM) and then, immediately afterwards, with Hoechst 33258, without any intermediate destaining. Both Q-banding patterns and sister chromatid differential staining were photographed subsequently on the same metaphase using two different filter blocks of the fluorescence microscope.     

The effect of haemorrhage on renal blood flow and intrarenal flow distribution

Bleeding of dogs to constant arterial pressure of 90 mm/g and 60 mmHg respectively decreased renal blood flow in proportion to pressure reduction. There was no evidence of autoregulation of renal blood flow or of selective renal vasoconstriction. With the radioactive microsphere technique a moderate shift of blood flow from the outer to the inner cortex was observed. In the renal 133Xe wash-out curves exponent 1(attributed to the elimination of the indicator from the cortex) was more reduced than exponents 2 and 3 (medulla). These findings may not indicate a redistribution of renal blood flow through resistance changes in specific parts of the renal vasculature but may represent the consequences of focal cortical ischaemia, most prominent in the outer cortex.     

Alterations of the basal serum insulin and blood glucose in brain-injured patients

Serial fasting blood glucose and basal serum insulin were measured in brain-injured patients. The endocrine changes were compared with the level of consciousness. Evaluating the serial examinations of 92 brain-injured and 31 control patients we came to the following conclusions.There is a quantitative correlation between the alterations in the level of consciousness and the fasting blood-glucose and serum-insulin levels in brain-injured patients. Deep coma is connected with a high blood-sugar level, clear consciousness with a normal glucose level. The insulin level is, however, decreased in the comatose state and normal in the state of clear consciousness.According to the alterations in blood-glucose and insulin levels, brain-injured patients can be divided into four groups.The alterations in the insulin level cannot give a proper explanation of the blood-sugar changes. Some changes in the levels of both blood glucose and serum insulin may have prognostic significance.According to our results it can be supposed that certain cerebral structures take part in the regulation of the basal insulin secretion.     

Atrioventricular alternating Wenckebach periodicity: conduction patterns in multilevel block

Atrioventricular (A-V) conduction patterns were analyzed in three patients with atrial pacing-induced alternating Wenckebach periodicity. These cases were unique because in each (1) separate levels of block responsible for the conduction disturbance were located above and below the His bundle recording site, and (2) there were several departures from the simple alternating Wenckebach pattern. Apparent supernormal conduction, temporary 1:1 conduction and a specific form of gap in A-V conduction resulted from the interplay of many factors including a simple mathematic relation of the blocking ratio at the two levels, the characteristics of the Wenckebach cycles, and the cycle length-dependent features of refractory periods at the different sites. The findings indicate that (1) delay in proximal impulse transmission is usually the critical factor in overcoming prolonged distal refractoriness and producing variable conduction patterns during the course of alternating Wenckebach periodicity; (2) many irregularities in alternating Wenckebach periodicity can be explained by known electrophysiologic mechanisms; and (3) simple mathematic equations alone are too rigid to reflect properly the dynamic process underlying this conduction disturbance.     

Effects of beta-adrenergic blocking agents during the septic-toxic phase of thermal injury

Blocking of beta-adrenergic adenyl cyclase activity during the septic-toxic phase of burns prevents catabolism and its consequences, despite the high catecholamine secretion.Two case histories are presented. Owing to the effect of the beta-blocking treatment, weight loss did not exceed 7–8 per cent and hypoproteinaemia and hypoalbuminuria did not develop. It also seems that burn anaemia has been reduced by this therapy, as there was no need for blood transfusions in these cases.