Statistical prediction of change in aphasia

We reviewed speech, language, and biographical data on 144 asphasic patients who had suffered left hemisphere cerebral vascular accidents. Using a step-wise multiple regression procedure, we attempted to predict change in severity of aphasia at three, six, and 12 months postonset based on performance at one, three, and six months postonset. Our results suggest statistical prediction of change is feasible. Multiple correlation coefficients ranged from 0.74 to 0.94.

Metabolic and cardiovascular side effects of the beta 2-adrenoceptor agonists salbutamol and rimiterol

The metabolic and cardiovascular side-effects of intravenous infusions of therapeutic doses of beta 2-adrenoceptor agonists salbutamol and rimiterol have been determined in four healthy male subjects. There were dose-related increases in plasma glucose, renin activity, serum insulin and heart rate, and significant hyperlactataemia and ketonaemia. There were dose-related decreases in plasma potassium, phosphate and corticosteroids and significant hypocalcaemia and hypomagnesaemia. The effects of equivalent molar amounts of salbutamol and rimiterol were similar. Whichever drug is used, special care is required with patients who may have abnormal glucose tolerance, potassium depletion, or be predisposed to lactic acidosis. Rimiterol may be preferable for infusion because of its short plasma half-life.

The growth of Hymenolepis microstoma in intact and gonadectomized mice

Gonadectomy or sex of the host had no effect on the mean dry weight of Hymenolepis microstoma examined on day 12 postinfection (p.i.). However, on day 20 p.i. worms from intact or sham-operated male mice were significantly heavier than those recovered from the corresponding groups of female hosts. Orchiectomy of hosts lowered the average weight of these older worms, but ovariectomy had no effect.

Right-hemisphere language dominance in a case of left-hemisphere arteriovenous malformation

This paper reports a case of surgical removal of a left-hemisphere arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in a left-handed adult without subsequent speech or language deficit. Preoperative intracarotid amobarbital testing indicated right-hemisphere language dominance. Our patient demonstrated no language involvement prior to or following surgery. We speculate the congenital nature of a left-hemisphere AVM may dictate right-hemisphere language dominance, thereby explaining the lack of residuals following removal of AVMs in left-hemisphere speech and motor areas.

Effects of lysozyme and chitinase on the spherules of Coccidioides immitis in vitro

Spherules of Coccidioides immitis strain Silveira produced in vitro were treated with chitinase and lysozyme. The walls of merthiolate-killed mature endosporulating spherules were degraded by chitinase (500 mug/ml) and by lysozyme (100 and 500 mug/ml). Thus, as was visible through the light microscope, the spherule wall was reduced in thickness from 1 to 2 mum to less than 0.5 mum. The degradation was evident also by release of N-acetylglucosamine, three times as much N-acetylglucosamine being released by chitinase in 12 h as was released by lysozyme in 3 days. However, the effect of lysozyme on living mature spherules was in marked contrast to the effect of chitinase in that treatment with lysozyme led to marked reduction in viability. Exposure to lysozyme (500 mug/ml) for 48 h permitted survival of only 0 to 0.2% of spherules. Thinning of the walls was observed only in the larger spherules (25-35 mum) treated with lysozyme. By contrast, chitinase (500 mug/ml) led to complete dissolution of the walls of living mature spherules but the viability of the liberated endospores was unaffected during contact with chitinase for 48 h. Living non-endosporulating immature spherules and free endospores were also rendered nonviable by lysozyme but not by chitinase.

Alkaloids from catecholamines in adrenal tissue: possible role in alcoholism

Epinephrine and norepinephrine condensed with acetaldehyde or with formaldehyde in dilute aqueous solution at neutral pH and room temperature to form 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroiso-quinoline alkaloids. Similar condensation reactions occurred in cow adrenal glands perfused with dilute aldehyde solutions at 37 degrees C. Biosynthesis of these alkaloids in vivo could play a role in altering an individual's behavior during and after the ingestion of alcohol.

Immediate fibrinolytic effect of components from the interior of human cells

Human chorion cells have been broken open and separated into “nuclear”, “mitochondrial”, “microsomal” and soluble fractions by differential centrifugation in the cold. Minute quantities of the homogenate and individual cell fractions were immediately tested for their fibrinolytic activity on fibrin plates with and without plasminogen, and also in the presence of streptokinase, ε-aminocaproic acid or Triton X-100.

With the technique employed, no direct fibrinolysis was produced by the homogenate or cell fractions. In the presence of streptokinase the homogenate and cell fractions led to marked fibrinolysis indicating the presence of cellular proactivator activity. Comparison of the intracellular fractions indicated that the greatest proactivator activity was associated with the “microsomal fraction”. The streptokinase-induced proactivator activity was partly inhibited by certain concentrations of ε-aminocaproic acid.