bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Age‐dependent association of MDM2 promoter polymorphisms and uterine leiomyoma in South‐East Iran: A preliminary report
Authors: Salimi Saeedeh , Hajizadeh Azam , Khodamian Maryam , Pejman Atefeh , Fazeli Kimia , Yaghmaei Minoo
Published: December 2014

Aim

Murine double minute clone 2 (MDM2) is an important regulator of p53 tumor suppressor protein. Because increased MDM2 expression has been observed in different tumors, its polymorphisms are proposed to be associated with accelerated tumor formation. The aim of this study was to examine the association between T309G (rs2279744) and 40‐bp Insertion/deletion (rs3730485) polymorphisms of the MDM2 gene and risk of uterine leiomyoma (UL).

Methods

We analyzed the MDM2 gene polymorphisms of 154 UL patients and 197 healthy controls by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) methods.

Results

The frequency of MDM2 T309G polymorphism genotypes was not different between UL women and controls. Although there was an association between MDM2 40‐bp del/del genotype and UL before and after adjustment for age, the association between Insertion/deletion (Indel) genotype and UL was significant after adjustment for age.

Conclusion

MDM2 T309G polymorphism was not associated with UL and MDM2 40‐bp Indel polymorphism could be an age‐related risk factor for UL.
Embolic and Hemodynamic Transcranial Doppler Characteristics in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke due to Carotid Occlusive Disease: Contribution to the Different Infarct Patterns on MRI
Authors: Müller Hubertus , Fisch Lorraine , Viaccoz Aurelien , Bonvin Christoph , Lovblad Karl , Cuvinciuc Vitor , Sztajzel Roman F.
Published: December 2014

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Whether hemodynamic and/or embolic transcranial Doppler (TCD) features of internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis contribute to the classification of stroke patterns on MRI.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Consecutive patients presenting symptomatic ≥50% ICA stenosis were included. Microembolic signals (MES) detection and measurement of cerebral vasoreactivity (VR) were performed by TCD. Only acute MRI lesions, territorial (TT) and/or borderzone (BZ) were considered.

RESULTS

A total of 72 ICA stenoses, 27 (38%) moderate (50‐69%), and 45 (62%) high grade (70‐99%) were included. MRI lesions showed 32 (44%) pure TT, 20 (28%) pure BZ, and 20 (28%) mixed TT and BZ. Impaired VR was found more frequently among patients with higher degrees of stenoses (P < .001) whereas MES were similarly encountered in both groups (P = NS). Impaired VR was more common in the BZ (10/20, 50%) than in the TT group (9/32, 28%, P < .1) while MES were present in 47% (15/32) of patients with TT and in 30% (6/20, P < .1) of those with BZ lesions, in particular in cortical BZ infarcts (P < .02).

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that TCD characteristics of the ICA stenosis contribute to better define stroke patterns on MRI in about one‐third of the patients presenting with pure TT or BZ lesions.
Postinfectious Opsoclonus‐Myoclonus Syndrome in a 41‐Year‐Old Patient—Visualizing Hyperactivation in Deep Cerebellar Nuclei by Cerebral [18F]‐FDG‐ PET
Authors: Mustafa Mona , Levin Johannes , Schöberl Florian , Rominger Axel
Published: December 2014

A 41‐year‐old woman presented with acute onset headache, vertigo, nausea, and gait disorder, initially interpreted as a common cold. Within 2 weeks, she developed a severe opsoclonus‐myoclonus syndrome with truncal ataxia. Cerebrospinal fluid examination and serological findings suggested a recent infection with Coxsackie B3 virus. [18F]‐FDG‐PET proved to be the only imaging tool to identify the underlying pathology depicting hyperactivation in the vestibulo‐ and spinocerebellum as well as hyperactivation of the ocular muscles. At the clinical follow‐up 4 months later, the patient's symptoms were considerably improved with only intermittent low‐frequency opsoclonus. Corresponding PET findings were able to depict the response to therapy in the ocular muscles and the inferior vermis, whereas the deep cerebellar nuclei were still hyperactivated, however, to a lesser extent. This finding highlights the usefulness of functional/metabolic brain imaging to study the pathophysiology of this type of disorder.
The effectiveness of controlled interventions on employees’ burnout: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Maricuţoiu Laurenţiu P. , Sava Florin A. , Butta Oana
Published: December 2014

The aim of this paper is to assess the effectiveness of controlled interventions on reducing employees’ burnout. Peer‐reviewed published papers included in online databases, as well as papers identified in previous reviews, were considered for selection into the meta‐analysis. Keywords entered were burnout and intervention, exhaustion and intervention, cynicism and intervention, and depersonalization and intervention. Inclusion criteria for the studies were (1) to include a burnout measure as a primary or a secondary outcome; (2) to include a comparison control group; and (3) available/sufficient data to calculate the d Cohen effect sizes. Using a random‐effects model, we found small overall effect sizes for general level of burnout (d = .22, p < .05, k = 13, overall N control = 741, overall N intervention = 747) and exhaustion (d = .17, p < .01, k = 34, overall N control = 1,120, overall N intervention = 1,215), and statistically not significant effects for depersonalization (d = .04, p > .05, k = 31, overall N control = 895, overall N intervention = 888) and personal accomplishment (d = −.02, p > .05, k = 29, overall N control = 806, overall N intervention = 817). Similar effects were also found at follow‐up, suggesting modest but lasting effects of interventions in reducing burnout. Yet, new more tailored strategies to reduce burnout are needed to improve the effects of the interventions.

Practitioner points

Cognitive‐behavioural interventions and interventions based on relaxation techniques are effective only for reducing emotional exhaustion.

New types of interventions are needed, to address depersonalization and personal accomplishment.

The effects on emotional exhaustion are significant even at more than 6 months after the end of the intervention.
Presentation of primary ciliary dyskinesia in children: 30 years' experience
Authors: Hosie Patrick H , Fitzgerald Dominic A , Jaffe Adam , Birman Catherine S , Rutland Jonathan , Morgan Lucy C
Published: December 2014

Aim

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare (1:15 000) condition resulting in recurrent suppurative respiratory tract infections, progressive lung damage and hearing impairment. As the diagnosis is often delayed for years, the purpose of this study was to review the presenting features of children with PCD attending Australia's initial diagnostic PCD service over a 30‐year period.

Method

A retrospective review of the symptoms of children diagnosed with PCD at Concord Hospital between 1982 and 2012 was undertaken.

Results

One thousand thirty‐seven paediatric patients were referred for assessment and underwent nasal ciliary brushing. Eighty‐four (8.1%) had PCD based on microscopic analysis of nasal cilia. This included 81 with ciliary ultrastructural abnormalities demonstrated on electron microscopy and 3 with a suggestive phenotype, reduced ciliary beat frequency and a family history of PCD. The median age at diagnosis was 6.4 years (range 0.1 to 18.2 years). Forty‐six per cent had situs abnormalities and 31% had a family member with PCD. Recurrent cough (81%), rhinosinusitis (71%), recurrent otitis media (49%) and neonatal respiratory distress (57%) were reported. Bronchiectasis at presentation was documented in 32%. Situs abnormalities and neonatal respiratory distress were present together in 26%.

Conclusion

PCD remains under‐recognised by health‐care workers. The combination of neonatal respiratory distress, chronic suppurative cough and rhinosinusitis was the most common documented symptom cluster at presentation in cases of PCD. A heightened awareness of the clinical features of the disease may help to lower the age at diagnosis, facilitate appropriate treatment and improve long‐term outcomes.
Replacement of Dietary Fish Meal with Poultry By‐product Meal and Soybean Meal for Golden Pompano, Trachinotus ovatus, Reared in Net Pens
Authors: Ma Xuzhou , Wang Fei , Han Hua , Wang Yan , Lin Yayun
Published: December 2014

Two 8‐wk feeding trials were conducted to examine the effect of replacing dietary fish meal with poultry by‐product meal (PBM) and soybean meal (SBM) on growth, feed utilization, body composition, and wastes output of juvenile golden pompano, Trachinotus ovatus (initial body weight 16.7 g), reared in net pens. A control diet (C) was formulated to contain 35% fish meal. In Trial I, dietary fish meal level was reduced to 21, 14, 7, and 0% by replacing 40, 60, 80, and 100% of the fish meal in diet C with PBM. The weight gain (WG), nitrogen retention efficiency (NRE), and energy retention efficiency (ERE) decreased, while the feed conversion ratio (FCR) and total waste output of nitrogen (TNW) increased, with the fish meal level reducing from 35 to 21%. No significant differences were found in the hepatosomatic index, viscersomatic index, and body composition between fish fed diet C and test diets. In Trial II, a 2 × 2 layout was established, and 40 and 60% of the fish meal in diet C was replaced by either PBM or SBM. At the same fish meal replacement level, the WG and NRE were higher and the FCR and TNW were lower in fish fed the diets with fish meal replaced by PBM than in fish fed the diets with fish meal replaced by SBM. The results of this study indicate that more than 21% fish meal must be retained in diets for golden pompano when PBM or SBM is used alone as a fish meal substitute.
A comparison of survey and focal follow methods for estimating individual activity budgets of cetaceans
Authors: Karniski Caitlin , Patterson Eric M. , Krzyszczyk Ewa , Foroughirad Vivienne , Stanton Margaret A. , Mann Janet
Published: December 2014

Activity budget data are essential for determining behavioral responses to physiological and ecological variables. Yet, few studies are available to investigate the robustness, accuracy, and biases of the methods used to estimate activity budgets for cetaceans. In this study, we compare activity budgets of 55 adult female bottlenose dolphins in Shark Bay, Australia derived from two methods: surveys (n = 6,903) and focal follows (n = 1,185, totaling 2,721 h of observation). Activity budgets estimated from survey data differed in all behavioral states compared to focal follow data. However, when controlling for temporal autocorrelation, only time spent socializing and time spent traveling remained disparate between the methods. To control for biases associated with assigning group‐level behavior to individuals, we also compared survey and focal follow activity budgets for lone females. Here we found differences between methods in time spent foraging and traveling regardless of whether we controlled for temporal autocorrelation, which suggests detection biases likely play a role in explaining differences in activity budget estimates between the two methodologies. Our results suggest that surveys are less representative of individual‐level activity budgets, and thus, when individual‐level knowledge about behavior is needed, focal follows are preferred.
Development of plants resistant to tomato geminiviruses using artificial trans‐acting small interfering RNA
Authors: Singh Archana , Taneja Jyoti , Dasgupta Indranil , Mukherjee Sunil Kumar
Published: December 2014

RNA interference (RNAi), a conserved RNA‐mediated gene regulatory mechanism in eukaryotes, plays an important role in plant growth and development, and as an antiviral defence system in plants. As a counter‐strategy, plant viruses encode RNAi suppressors to suppress the RNAi pathways and consequently down‐regulate plant defence. In geminiviruses, the proteins AC2, AC4 and AV2 are known to act as RNAi suppressors. In this study, we have designed a gene silencing vector using the features of trans‐acting small interfering RNA (tasiRNA), which is simple and can be used to target multiple genes at a time employing a single‐step cloning procedure. This vector was used to target two RNAi suppressor proteins (AC2 and AC4) of the geminivirus, Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV). The vector containing fragments of ToLCNDV AC2 and AC4 genes, on agro‐infiltration, produced copious quantities of AC2 and AC4 specific siRNA in both tobacco and tomato plants. On challenge inoculation of the agro‐infiltrated plants with ToLCNDV, most plants showed an absence of symptoms and low accumulation of viral DNA. Transgenic tobacco plants were raised using the AC2 and AC4 tasiRNA‐generating constructs, and T1 plants, obtained from the primary transgenic plants, were tested for resistance separately against ToLCNDV and Tomato leaf curl Gujarat virus. Most plants showed an absence of symptoms and low accumulation of the corresponding viruses, the resistance being generally proportional to the amounts of siRNA produced against AC2 and AC4 genes. This is the first report of the use of artificial tasiRNA to generate resistance against an important plant virus.
Sense of meaning in life among the oldest old people living in a rural area in northern Sweden
Authors: Jonsén Elisabeth , Norberg Astrid , Lundman Berit
Published: December 2014

Background

Having meaning in life is important for all people, and according to Erikson's developmental theory, this is especially true for older adults. However, there are few studies about meaning in life focusing on the oldest old.

Aim

The aim of our study was to illuminate the sense of meaning in life in the oldest old living in northern Sweden.

Design

The study has a qualitative explorative and interpretative design.

Method

We interviewed three men and seven women between 85 and 95 years old and analysed the interviews using qualitative content analysis.

Findings

Our findings revealed the following four themes: ‘Creating space for living’, ‘Living in connection with others and nature’, ‘Seeing oneself as a link between generations’ and ‘Having trust in God’.

Conclusions

The sense of meaning in life in the oldest old was linked to regarding oneself as having a mission to carry out and to finding beauty, joy and happiness in life. The sense of meaning involved transferring to coming generations what earlier generations had left and having a deeply rooted faith in being taken care of from birth to the afterlife.

Implications for practice

When caring for the oldest old, it is important to take their experiences of sense of meaning in life into consideration and to focus on ways to maintain important sources of meaning in life.
Sleep disturbances and dementia
Authors: Cipriani Gabriele , Lucetti Claudio , Danti Sabrina , Nuti Angelo
Published: December 2014

Sleep is a complex behavioural state, the ultimate functions of which remain poorly understood. It becomes more fragmented as we age, with more night‐time awakenings and greater tendency for daytime sleep. The magnitude of disordered sleep among individuals affected by dementia has been clearly demonstrated, and disturbed sleep is a major clinical problem in dementia. Comorbid insomnia and other sleep disturbances are common in patients with neurodegenerative disorders, such Alzheimer's disease and other dementing disorders. How and when sleep problems manifest themselves can depend on the type of dementia involved as well as the stage of the dementia. However, differences in sleep pattern presentation show more variation during the initial stages of dementias than they do during the later stages. Effective, pragmatic interventions are largely anecdotal and untested.
Risk of Climate‐Induced Damage in Historic Textiles
Authors: Bratasz Ł. , Łukomski M. , Klisińska‐Kopacz A. , Zawadzki W. , Dzierżęga K. , Bartosik M. , Sobczyk J. , Lennard F. J. , Kozłowski R.
Published: December 2014

Eleven wool and silk historic textiles and two modern artist's canvases were examined to determine their water vapour adsorption, moisture dimensional response and tensile behaviour. All the textiles showed a similar general pattern of moisture response. A rise in ambient relative humidity (RH) from dry conditions produced expansion of a textile until a certain critical RH level after which a contraction occurred to a greater or lesser degree depending on the yarn crimp and the weave geometry. The largest expansion recorded between the dry state and 80% RH was 1.2 and 0.9% for wool and silk textiles, respectively. The largest shrinkage of 0.8% at high RH range was experienced by a modern linen canvas. Two potential damage mechanisms related to the moisture response of the textiles—stress building as a result of shrinkage of the textile restrained in its dimensional response and the fretting fatigue when yarns move with friction one against another—were found insignificant in typical textile display environments unless the textiles are severely degraded or excessively strained in their mounting.
THE RELATION OF PULMONARY ARTERIAL PRESSURE VARIATIONS TO THE ACTIVITIY OF AFFERENT PULMONARY VASCULAR FIBERS
Authors: Pearce J. W. , Whitteridge D.
Published: December 2014

Quart. J. exp. Physiol., Vol. 36, No. 3.

J. W. PEARCE and D. WHITTERIDGE.

P. 180, fig. 2. Top tracings of 50 cycle line, ECG, intrapleural pressure, aortic pressure, and pulmonary arterial pressure are shown inverted.

P. 186, line 14. For “msec.,” read “m./sec.”
DIURESIS AND ANTIDIURESIS IN KIDNEYS AUTOTRANSPLANTED TO THE NECK OF DOGS
Authors: Dempster W. J. , Joekes A. M.
Published: December 2014

1. The water diuretic responses of dog kidneys autotransplanted to the neck have been studied. In the presence of a normal kidney the “neck” kidney for one or two weeks following operation shows a normal diuretic response following an oral water load. Between two and four weeks after transplantation the diuretic response falls to half or less than half of the normal kidney and then remains fairly constant over many months. On removal of the normal kidney the “neck” kidney regains a normal diuretic response to water.

2. From the time of transplantation the “neck” kidney excretes urine of low specific gravity.

3. The “neck” kidney retains a normal response to posterior pituitary antidiuretic hormone.

4. In the “neck” kidney the antidiuretic response to faradic stimulation is unaltered from the normal.
SLOW AND RAPID COMPONENTS IN A FLEXOR MUSCLE
Authors: Gordon G. , Phillips C. G.
Published: December 2014

1. The twitches of the cat's tibialis anterior, extensor digitorum longus, crureus and soleus have been examined under isometric conditions between 37°C. and 39°C. The three latter muscles had twitches represented by pure curves, with mean crest‐times of 19·6, 58·2 and 72·7 msec. respectively.

2. The crest‐times of the twitches of tibialis anterior varied between 19 and 24 msec., and the twitches were usually complicated by a late secondary hump. After removal by dissection of the superficial part of the muscle—some 9/10 of the whole—the twitches usually became pure, the crest‐times now being longer by 20–60 per cent.

3. The twitches of a few deep motor units were examined in isolation during a flexion reflex, and had crest‐times around 35 msec.

4. In the flexion reflex, or during stimulation of the motor cortex, motor units in the deep part appeared to have the lower threshold for central excitation. Such units sometimes exhibited tonic after‐discharge in the flexion reflex.

5. The deep part of tibialis anterior is usually redder in colour than the superficial part, and has more fibres containing lipoid granules, and these distinctions, coupled with the differences in speed of contraction, suggest an analogy with the situation found in extensor muscle groups.

6. The temperature coefficient (Q10 30°–40° C.) for the crest‐time of tibialis anterior was 1·55.
INHIBITION OF ALIMENTARY LIPÆMIA BY ANTICOAGULANTS
Authors: Brown W. D.
Published: December 2014

Quart. J. exp. Physiol. 37, No. 4.

W. D. BROWN.

P. 217, Table I, Group A, line 1.

For “158±7·9” read “173±7·9”.
THE CONTINUOUS RECORDING OF BLOOD VISCOSITY IN PERFUSION SYSTEMS
Authors: Mount L. E.
Published: December 2014

1. A method is described for the continuous recording of viscosity of blood contained in a reservoir.

2. Two types of suitable syringe pump are described; sample recordings are presented, and the characteristics of the apparatus are discussed.
CHANGES IN OXYGEN CONSUMPTION AND RADIO‐IODINE (I131) UPTAKE FOLLOWING HYPOTHALAMIC LESIONS IN THE ALBINO RAT
Authors: Beattie J. , Chambers R. D.
Published: December 2014

1. Bilateral lesions in the caudal hypothalamus of albino rats, designed to sever the efferent pathways from the hypothalamic nuclei, bring about a transient rise in oxygen consumption of about 7 per cent 24 hours after infliction of the lesions followed by a fall of around 10 per cent of the control value 72 hours after the operation. This low oxygen consumption remains constant for as long as 13 days.

2. Radio‐iodine (I131) uptake by the thyroid gland over a period of 4 hours was not significantly different from that of a control group, irrespective of the time after the lesions were inflicted.

3. The histological structure of the thyroid gland 7 and 14 days after the lesions were made indicated that thyrotrophic hormone production was not reduced but rather might have been somewhat increased after the lesion.

4. The fall in oxygen consumption was not related to either body weight or body temperature changes.

5. It is suggested that the fall in oxygen consumption is not due to diminished thyroid activity but may be caused by the withdrawal of hypothalamic control of the rate of secretion of adrenalin.
CHANGES IN BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS AFTER HYPOTHALAMIC LESIONS
Authors: Beattie J. , Chambers R. D.
Published: December 2014

1. Section of the efferent hypothalamic pathways to the brain stem produces a fall in resting blood glucose level of about 38 per cent below that of normal rats kept under the same experimental conditions.

2. Injection of a standard dose of insulin produced after 30 minutes the same fall in blood glucose concentration in rats with hypothalamic lesions as in normal animals.
THE EFFECTS OF PAPAVERINE UPON SYSTEMIC VENOUS PRESSURE IN ARTIFICIALLY PERFUSED SHEEP AND IN CONTROL SHEEP WITH INTACT CIRCULATIONS
Authors: Tyrer J. H.
Published: December 2014

1. In six experiments on three sheep artificially perfused at a constant rate, administration of papaverine in therapeutic doses was followed by a slight fall of mean inferior vena caval pressure.

2. In six control experiments on three sheep with intact circulations, administration of papaverine in therapeutic doses was followed by a more marked fall of mean right atrial pressure.

3. These findings are discussed.
THE ACTIONS OF l‐ADRENALINE AND dl‐NORADRENALINE ON THE PULMONARY CIRCULATION OF ARTIFICIALLY PERFUSED SHEEP
Authors: Tyrer J. H.
Published: December 2014

1. Both l‐adrenaline and dl‐noradrenaline caused a rise of mean pulmonary artery pressure in sheep artificially perfused at a constant rate. This confirmed work on other species.

2. Tachyphylaxis was encountered in the pulmonary artery pressor response to both l‐adrenaline and dl‐noradrenaline in the perfused sheep, but not in the aortic pressor responses.

3. Alternate administration of adrenaline and noradrenaline on the same sheep showed that synthetic l‐adrenaline had a slightly weaker pulmonary artery pressor effect than twice the dose of dl‐noradrenaline.
A HISTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF CHOLINESTERASES OF RABBIT RETINA AND OPTIC NERVE
Authors: Hebb Catherine O. , Silver Ann , Swan A. A. B. , Walsh E. G.
Published: December 2014

1. The distribution of specific and non‐specific cholinesterases in the retina and optic nerve of the rabbit has been studied by Koelle's histochemical method.

2. Specific cholinesterase was detected in the bipolar and ganglion cells of the retina but not in the rods and cones or in the optic nerve.

3. Non‐specific cholinesterase was detected in the glial cells and septa of the optic nerve and in the nuclei of the bipolar and ganglion cell layers.
A DEMONSTRATION OF THE SECRETION OF PEPSIN BY THE ISOLATED FROG STOMACH
Authors: Zwarenstein H.
Published: December 2014

1. When the isolated stomach of Xenopus lævis, ligatured at both ends, is filled with an acid solution, perforation of the stomach wall occurs near the cardiac end. This preparation was used to study the influence of pH and temperature on the action of pepsin in situ.

2. The optimum pH varies with the temperature. At 30° it is 0·45, at 40°, 1·0, and at 50° , 1·33. The pH range within which pepsin is active is 0·00‐3·75 at 30°, 0·05‐3·95 at 40°, and 0·39‐5·35 at 50°.

3. The Q10 is constant within a wide range of pH values. It decreases with a rise of temperature throughout the pH range of peptic activity.
THE ROLE OF ALBUMIN IN THE INTERACTION OF CHYLE AND PLASMA IN THE RAT
Authors: Robinson D. S. , French J. E.
Published: December 2014

1. When chyle is added to the plasma of rats which have received an intravenous injection of heparin, the extent of clearing is determined by the quantity of plasma albumin present.

2. After clearing, the lipid which has become soluble can be recovered quantitatively from the albumin fraction of the plasma proteins in the form of fatty acid.
THE HYPOPHYSIAL PORTAL SYSTEM OF VESSELS IN MAN
Authors: Xuereb G. P. , Prichard Marjorie M. L. , Daniel P. M.
Published: December 2014

1. The portal system of vessels in the pituitary body of man has been studied by means of injection methods and red cell staining techniques.

2. The capillaries within the neural tissue of the hypophysial stalk and the lower infundibular stem constitute a first capillary bed. In both these areas the capillaries are arranged in characteristic formations, the more complex groups being confined to the hypophysial stalk. From this first capillary bed the blood is conveyed by long and short hypophysial portal vessels to a second capillary bed, the sinusoids of the pars distalis. The short hypophysial portal vessels drain the capillaries in the lower infundibular stem; the longer portal vessels drain the capillaries in the neural tissue of the hypophysial stalk.

3. The hypophysial portal vessels are the only afferent channels to the sinusoids of the pars distalis.

4. The significance of the findings is discussed in relation to the results of transection or experimental occlusion of the hypophysial stalk, and to the pathogenesis of post‐partum necrosis of the anterior pituitary.
STREAMLINING IN THE PORTAL VEIN
Authors: Dreyer B.
Published: December 2014

1. Portal venograms made by injecting 50 or 70 per cent diodone into the spleens of nine dogs and 15 patients were studied for evidence of streamlining in the portal vein.

2. Separate streams were visible in only one patient and two dogs.

3. The probable factors concerned in the production of streamlining in the portal vein are discussed.
DISTRIBUTION OF CHOLINESTERASES IN THE MAMMALIAN PANCREAS
Authors: Hebb Catherine , Hill K. J.
Published: December 2014

1. Histochemical examination of the pancreas of the dog, sheep, goat, horse, rabbit and cat revealed that only in the dog did the gland cells contain pseudo‐cholinesterase. In this species the cytoplasm of both acinar and Islet cells contained the enzyme.

2. True cholinesterase was present in the nervous tissue of the glands of all species examined, as well as in some unidentified cells of the glands of the horse, goat and sheep.

3. The Pacinian corpuscles in the cat pancreas contained pseudo‐cholinesterase.

4. The cholinesterase in the pancreatic juice of the dog was identified as pseudo‐cholinesterase.

5. Sheep pancreatic juice differed from dog pancreatic juice in two respects: it contained no cholinesterase, and hydrolyzed olive oil at a much slower rate.
SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE CENTRAL PATHWAY FOR CUTANEOUS IMPULSES IN THE CAT
Authors: Gaze R. M. , Gordon G.
Published: December 2014

1. The responses of single neural units in the cat's thalamus to electrical stimulation of the saphenous nerve, and to mechanical stimulation of the saphenous skin area, have been studied after chronic lesions had been made in various parts of the spinal pathway.

2. Thalamic responses to stimulating hairs, mediated by saphenous fibres of the aβγ group, were found after the whole spinal cord had been cut except for the dorsal columns. These were both ipsilateral and contralateral to the peripheral stimulus.

3. Thalamic responses to a variety of cutaneous stimuli were found after cutting the dorsal columns, one or both ventrolateral columns having been left intact. These included responses to stimulating hairs, mediated by saphenous fibres of the aβγ group, and responses to stronger stimuli, mediated by the saphenous δ group.

4. In experiments in which the spinal cord was cut across except for the ventrolateral column of one or other side, it was found that impulses can activate the ipsilateral thalamus by crossing the midline below the lesion and crossing back at some point above it. Impulses activating the contralateral thalamus can cross the midline at some point above the lesion. These are probably only examples of a variety of possible paths for such impulses.

5. These results do not support any simple diagrammatic representation of the afferent cutaneous pathway.
FALL IN THE INULIN CLEARANCE FOLLOWING A SINGLE INJECTION
Authors: Barnard H. F. , Bassir O. , Hough J. M.
Published: December 2014

1. The inulin content of plasma and urine has been followed for 24 to 48 hours after a single injection in a number of adults.

2. Successive inulin clearances during this period show a marked fall.

3. Reasons are given for considering delay or incomplete recovery of urine as relatively minor importance in causing the fall.

4. As probable causes of the fall, tubular reabsorption and inhomogeneity of the inulin are discussed.
SOME LABORATORY AND FIELD OBSERVATIONS ON THE HARVARD PACK TEST
Authors: Ladell W. S. S. , Kenney R. A.
Published: December 2014

1. In laboratory trials the effects on the fitness index of varying stepping rate, stool height and time of pulse counts, from the standard ones used in the Harvard pack test, were investigated statistically.

2. The observed index was diminished by decreasing the stepping rate or by increasing the stool height. No significant effect on the index was found when the final pulse count was taken earlier than standard.

3. The validity of comparisons between indices determined using the standard or non‐standard routines respectively is discussed.

4. In field trials a fall in the mean fitness index of 100 African troops in the course of a two‐month military exercise was found comparable to that attributed by other workers to “tropical fatigue”.

5. The possible causes of this deterioration in fitness are examined. The most probable appeared to be repeated daily physical stress accompanied by chronic lack of sleep.
A SEPARATE AFFERENT NERVE SUPPLY FROM THE EXTRAOCULAR MUSCLES OF GOATS
Authors: Whitteridge D.
Published: December 2014

1. The presence of branches of the fifth nerve distributed to the extraocular muscles in the goat has been confirmed.

2. These branches have been found to carry mainly impulses from muscle spindles. Impulses from tendon receptors have also been found.

3. They probably also carry impulses from pain endings in the muscles.

4. The γ efferents to the muscle spindles run in the motor nerve fibres. They have not been found in the branches from the fifth nerve.
THE SIMILAR EFFECT OF CHYLOMICRA AND ETHANOLAMINE PHOSPHATIDE ON THE GENERATION OF THROMBIN DURING COAGULATION
Authors: Robinson D. S. , Poole J. C. F.
Published: December 2014

1. The addition of rat chylomicra to plasma from which the particulate fat has been removed by high‐speed centrifugation greatly increases the amount of thrombin formed in a thrombin generation test.

2. Several brain ethanolamine phosphatide preparations also markedly increase the amount of thrombin generated in similar tests. Serine phosphatide, inositol phosphatide and lecithin are inactive.

3. Acid hydrolysates of chyle contain a substance resembling ethanolamine in its ionophoretic and chromatographic behaviour. Also present are substances resembling choline and serine.

4. It is concluded that ethanolamine phosphatide is probably the phosphatide component of the chylomicron which is active in the coagulation tests.
INTRACELLULAR RECORDS FROM BETZ CELLS IN THE CAT
Authors: Phillips C. G.
Published: December 2014

1. Methods have been described by which neurones in the motor cortex of cats have been successfully impaled by intracellular microelectrodes.

2. The majority of the cells thus entered have shown large stable resting potentials of ‐ 60 to ‐ 90 mV, without natural subthreshold voltage fluctuation or any discharge of impulses. Electrical stimulation of the overlying cortex did not excite them, even when it was strong enough to cause movements of the limbs.

3. Twenty‐six cells impaled in 69 experiments were proved, by their response to antidromic stimulation of the medullary pyramid, to be cells of origin of pyramidal axones (loosely described as Betz cells throughout this paper).

4. These cells were naturally active from time to time under the light anæsthesia employed. Their membrane potentials oscillated below the threshold for firing, and, whenever this level was reached, impulses were discharged, sporadically or in regular trains at frequencies up to 50 c./s.

5. Stronger stimulation of the pyramidal tract caused delayed excitatory depolarizations and inhibitory hyperpolarizations to follow the antidromic impulses which invaded the Betz cells.
CORTICAL MOTOR THRESHOLD AND THE THRESHOLDS AND DISTRIBUTION OF EXCITED BETZ CELLS IN THE CAT
Authors: Phillips C. G.
Published: December 2014

1. In “monopolar” stimulation of the motor cortex of lightly anæsthetized cats with single rectangular pulses of the 10·0 msec. duration, the least current needed to evoke a flick movement of the forelimb is 0·5 to 1·5 mA. This motor threshold has been compared with the thresholds for single and for iterative firing of single Betz cells. Some lay as close as possible to the point of stimulation, but at different depths in the wall of the cruciate sulcus. Others lay at different horizontal distances and in different directions from the stimulated point.

2. Sixteen Betz cells (proved to be such by intracellular recording of their responses to antidromic stimulation of the pyramidal tract) were stimulated from the nearest surface point: eight with surface positive and surface negative pulses, eight with surface negative only.

3. Cells on the convexity of a gyrus have thresholds of 25 to 50 µA (surface positive) for the discharge of a single impulse. Thresholds of cells in the depths of the sulcus do not usually exceed 250 µA. For the discharge of a high frequency burst the lowest threshold is 100 µA (surface positive).

4. Eight Betz cells were also stimulated from one or more distant points. High‐frequency bursts were obtained in response to shocks at points 4 to 6 mm. away. These shocks were usually below the threshold for movement.

5. It is concluded that in punctate stimulation of the cat's motor cortex with single 10 msec. shocks just strong enough to cause movement, Betz cells as far as 4 mm. distant in all directions (including cells lying on the far side and in the walls of the cruciate sulcus) are stirred into high‐frequency iterative firing. It is probable that there is also an outer zone of Betz cells firing single impulses.
HISTOLOGICAL CHANGES IN RATS RENDERED HYPERGLYCÆMIC BY INJECTION OF DEHYDROASCORBIC ACID
Authors: MacDonald Mary K. , Bhattacharya S. K.
Published: December 2014

1. Rats made hyperglycæmic by repeated intravenous injections of dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) were killed 24 hrs. (Group 1) and four days (Group 2) after the last DHA injection, and the pancreas, kidneys, liver, adrenals and thyroid were examined histologically.

2. The most marked lesions were found in the islets of Langerhans of the pancreas. In Group 1 animals there was degranulation and shrinkage of the β‐cells, pyknosis of their nuclei, and occasionally vacuolation of their cytoplasm; rarely, actual disintegration of cells was observed. No glycogen was stainable in the β‐cells. In Group 2 rats the islets were small: the β‐cells were reduced in numbers, shrunken and usually agranular, with pyknotic nuclei. Cytoplasmic vacuolation was obvious, and though some glycogen was demonstrable in the cells, all the vacuolation could not be accounted for in this way.

3. The kidneys showed no significant degenerative change in either group, but there was some glycogen storage in the tubular cells of Group 2 rats.

4. In the adrenal cortices, a reduction of Sudanophil and Feulgenpositive material was observed in the zona glomerulosa and the zona fasciculata in the males of both groups, while no such change could be demonstrated in the females of Group 2.

5. No change of note was found in the livers or thyroids of the experimental animals.

6. The main lesions occurring as a result of injection of IDHA, those in the islets of Langerhans, are thus very similar to the lesions of experimental alloxan diabetes, but it appears that for comparable islet damage, DHA produces higher blood sugar concentrations.
THE EFFECT OF CO2 AND 02 CONTENT OF THE BLOOD ON THE FREEZING POINT OF THE PLASMA
Authors: Meschia Giacomo , Barron Donald H.
Published: December 2014

1. The effect of CO2 and 02 on the osmotic pressure of plasma has been estimated by measuring the freezing point depression of plasma whose blood had been equilibrated at 38° C. with gas mixtures of different composition.

2. At constant oxygenation, for each millimol of CO2 added to one kg. of water of the blood, the osmotic pressure of plasma rises by 0·9 milliosmols per kg. of water.

3. If the CO2 content of blood is kept constant, the reduction of one millimol of hæmoglobin (m. wt. 17,000) per kg. of water lowers the osmotic pressure of blood by about 0·3 milliosmol per kg. of water.

4. The biochemical implications of these findings are discussed.
THE EFFECT OF LOWERED BODY TEMPERATURE ON HISTAMINE‐INDUCED GASTRIC SECRETION
Authors: Gillespie J. A.
Published: December 2014

The effect of lowered body temperature on histamine‐induced gastric secretion in the cat has been studied. Both the acidity and the volume of the juice fell rapidly on cooling the animal, a 15° C. reduction in temperature reducing acid secretion by about three‐quarters. The free acid content of the juice tended to be reduced to a greater extent than the volume, that is, there is a change in the composition of the juice as the animal's temperature is lowered. On rewarming, secretion recovered, though less rapidly than it fell off during cooling.
THE EFFECTS OF EQUAL AND LIMITED RATIONS OF WATER, AND OF 1, 2 AND 3 PER CENT SOLUTIONS OF SODIUM CHLORIDE ON PARTIALLY NEPHRECTOMIZED AND NORMAL RATS
Authors: McCance R. A. , Morrison A. B.
Published: December 2014

1. Groups of rats were subjected to 5/6 nephrectomy to make the concentrating power of their kidneys resemble that of man. Three to four weeks later they were placed in individual metabolism cages and given no food for four days, and 4 ml. of water or 4 ml. of 1, 2 or 3 per cent sodium chloride solution daily by stomach tube. Some normal rats were starved and made hydropenic in the same way. At the end of the four days the rats were killed and their urine and bodies analysed.

2. Starvation and partial dehydration were found to bring about a series of changes which may be summarized as follows: a fall in the body weight to which both the fat and the lean body mass contributed; a fall in the percentage of water in the lean body mass; a fall in the inulin space as a percentage of the lean body mass and a very small fall in the chloride space; a rise in the serum chloride; a rise in the percentage of sodium, chloride and of N in the body, but a fall in the percentage of potassium and consequently a rise in the N/K ratio of the body.

3. Most of these changes were progressively intensified by substituting 1, 2 and 3 per cent saline for the ration of water, and other progressively unfavourable effects were revealed: e.g. the volumes of urine rose and so did the total loss of body water from all sources; more tissue protein was broken down and the formation of urea was increased, and more potassium was excreted in the urine.

4. The breakdown of tissue proteins and the formation of urea were considerably greater three and four weeks after partial nephrectomy than they were in animals upon which no operation had been performed. The operation of total nephrectomy greatly increased the formation of urea during the ensuing three hours.
THE INFLUENCE OF GRADED EXERCISES ON THE OXYGEN CONSUMPTION, PULMONARY VENTILATION AND HEART RATE OF YOUNG AND ELDERLY MEN
Authors: Durnin J. V. G. A. , Mikulicic V.
Published: December 2014

1. The effects of exercise were compared on two groups of healthy men, the one aged 20–30 years and the other aged 55–65. There were 12 men in each group.

2. Four grades of exercise were used, two on an arm ergometer and two on a treadmill. The first arm exercise was light in nature, involving an average energy expenditure of just over 4 kcal/min. The second arm exercise and the first treadmill exercise, walking on the level at 3·7 m.p.h., were of moderate severity. The second degree on the treadmill, walking on the level at 4·3 m.p.h., was more strenuous.

3. Oxygen consumption, pulmonary ventilation and heart rates were recorded during the exercises, and the heart rate and blood pressure were followed during the first 10 min. after the work.

4. There was no significant difference in these measurements, nor in oxygen extraction or ventilation equivalent for oxygen between the groups with both arm exercises. However, the lighter exercise on the treadmill, which for the young men made a similar metabolic demand to the second arm exercise, gave significantly different values for the elderly. The older men used more energy, had a lower respiratory efficiency and higher pulse rates for the walking than the young men. The heavier treadmill exercise further increased these differences between young and old. The elderly men thus seemed to be able to do even quite hard exercise very efficiently if they were stationary, whereas the movements of walking caused a marked lowering in their efficiency.

5. The detailed results are discussed and compared with some finding of other authors.
CORTISONE INDUCED IMPAIRMENT OF GLUCOSE TOLERANCE IN THE DETECTION OF THE DIABETIC DIATHESIS
Authors: Duncan L. J. P.
Published: December 2014

1. The effect of cortisone on glucose tolerance was investigated by the administration of 200 mg. of cortisone 120 minutes before an intravenous glucose tolerance test. The resultant increment index (I.I.) has been compared with the control I.I.

2. In 20 normal persons no change was observed following cortisone. In 16 patients with mild diabetes, the I.I. after cortisone was lower than the control I.I. by an average of 33 per cent. In 10 persons with latent diabetes, the I.I. after cortisone was lower than the control I.I. by an average of 38·5 per cent. Nineteen persons suspected of being in a prediabetic state were tested, and in 9, cortisone induced a lowering of the I.I. by at least 30 per cent of the control I.I. value. Of these patients, two have subsequently become clinically diabetic. In no other persons tested was this cortisone‐induced impairment of glucose tolerance observed.

3. It is suggested that the use of an intravenous technique for the determination of glucose tolerance is the most precise measure of that function, and that the impairment of glucose tolerance induced by preliminary administration of cortisone makes it possible to diagnose the diabetic diathesis before any defect in carbohydrate tolerance is demonstrable by other laboratory tests.
THE DISTRIBUTION OF CAROTID AND VERTEBRAL BLOOD IN THE BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD OF THE GOAT
Authors: Andersson B. , Jewell P. A.
Published: December 2014

1. The distribution of the carotid and vertebral arteries in the brain and spinal cord of the goat have been determined by the infusion of coloured suspensions in the living animal and subsequent histological examination of the tissues.

2. Blood flow in the basilar artery is in a caudal direction so that the brain is virtually entirely supplied by carotid blood; in some individuals vertebral blood may reach the posterior medulla.

3. The carotid rete does not provide admixture of blood from the two carotids under normal conditions of inflow, and this is so whether the animal is anæsthetized and supine, or conscious and standing in normal posture.
PROTEIN IN DYING LIVER CELLS
Authors: Dixon Kendal C. , McCullagh G. P.
Published: December 2014

1. The distribution of protein was studied in liver cells of rats poisoned by carbon tetrachloride.

2. The swollen hydropic cells, which are usually located in a midzonal position in the injured lobules, lose nearly all their cytoplasmic protein. These cells are filled by foamy vacuoles bounded by tenuous films of cytoplasm.

3. The centrally situated necrotic cells, on the other hand, retain abundant cytoplasmic protein, although the cytoplasm of these cells loses RNA and their nuclei show karyorrhexis and karyolysis.

4. The varying degree of injury to the liver cells may depend on initial cellular swelling; this may establish a gradient of ischæmia in the liver lobules with its maximum effect at the centre of the lobule where the cells are most severely damaged.

5. Autolysis of protein may require the prior absorption of water by intact osmotic systems in the partially damaged cells. This view would account for the substantial loss of protein from the swollen hydropic cells, and the persistence of protein in the more acutely injured necrotic elements in which osmosis is no longer possible.
EFFECT OF ANÆSTHETICS ON BARORECEPTOR REFLEXES
Authors: Robertson J. D. , Swan A. A. B.
Published: December 2014

1. The carotid sinus in cats, isolated from the rest of the circulation but with its nerve supply intact, was perfused with ether and chloroform in various concentrations in buffered Tyrode solution. The increased sensitivity of the baroreceptors which these anæsthetics produce is great enough to cause reflex changes in systemic blood pressure and in heart rate under these conditions.

2. Perfusion with high concentrations of ether (300 mg. per cent W/V) and chloroform (100 mg. per cent W/V) rapidly inactivated the baroreceptors.

3. The fall in blood pressure produced by the sudden inhalation of ether, chloroform and trichlorethylene was recorded in cats before and after cutting the baroreceptors. The fall of pressure was greatly reduced in 7 of the 9 experiments by baroreceptor denervation, and it was concluded that increased sensitivity of the baroreceptors plays an important part in producing the cardiovascular changes that follow the rapid inhalation of these volatile anæsthetics.
PIGMENT IN THE HARDERIAN GLANDS OF MICE EXPOSED TO A HOT ENVIRONMENT
Authors: Collins K. J.
Published: December 2014

1. Examination of the Harderian glands of 21‐week‐old inbred and hybrid strains of mice reveals that the glands may contain at least two different pigments.

2. The colour of the gland appears to be an inherited character due to the presence of a “melanin‐like” pigment.

3. Different strains of mice also possess varying amounts of porphyrin pigment which fluoresces under ultra‐violet light.

4. An increase in the porphyrin content of the Harderian glands can be produced by exposure to an environment of 91° F. dry bulb and 85° F. wet bulb.

5. A condition similar to chromodacryorrhœa in the rat can be induced in heat‐exposed mice by intraperitoneal injections of acetylcholine.