Biochemical, psychometric, and neuropsychological studies in heterozygotes for various lipidoses. Preliminary results.

A sample of 38 clinically unaffected carriers for various lipidoses and their noncarrier relatives was studied with biochemical, psychological, and neuropsychological tests under blind conditions. The largest group of carriers was that for metachromatic leucodystrophy (MLD). The mean activity of arylsulphatase A or cerebroside sulphatase in the obligate carriers was 25%-30% of the control values, some heterozygotes showing little more activity than MLD patients.

[Hunger and intellectual development].

Severe hunger in infancy and early childhood is associated with reduced head size, reduction in cell number and impaired chemical composition of the brain. Intellectual deficits correlating with malnutrition persist into later life. Because malnutrition and poor socio-economic conditions often exist together the additional unfavorable influence or lack of environmental stimuli on intellectual development has to be taken in account.

Evaluation of the effect of domperidone on human oesophageal and gastroduodenal motility by intraluminal manometry.

Intraluminal manometry has been used in a series of five studies on healthy volunteers and patients, to examine the action of domperidone on lower oesophageal sphincter pressure (LOSP), on peristaltic contraction, amplitudes and on antral, pyloric and duodenal motility. Furthermore, the effect on gastric acid secretion, pH, secretory volume and serum gastrin levels was studied. It was found that domperidone increased LOSP significantly but was less effective in patients with symptomatic gastro-oesophageal reflux than in normal volunteers.

Effect of intravenous diazepam on human lower oesophageal sphincter pressure under controlled double blind crossover conditions.

The effect of diazepam on the lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS) pressure is controversial. Therefore, a double-blind crossover study was performed on 18 healthy volunteers to determine the sphincter response to intravenous diazepam--70, 140, 280 microgram/kg, which correspond to a total dose of 5, 10, and 20 mg. respectively.

[Course of intraluminal esophageal pressure after laryngectomy (author's transl)].

A new electronic equipment permits the measurement of the course of intraluminal esophageal pressures in patients before and after laryngectomy. The values obtained in all parts of the esophagus could be reproduced, thus proving the correctness of the measuring system. In patients with laryngectomy having a good compensatory esophageal voice the pressures in the lower esophageal sphincter doubled, when compared with those patients with laryngectomy which had little or no compensatory voice.

[Hydranencephaly versus spelencephaly--a report of two cases (author's transl)].

Two cases are presented, one of hydranencephaly and one of spelencephaly. Spelencephaly represents an intermediate form between multicystic encephalopathy and hydranencephaly and is characterized by preservation of the ventricular walls. There is no clinical distinction between spelencephaly and hydranencephaly.

[Experiences with aluminum matrices of anterior teeth with a clamping device--a contribution to the planning of front tooth fillings].

Starting from the description of an innovator's suggestion (registration number: 172097), the author deals with the use of suitable anterior matrixes made of aluminium foil. Practical experience and clinical results with the filling material Frontasil recommend the technique described for wide use.

A new electronic transducer system for gastrointestinal pressure studies.

A new electronic transducer system has been developed for intraluminal pressure studies in the gastrointestinal tract. In contrast to other devices, inductance was used for the transformation of pressure into electrical signals. High sensitivity with a frequency response of 10(4) Hz guarantees accurate recording of sphincter as well as of peristaltic pressures.

Human amnion metabolism. II. Incorporation of fatty acids into tissue phospholipids in vitro.

The rate of incorporation of 3H-arachidonic acid and 14C-palmitic acid into 15 term amniotic membranes was studied during incubation of tissues in an artificial amniotic fluid medium. Phospholipids were extracted from the amnions, separated by thin-layer chromatography, and both the radioactivity and the phosphorus associated with each phospholipid species were determined. The distribution of amnion phospholipids was: lecithin, 47 per cent; phosphatidyl ethanolamine, 30 per cent; sphingomyelin, 7 per cent; phosphatidyl inositol, 5 per cent; lysolecithin, 4 per cent; and other phospholipids, 6 per cent.

Human amnion metabolism. I. In vitro maintenance.

The energy stores of human term amnion include glycogen (2.2 +/- 0.3 mumoles of glucose per gram, mean +/- S.

Parturition in the sheep.

Parturition in sheep is initiated by a sharp rise in the rate of secretion of cortisol by the fetal adrenal. Increased secretion is due partly to enhanced responsiveness to corticotropin (ACTH) and partly to increased fetal concentrations of corticotropin. Cortisol acts on placental enzymes active in the biosynthesis of oestrogens from progesterone.