Three-dimensional computer reconstruction of the eustachian tube and paratubal muscles.

A new method of anatomic dissection and image reconstruction using computer techniques for better understanding of eustachian tube (ET) functioning is presented. Coronal sections of two noncleft fetal skulls were photographed and projected on a graphic tablet. Contours of the pertinent structures were digitized using a mouse.

Distribution of endotracheally instilled surfactant protein SP-C in lung-lavaged rabbits.

In lung-lavaged surfactant-deficient rabbits (n = 6) requiring artificial ventilation, porcine surfactant was instilled endotracheally. This resulted in improvement of lung function so that the animals could be weaned off artificial ventilation. The animals were killed 4 1/2 h after surfactant administration and the porcine surfactant protein was localized in the lung with a MAb.

Lactobacillus septicemia, an unusual complication during the treatment of metastatic choriocarcinoma.

A case of severe Lactobacillus septicemia in a patient treated with chemotherapy because of metastatic choriocarcinoma is described. Although Lactobacillus is a ubiquitous commensal of the female genital tract, no earlier reference was found in the literature.

Objective quantitation of serum antibody titres against Enterobacteriaceae using indirect immunofluorescence, read by videocamera and image processing system.

A new way of measuring indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) of microscopic bacterial slide preparations by videocamera and an image processing system is presented. This method is compared with the conventional method of reading the slides by eye. The advantages of this new approach are objective reading, greater accuracy and easier performance.

Demineralization of human dentine compared with enamel in a pH-cycling apparatus with a constant composition during de- and remineralization periods.

A comparison was made between the demineralization of enamel and dentine with and without abraded surfaces. This was done in a pH-cycling experiment for different demineralization/remineralization ratios--in the range from 1:1 to 1:4--and for different fluoride additions (up to 2 ppm) in solution. A new automatic pH-cycling system, in which the de- and remineralization solutions have a constant composition during the de- and remineralization cycles, was used to create mineral loss in human dentine and enamel.

Cytogenetics of three cases of ANLL M2 and M4. Involvement of chromosomal region 8q22 in all three but 21q22 in only one.

Cytogenetic investigation of the bone marrow of two patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL), French-American-British Cooperative group (FAB) classification M2, revealed a translocation (8;22)(q22.1;q13.3), without involving chromosome 21, and a variant translocation (8;21)(q22;q22).

Carrier testing and prenatal diagnosis for hemophilia: experiences and attitudes of 549 potential and obligate carriers.

Experiences with and attitudes toward carrier testing and prenatal diagnosis were evaluated among 549 potential and obligate carriers of hemophilia. Almost everybody considered carrier testing to be useful. Forty-nine percent had been tested for carriership, 10% had only received limited information, and 41% had not been tested and had never received information about the heredity of hemophilia.

Wavelength-independent microradiography: a method for non-destructive quantification of enamel and dentin mineral concentrations using polychromatic x-rays.

Wavelength-independent Microradiography (WIM), described in this paper, used polychromatic, high-energy (less than or equal to 60 kV) x-rays for determination of mineral concentrations in tooth material non-destructively. This was done with the aid of a reference step-wedge made of 94% aluminum, 6% zinc. The mass attenuation coefficient of this material has a wavelength-independent ratio to the mass attenuation coefficients of enamel and dentin.

Effect of a hyperthermic treatment on the pluripotent haemopoietic stem cell in normal and anaemic mice.

Up to now, the hyperthermic sensitivity of pluripotent haemopoietic stem cells is unknown, and the few existing data from reports in the literature are conflicting. There are two main drawbacks in the set-up of those studies: (1) only CFU-S day 9 results were presented, whereas it is questionable if this assay gives a true reflection of the pluripotent stem cell, and (2) no attention has been paid to heat effects on the seeding efficiency, i.e.

Fluoride uptake in bovine enamel and dentin from a fluoride-releasing composite resin.

To determine the fluoride uptake in enamel and dentin, a fluoridating composite resin was fixed at a 100-microns distance from bovine enamel and dentin for 2 weeks. The results revealed a substantial increase in the level of fluoride in both enamel and dentin. This model investigation showed that the fluoride released by the composite resin was effectively taken up by the surrounding tissues.

Nuchal muscle activity at different levels of hypoxemia in fetal sheep.

The effects of hypoxemia on nuchal muscle activity, a parameter of gross body movements, were studied during 12 experiments in five chronically instrumented fetal lambs. Hypoxemia was accomplished by tracheal infusion of nitrogen and did not result in significant changes in fetal arterial pH and PCO2. Fetal arterial blood gases and pH were continuously measured with an extracorporeal flow-through cuvette.

Effects of fish oil supplementation in rheumatoid arthritis.

Sixteen patients with rheumatoid arthritis entered a trial to determine the clinical and biochemical effects of dietary supplementation with fractionated fish oil fatty acids. A randomised, double blind, placebo controlled crossover design with 12 week treatment periods was used. Treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and with disease modifying drugs was continued throughout the study.

Salvage of glucosylceramide by recycling after internalization along the pathway of receptor-mediated endocytosis.

To examine the (intra)cellular fate of a glycolipid, normally residing at the cell surface, a fluorescent analog of glucosylceramide, 6-[N-(7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazol-4-yl)amino]hexanoylglucosylsp hingosine (C6-NBD-glucosylceramide), was inserted into the plasma membrane of baby hamster kidney cells at low temperature. Upon warming the cells to 37 degrees C, part of the glycolipid analog was internalized. A comparison with receptor-mediated uptake of transferrin revealed that after 2 min of warming, both C6-NBD-glucosylceramide and the transferrin-transferrin receptor complex are localized in the same intracellular compartment (early endosomes).

The natural course of myasthenia gravis: a long term follow up study.

A long term follow up study is presented of 73 patients with myasthenia gravis, living in Amsterdam between 1926 and 1965. In the period 1961-65 the annual incidence was 3.1, the prevalence 53 per million.

Effect of inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase on the radiation response of HeLa S3 cells.

The purpose of this study was to investigate possible involvement of poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation reactions in X-ray-induced cell killing, repair of potentially lethal damage (PLD), and formation and repair of radiation-induced DNA damage. As tools we used the inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase, 3-aminobenzamide (3AB), and 4-aminobenzamide (4AB). Both drugs inhibited PLD repair equally well but did not increase radiation-induced cell killing when cells were plated immediately after irradiation.

Gadolinium chloride-induced shifts in intrahepatic distributions of liposomes.

Intravenously administered gadolinium chloride caused only a slight decrease in the rate of elimination of small unilamellar liposomes from the blood and had no influence on the total hepatic uptake of these vesicles, but did alter their intrahepatic distribution substantially. Uptake by the non-parenchymal cells was substantially decreased, whereas uptake by the parenchymal cells showed a concomitant increase. Our earlier observations (Roerdink et al.

Mechanism of fusion of Sendai virus: role of hydrophobic interactions and mobility constraints of viral membrane proteins. Effects of polyethylene glycol.

The mechanism of Sendai virus fusion was investigated by studying the effect of the dehydrating agent polyethylene glycol (PEG) on the interaction of the virus with erythrocyte membranes. The initial rate of virus fusion, monitored continuously by a fluorescence membrane fusion assay, increases approximately 5-fold in the presence of small amounts (4%, w/v) of PEG. The polymer did not trigger a massive nonspecific fusion event, as the limited number of virus particles that fuse per erythrocyte ghost remains unaltered.

On the mechanism of neuroleptic induced increase in striatal dopamine release: brain dialysis provides direct evidence for mediation by autoreceptors localized on nerve terminals.

The influence of sulpiride on the in vivo release of dopamine and DOPAC from the rat striatum was investigated by microdialysis. Racemic sulpiride was administered systemically (i.p.

Employment of individuals with haemophilia in The Netherlands.

A study was performed to determine whether improvements in the treatment of haemophilia over the past 20 years have influenced the prospects of these patients in the labour market. Surveys on the medical and social situation of haemophiliacs in The Netherlands were carried out in 1972, 1978 and 1985. Most of the patients participated in these surveys.

Duplication of the tRNA(MMet) and tRNA(Cys) genes and of fragments of a gene encoding a subunit of the NADH dehydrogenase complex in Neurospora grassa mitochondrial DNA.

Neurospora crassa mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) contains duplications of the tRNA(MMet) gene upstream of a gene (ND2) encoding a subunit of the NADH dehydrogenase complex and of the tRNA(Cys) gene which is found downstream of the apocytochrome b gene. Both duplicated genes are located upstream of the small rRNA gene. The duplications are extended to flanking sequences.

Inhibition of mitochondrial protein synthesis influences the glucocorticoid sensitivity of lymphoid cells.

Inhibition of mitochondrial protein synthesis impairs the formation of the 13 polypeptides encoded on the mitochondrial genome. These polypeptides are part of enzyme complexes involved in oxidative phosphorylation. Prolonged inhibition of mitochondrial protein synthesis thus reduces the oxidative phosphorylation capacity which ultimately results in impairment of energy-requiring processes.

Doxycycline in combination chemotherapy of a rat leukemia.

Inhibition of mitochondrial protein synthesis by doxycycline (DC), a tetracycline analogue, has significant antitumor effects in several tumor systems. In the present study, the effects of continuous DC treatment combined with intermittent administration of Adriamycin or 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl cytosine on the growth of a rat leukemia were investigated. The presence of DC retards tumor relapse after 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl cytosine or Adriamycin treatment significantly.

A new family with the Townes-Brocks syndrome.

We describe a new family with the Townes-Brocks syndrome, a dominantly inherited syndrome of anal, urorenal, ear and limb malformations. The proband shows the full spectrum of anomalies, including imperforate anus, prominent perineal raphe, rectoperineal fistula, triphalangeal thumb, preaxial hexadactyly, syndactyly, clinodactyly, preauricular protuberances, hypoplastic satyr ears, sensorineural hearing loss and urorenal anomalies. In contrast, the father shows only limb anomalies, sensorineural hearing loss and renal anomalies.

Hypothetical vaccination of the Dutch population with a herpes simplex virus vaccine: estimation of the profitability using a demographic projection model.

The apparently increasing evidence of herpes simplex virus infections of the genital tract has focused attention on preventing the infection by vaccination. Herpes genitalis is not, however, the most quantitatively important clinical manifestation of herpes simplex virus infections. Because 41% of the hospitalized patients are younger than 20 years, vaccination of birth cohorts would be more favourable.