Effect of stretch combined with electrical stimulation on the type of sarcomeres produced at the ends of muscle fibers

Stretching a muscle results in a rapid addition of sarcomeres at the ends of the muscle fibers. The effect of a pattern of electrical stimulation resembling that of a slow motoneuron on the newly formed muscle tissue in a stretched, fast-contracting muscle was investigated. We found that after a period as short as 4 days, the type of sarcomeres which were added on to the ends of the existing myofibrils differed from those in the middle regions of the experimental muscles: there was a much higher proportion of type I and type IIA sarcomeres in the stretch-stimulated ends. This study showed that reprogramming of the synthesis of fiber type-specific contractile proteins can be achieved and detected within a very short time by using electrical stimulation combined with stretch.

HDL-cholesterol subfractions in healthy males: relation to serum triglyceride levels and age

The relationship between plasma HDL-cholesterol subfractions (HDL2 and HDL3), measured using a differential precipitation method, and serum triglycerides, was studied in 402 healthy Caucasian males attending a health screening centre in London. Mean values for HDL2 and HDL3 were 0.42 +/- 0.24 mmol/L and 0.81 +/- 0.15 mmol/L respectively. HDL2 was found to show a stronger negative correlation with serum triglyceride and a stronger positive correlation with total HDL than HDL3. HDL2 also showed a stronger correlation with age than either total HDL or HDL3. Mean levels of HDL2 were 20% higher in subjects over 55 years of age compared with those who were less than 55 years of age. Reference values of HDL2 and HDL3 are presented for different age ranges.

Entamoeba histolytica as a commensal intestinal parasite in homosexual men

Entamoeba histolytica is considered to be an uncommon, imported organism in the United Kingdom and in many parts of North America, but recent attention has been drawn to the possibility of sexual transmission of this parasite among homosexual men. To determine the prevalence and clinical importance of enteric parasitic infections in men attending a clinic in London for the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, we studied 354 randomly selected patients who provided a single stool sample that was examined for E. histolytica and other intestinal parasites. Forty-five of the 225 homosexual patients (20 percent) were infected with E. histolytica, but no such infections were found among the 129 heterosexual subjects (P less than 0.0001). With the use of isoenzyme electrophoresis, 34 of the 45 E. histolytica isolates were classified according to zymodeme. All were Zymodeme I or III, which are considered to be nonpathogenic. There was no correlation between the presence of E. histolytica and gastrointestinal symptoms. These findings suggest that E. histolytica is a common commensal in the homosexual population and that, in the absence of evidence of invasive disease, treatment of persons passing cysts of the organism may have little practical benefit.

The management of affective disorders in the community

Using two systems which routinely record information about the management of psychiatric disorders in the community (a drug prescription monitoring system and a psychiatric case register), a parallel study was conducted in South Verona on antidepressant prescriptions written by general practitioners (GPs) and on contacts for affective disorders with specialized psychiatric services, in 1983 and 1984. The extent of patient contact for affective disorders was approximately ten times greater at the GP level (in one year about 150 antidepressant prescriptions per 1000 adult inhabitants) than at the out-patient/community psychiatric service level. Similarly, the extent of patient contact at the latter level was approximately ten times greater than at the in-patient level. Patients with a diagnosis of affective disorder accounted for about 20% of the total number of patients contacting the specialized services in one year. The proportions of patients admitted to hospital, among those in contact with these services and assigned a diagnosis of depressive neurosis or a diagnosis of affective psychosis, were 34 and 33% (in 1983 and 1984) and 49 and 50% (in 1983 and 1984), respectively. There was a clear correspondence between monthly fluctuations in the extent of care for affective disorders provided at the two levels in 1984, but not in 1983.

Development of scales to measure treatment attitudes in psychiatry

We used multiple regression analysis to modify and shorten two scales for measuring practitioners' attitudes to psychotherapy and drug therapy. The resulting scales have been combined in a 21-item questionnaire (Treatment Attitudes in Psychiatry Scales (TAPS] which is brief and easy to use, and should have wide application in psychiatry. The results of a concurrent validation of the scales, using two large groups of consultant psychiatrists who were members of either the Biological Psychiatry or Psychotherapy Section of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, show the extent to which their attitudes to psychotherapy or drug therapy tend to overlap. Polarisation of attitudes was more evident in the results from the Biological Psychiatry Section. A method is described by which scores obtained with the TAPS can readily be compared with those obtained by the criterion groups.

The design and development of a screening questionnaire (CHQ) for use in community studies of mental disorders in Taiwan

The problems which arise in the use of a psychiatric screening instrument in a language and culture other than that in which it was designed and developed are considered. An account is given of the development of a psychiatric screening questionnaire suitable for use in Chinese community samples. The questionnaire was derived from a Chinese translation of the General Health Questionnaire, with the addition of specially designed, culturally-relevant items. Discriminant function analysis was then used to select a subset of 12 items which discriminated well between 'cases' and 'normals' in the community.

Frequency of self-reported 'anxiolytic withdrawal' symptoms in a group of female students experiencing anxiety

This study describes the occurrence of self-reported perceptual phenomena in students experiencing anxiety. Phenomena like hypersensitivity to touch, hyposensitivity to taste and smell, and unusual tastes and smells appear to be non-specific and to be closely related to the level of anxiety. They emphasize the need for the development of techniques to elicit perceptual phenomena, and to investigate their occurrence and the intensity of their phenomena in variously defined groups. These also have implications for the assessment of benzodiazepine withdrawal syndromes.

The use of clonidine in the treatment of neuroleptic-induced tardive dyskinesia

A double-blind crossover comparison of clonidine and placebo was conducted in seven subjects afflicted with neuroleptic-induced tardive dyskinesia (TD). Subjects received either clonidine, 0.4 mg/day, or placebo for a period of 8 weeks and were then crossed over to the opposing treatment modality. The effects of clonidine on TD symptomatology could not be distinguished from those of placebo (p greater than 0.05). However, comparison of prestudy ratings of TD severity to poststudy ratings revealed a significant reduction in TD symptoms (p less than 0.01). Close analysis of the data indicates that clonidine's effect on TD may have carried over into the placebo phase of the study, masking any true differences between clonidine and placebo treatment. Other factors which may have contributed to the lack of significant findings are discussed.

A survey of the California Alliance for the Mentally Ill

Family groups are becoming increasingly active in providing support to family members and in mental health advocacy. The authors report the results of a survey that assessed the concerns of members of the California Alliance for the Mentally Ill and the treatment history of disabled family members. The 199 respondents were typically the parents of a schizophrenic son between the ages of 24 and 34 whose illness was first noticed in the late teens and for whom assistance had been sought for at least a decade. The respondents indicated that medication, family support, socialization centers, community residential treatment, and locked facilities had most helped the family member to improve. The most important additional needs were housing, vocational, and social opportunities and research.

Glutamine blocks lipolysis and ketogenesis of fasting

Several in vivo studies have indirectly suggested a relationship between blood glutamine and ketonemia. The present study was designed to characterize the role glutamine plays in regulating lipolysis and ketogenesis during fasting in vivo. Twelve dogs had catheters implanted in the hepatic and portal veins (V) and in the femoral artery (A) 17-21 days before study. The animals were fasted for 4 days. After a 120-min rest and 40-min basal periods, 6 dogs received an infusion of L-glutamine at 6 mumol X kg-1 X min-1 and 6 received saline and acted as controls. Hepatic and splanchnic balances (mumol X kg-1 X min-1) were estimated by A-V differences multiplied by blood flow determined by indocyanine green. Fasting was associated with a compensated (no change in pH) mild metabolic acidosis but no change in plasma insulin and glucagon or blood glutamine. L-Glutamine infusion increased blood glutamine by 20% but decreased arterial free fatty acids (FFA, from 1,054 +/- 47 to 850 +/- 43 mumol/l, P less than 0.01), beta-hydroxybutyrate (beta-OHB, from 136 +/- 15 to 66 +/- 8 mumol/l, P less than 0.01), acetoacetate (AcAc, from 168 +/- 26 to 86 +/- 21 mumol/l, P less than 0.01), and glycerol (from 90 +/- 4 to 65 +/- 5 mumol/l, P less than 0.01). It also decreased hepatic uptake of glycerol (from 2.5 +/- 0.5 to 0.8 +/- 0.3 mumol X kg-1 X min-1, P less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The influence of the O and K antigens of Klebsiella aerogenes on surface hydrophobicity and susceptibility to phagocytosis and antimicrobial agents

The surface hydrophobicity of Klebsiella aerogenes is influenced by the presence of capsular (K) and lipopolysaccharide (O) antigens. Loss of both K and O antigens (K-O-), but not the K antigen alone (K-O+), increased surface hydrophobicity and susceptibility to phagocytosis. Unheated serum (i.e., containing complement) increased the surface hydrophobicity and phagocytosis of the K-O+ and K-O- strains, but not of the K+O+ encapsulated parent strain. Despite the altered susceptibility to phagocytosis caused by the presence or absence of the K and O antigens, their loss did not influence sensitivity to a range of hydrophilic, hydrophobic or cationic antimicrobial agents.

Analysis of vascular responses in rat hindquarters arterial resistance vessels and veins in situ

The venous compartment plays a critical role in circulatory control. The present series of experiments was conducted to assess simultaneously effects of vasoactive drugs on arterial resistance and venous capacitance vessels of the rat hindquarters perfused with physiological salt solutions (SS). Retrograde infusion of SS into rat hindquarters via the vena cava resulted in an increase in hindquarters venous pressure (Pv). The range of mean volumes required to increase Pv to 20 and 30 mm Hg was 1.7 +/- 0.1 to 2.9 +/- 0.4 and 3.8 +/- 0.3 to 6.9 +/- 0.3 ml, respectively, in various groups of rats during a control period. Perfusion of the hindquarters with an SS containing 80 mM K+ reduced the volume required to increase Pv to 20 and 30 mm Hg to 47 +/- 2 and 42 +/- 2% of control, respectively, indicating venoconstriction. K+ (80 mM) SS also increased aterial perfusion pressure (Pa; measured from a sidearm off of the inflow catheter) to 141 +/- 9 mm Hg, indicating arterial vasoconstriction. Arterial and venous responses to 80 mM K+ were attenuated markedly by perfusion with SS containing zero Ca and 2 mM ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid, indicating dependence on extracellular Ca. Phentolamine (10(-5) M) attenuated the arterial and venous response to 80 mM K+, indicating an alpha adrenergic contribution. Arterial responses to 80 mM K+ were attenuated markedly by the Ca entry blockers nifedipine (10(-6) and 10(-5) M) and verapamil (10(-6) and 10(-5) M). In contrast, venous responses were not affected by nifedipine and were reduced slightly only at the high concentration of verapamil.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Influence of growth rate and iron limitation on the expression of outer membrane proteins and enterobactin by Klebsiella pneumoniae grown in continuous culture

The influence of the growth rate on outer membrane protein composition and enterobactin production was studied with Klebsiella pneumoniae grown under conditions of iron limitation in chemostats. More enterobactin was produced at fast (D = 0.4 h-1) and slow (D = 0.1 h-1) growth rates in continuous cultures than in either logarithmic- or stationary-phase batch cultures. When the growth rate was controlled under conditions of carbon limitation and the iron level was reduced to 0.5 microM, the iron-regulated outer membrane proteins and enterobactin were induced at the fast growth rate. At the slow growth rate, although the iron-regulated outer membrane proteins were barely visible, a significant level of enterobactin was still produced. These results suggest that under conditions of either carbon or iron limitation, the growth rate can influence the induction of the high-affinity iron uptake system of K. pneumoniae. Other outer membrane proteins, including a 39-kilodalton peptidoglycan-associated protein, were found to vary with the growth rate and nutrient limitation.

Effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on the human small intestine

The suggestion that the intestinal mucosa may be abnormally permeable and thus a site of antigen absorption in rheumatoid arthritis was tested by a 51Cr EDTA intestinal permeability test. Twelve patients with rheumatoid arthritis untreated by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) had normal test results, while 12 NSAID-treated patients had increased intestinal permeability. Ten volunteers ingested aspirin, ibuprofen and indomethacin 8 and 1 hours before the study. The increased intestinal permeability was proportional to drug potency to inhibit cyclo-oxygenase. Intestinal permeability also increased following an indomethacin suppository, which suggests that the effect is systemically mediated. 111Indium leucocyte scintigrams and faecal collection showed no evidence of intestinal inflammation in 9 patients untreated by NSAIDs. Twenty-nine of 53 NSAID-treated patients showed abnormal localisation of 111indium in the right iliac fossa at 20 hours, and 32 of 49 patients had increased faecal excretion of 111indium. A 99mTc-porphyrin scan suggested that the main site of NSAID-induced intestinal inflammation was the small bowel. NSAIDs are thus shown to disrupt intestinal integrity and long term treatment leads to inflammation of the small intestine.

Misclassification by psychiatric screening questionnaires

Two psychiatric screening instruments were applied to a sample of attenders (n = 875) in three primary medical care clinics in the city of Sao Paulo. The two questionnaires were validated in a subsample (n = 260) against the Clinical Interview Schedule [8]. The effect of sociodemographic variables on misclassification (by both questionnaires) was investigated using Relative Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis and linear logistic modelling. Both these techniques proved to be useful in this regard, and it is recommended that they be more widely used in screening studies. Sex and educational level exerted important influences on misclassification. In general, men were more likely than women to be classified as false negative, while poorly educated respondents were more likely to be classified as false positive. These results are interpreted in an illness-behavior context.

Lower incisor position in treatment planning

Attention has been focused on the position of the lower incisors in treatment planning. Determination of a stable incisor position around which to plan treatment is an important consideration. In the light of increasing use of fixed appliances in this country it is felt of value to present in detail the various methods available for planning lower incisor position. A brief appraisal of each is given and the literature relating to them discussed. It is concluded that whilst no particular method is ideal, the use of Ricketts' A-Po line in giving an indication of permitted direction of movement, tempered by a cautious approach as advocated by Mills should achieve a compromise between improved aesthetics and stability in most cases. A detailed study is required to assess more fully their practical application.

Rural tranquility?: urban-rural differences in tranquilliser prescribing

Literature concerning patterns of psychotropic prescribing and its causes is discussed before focusing on the relationship between geographical location and psychotropic drug prescribing. The association between tranquilliser prescribing and urban-rural location is investigated using data from general practices in two urban and two rural Family Practitioner Committee areas. Our findings indicate that in general, doctors in urban practices were more likely to prescribe tranquillisers than those in rural practices. However, the number of principals in the practices had an effect on tranquilliser prescribing which differed according to the urban-rural designation: in urban practices, tranquilliser prescribing increased with increasing number of principals, but the reverse was true in rural practices. Possible explanations for these findings are discussed and lines of further research suggested.

A validity study of a psychiatric screening questionnaire (SRQ-20) in primary care in the city of Sao Paulo

A validity study of the Self-Report Questionnaire (20 item version, Harding et al, 1980) against the criterion of a standardised psychiatric interview (Goldberg et al, 1970) was carried out at three primary care clinics in Sao Paulo; 875 patients filled in the SRQ-20 questionnaires and a subsample of 260 was interviewed by the psychiatrist. The SRQ-20 was shown to be a feasible screening instrument for psycho-emotional disturbance in these settings. Sensitivity was 83% and specificity 80%, and the questionnaire was a good indicator of morbidity. A correlation was found between questionnaire total scores and independent clinical judgment (r = +0.70). A sex difference in the validity coefficients is described.

Self-reported use of psychotropic drugs and alcohol abuse in South-Verona

The data for this cross-sectional survey were obtained from a stratified probability sample of 510 residents in South-Verona during the period May-June 1980. The two-week prevalence of psychotropic drug consumption was found to be 13%. The prevalence was higher in women (18%) than in men (9%). The most commonly consumed category of psychotropic drugs were the benzodiazepines, which accounted for 70% of all the psychotropic drugs consumed by women and 85% of those consumed by men. Using a logistic analysis, a strong association between drug consumption and minor psychiatric morbidity, as indicated by the GHQ scores, was found for both sexes, a finding not significantly different from that found in the West London study by Murray et al. (1981). Alcohol abuse in men was less prevalent in the youngest age-group. Thirty-three (19%) of the male GHQ low scorers were alcohol abusers, compared with 12 (40%) of the high scorers. No significant association was found between psychotropic drug consumption and alcohol abuse in men.

A comparison of the validity of two psychiatric screening questionnaires (GHQ-12 and SRQ-20) in Brazil, using Relative Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis

The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) (Goldberg, 1972) and the Self Report Questionnaire (SRQ-20) (Harding et al. 1980) were simultaneously validated against the criterion of the Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS) (Goldberg et al. 1970) in three primary care clinics in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil. A comparison between the two screening instruments was carried out. The product-moment correlation between the two sets of scores was +0.72, and the validation coefficients for the GHQ-12 and the SRQ-20 were respectively: sensitivity 85% and 83%; specificity 79% and 80%; overall misclassification rate 18% and 19%. The two screening instruments were further compared by the application of Relative Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis and, again, were found to be very similar in performance. The area under the ROC curve was 0.87 for the GHQ and 0.90 for the SRQ-20 (Z = 0.92, NS). Both psychiatric screening instruments were therefore found to be acceptably valid when assessed against the CIS in three primary care settings in Brazil. The application of ROC analysis to studies of this kind was feasible and straightforward. It was found to be superior to the conventional method of presentation of validity data. It is recommended that the application of ROC analysis to psychiatric screening studies be further utilized and explored.

Priorities for research on mental health in primary care settings

A Delphi study was conducted with a multi-disciplinary group of experts attending a conference on mental illness in primary care settings. Respondents' priorities for research which could maximize benefits for service developments in this field were elicited by asking them to distribute hypothetical annual research budgets among (a) 6 mental health priority areas, and (b) 7 subjects 'needing' investigation within the primary care priority area. The respondents' three top-ranked priority areas for research were: (1) primary care; (2) the elderly mentally ill; and (3) chronically disabling mental illness. Their three top-ranked subjects for investigation within the primary care priority area were: (1) the effectiveness of treatment measures; (2) the problems of mental health presenting to primary care services; and (3) the training requirements for family doctors in psychiatric skills. The results are discussed with reference to the method used and to the economic concepts of programme budgeting and marginal analysis.

Rising prevalence of human T-lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III) infection in homosexual men in London

The prevalence of antibody to HTLV-III has increased from 3.7% (4/107) amongst unselected British homosexual men attending a London sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic during one week in March, 1982, to 21% (26/124) in those attending during one week in July, 1984. Seropositive men had a significantly higher prevalence of infection with hepatitis B virus than did seronegative men. 82% (27/33) of the seropositive men in 1984 were symptomless or had only local genito-urinary symptoms referable to the STD for which they were attending. The evidence suggests that HTLV-III was initially an imported but is now an endemic sexually transmitted agent. As of July, 1984, at least 2600 homosexual men in London would probably have been infected.

An experimental vaccine against American dermal leishmaniasis: experience in the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil

A vaccine prepared from killed and sonicated promastigotes of five Brazilian strains of Leishmania was used during an epidemic of American dermal leishmaniasis that occurred in Viana county, State of Espírito Santo, Brazil. Initially, all of the participants in the vaccination programme had negative reactions to Montenegro antigen. Forty days after the last dose of vaccine had been given, 87.6% of the 216 vaccinated individuals had become Montenegro-positive whereas the 266 unvaccinated persons remained Montenegro-negative. The study area had an unstable population and details are given about the human population changes that occurred during the two-year study period. Taking into account population movements, 1.5% of those vaccinated and 6.4% of the unvaccinated group developed dermal leishmanial lesions by the end of the first year. At the end of the second year, 1.7% of those vaccinated and 8.9% of the unvaccinated group had become infected. The difference in infection rates of the two groups is statistically significant at both the end of the first and second years of observation. Diagnosis of the disease(s) was based on the clinical appearance of lesions combined with parasitological and/or immunological evidence and subsequent responses to treatment. The experience gained in Viana also provided information about the storage and administration of the experimental vaccine which have been used in mounting a randomized clinical trial.

Double-blind randomized trial of the effect of ticlopidine in arteriovenous fistulas for hemodialysis

The antiplatelet drug ticlopidine was assessed as an agent for improving the patency of Brescia-Cimino arteriovenous fistulas as access for hemodialysis. In a double-blind randomized study over 1 month, two of six fistulas in the ticlopidine group and five of nine in the placebo group failed. A further one placebo and two ticlopidine patients still had functioning fistulas at the time of withdrawal for technical reasons from the trial. Ticlopidine appears, therefore, to enhance the efficacy of Brescia-Cimino fistulas, at least in the short term.

Map-fingerprint-dot changes in the corneal epithelial basement membrane following radial keratotomy

Corneal epithelial opacities similar to those seen in corneal epithelial basement membrane dystrophy were seen in 33 of 71 eyes following radial keratotomy. These changes were clinically indistinguishable from those seen in map-fingerprint-dot dystrophy with map type changes seen most often. Basement membrane changes tended to be transient (persisting less than 3 months in 75.3% of eyes) and not usually visually significant. However, three eyes had changes which persisted for 12 months. Most eyes with basement membrane changes had involvement of less than one-half quadrant of the corneal (68%). Involvement of two or more quadrants occurred in 9.4% of eyes with these changes. One eye had visually significant changes which persisted for 3 months. There were no episodes of recurrent erosion.

Insulin and cortisol improve heat tolerance in isolated perfused rat liver

Isolated rat livers were perfused at 37 degrees, 41 degrees, 42 degrees, and 43 degrees C with and without insulin and cortisol. Two additional groups were perfused at 42 degrees C with either hormone alone. The perfusate contained red blood cells, amino acids, and albumin in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate. Bile flow was significantly increased by hormones at 37 degrees C. Bile flow was also increased by hormones at all other temperatures. At 41 degrees C, K+ leakage was the only parameter that indicated injury. Insulin and cortisol significantly reduced K+ leakage at this temperature compared to those without hormones. At 42 degrees C, insulin and cortisol reduced K+ leakage, increased bile flow, reduced transaminase release, and improved ultrastructural integrity. The enhanced bile flow was due primarily to insulin. A reduction in K+ leakage required both insulin and cortisol. Transaminase leakage responded to either hormone alone or in combination; however, only the cortisol-treated group showed a statistically significant reduction in transaminase leakage. At 43 degrees C, indications of irreversible injury were evident and hormones had no beneficial effects. Loss of membrane homeostasis appeared to be the initial event.

Intestinal permeability and inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis: effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

The suggestion that the intestinal mucosa may be abnormally permeable and a site of absorption of antigens in rheumatoid arthritis was tested by the use of a 51Cr-EDTA (edetic acid) absorption test. 24 patients with rheumatoid arthritis excreted significantly more 51Cr-EDTA than did 34 controls. Intestinal permeability was normal in untreated patients but almost invariably abnormal in patients treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Studies in patients with osteoarthritis showed that the permeability abnormalities were due to an effect of NSAIDs on both the proximal and the distal intestine and that the effect was systemically mediated. Indium-111-labelled leucocyte scans showed ileocaecal inflammation in 6 of 9 patients on or recently on NSAIDs. Although increased intestinal permeability does not seem to be important in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis, the administration of NSAIDs may lead to loss of intestinal integrity, thus facilitating antigenic absorption and perhaps contributing to persistence of the disease.

Effect of iron deprivation on the production of siderophores and outer membrane proteins in Klebsiella aerogenes

The outer membrane (OM) protein profile of Klebsiella aerogenes grown in an iron rich chemically defined medium (Fe + CDM) showed three major proteins of 32.5, 35.5 and 39.0 kDal. The 35.5 and 39.0 kDal proteins were non-covalently associated with peptidoglycan. At least six new iron regulated outer membrane proteins (IRMP) of 69, 70, 73, 75, 78 and 83 kDal, which were not peptidoglycan associated, were apparent in the OM of K. aerogenes grown in iron restricted (serum) or iron deficient (Fe-CDM) media. An 18.5 kDal protein was also present in the OM of stationary phase K. aerogenes following growth in Fe + CDM, in iron saturated serum and in citrate supplemented CDM but was repressed in Fe-CDM or in serum. Enterochelin but not aerobactin was detected in the spent supernates of iron deficient K. aerogenes. Inoculation of iron replete K. aerogenes into low iron CDM (less than 17 X 10(-7) M-Fe3+) produced IRMP and enterochelin within two generations, and several generations before the end of exponential phase. Inoculation of iron depleted cells into Fe + CDM resulted in dilution rather than active excretion from the OM of the IRMP, 1.5 generations being required for the initial level to decrease by one-half and 4 generations for it to return to that observed after growth to stationary phase in Fe + CDM. The appearance of the IRMP of K. aerogenes grown under iron depletion was unaffected by prior growth of the inoculum in a gross excess of iron which suggested that whether or not K. aerogenes was capable of storing iron, it rapidly responded to the extracellular iron concentration.

The role of fibrinolysis in the therapy of peripheral vascular disease

In vivo thrombolytic studies in stumptailed monkeys indicated that pentoxifylline potentiates thrombolysis induced by urokinase activated human plasmin. Pentoxifylline as well as prostaglandin E1 released plasminogen activators and activated the fibrinolysin system. From this point of view pentoxifylline and prostaglandin E1 synergized with each other. Pentoxifylline potentiated the thrombolytic effect of prostaglandin E1 in vivo.

Screening for psychiatric disorder in general practice

The extent of psychiatric morbidity was investigated in a consecutive series of patients attending a south London general practitioner. The GP identified a psychiatric component in the reason for consultation in 40% of the sample, and he regarded 24% as 'psychiatric cases'. The estimated true prevalence of psychiatric morbidity in the sample was 34%. These data are used as the basis for a theoretical discussion of prescriptive screening strategies for psychiatric disorder in general practice.

Regional economic-demographic modelling and projection: review of an international conference

A review of the papers presented at the International Conference on Forecasting Regional Population Change and Its Economic Determinants and Consequences, held at Airlie House, Virginia, from May 26 to 29, 1982, is provided. "This review...concludes that [regional economic-demographic] modelling is at an early stage of development and currently provides only an adjunct to more conventional methods of regional forecasting. Given expected future improvements in the theory, data and techniques of economic-demographic modelling, such models could soon provide a worthwhile alternative."

Safety and efficacy of 2% methylcellulose in cat and monkey cataract-implant surgery

We evaluated the safety and efficacy of 2% methycellulose as an adjunct for cataract extraction with implantation in cat and monkey models. When used intraoperatively, methylcellulose reduced the iridovitreal bulge during surgery. No significant increase in clinical inflammation occurred nor was there statistically significant intraocular pressure elevation at 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days. In the cat model, the central corneal thickness increased at day seven in both control and methylcellulose eyes; this thickness persisted to 90 days. The endothelial cell loss decreased significantly at day 90 in methylcellulose eyes. In the monkey model, no statistically significant increase in corneal thickness occurred in control or methylcellulose eyes at day seven. The endothelial cell loss was greater than in the cat model in both control and methylcellulose eyes; there was no statistically significant difference between the two. Two percent methylcellulose was safe in both the cat and monkey models. It facilitated surgery in both models and reduced the endothelial cell loss in the cat eye.