An aphasic syndrome in children

The paper presents case reports of nine children, all of whom had severe disturbances of language function of abrupt or gradual onset. Seizures occurred in seven of the children and all nine had EEG abnormalities.There was no apparent correlation between the seizures, the EEG changes and the aphasia. One patient had a brain biopsy performed at another hospital and the tissue was said to be normal. The cause of the abnormal language function is unknown. Five of the children failed to acquire normal speech subsequently. Three of the four children who made a complete recovery were treated with steroids.     

Location of phosphorylase kinase (Phk) in the mouse X chromosome

The phosphorylase kinase deficiency (Phk) locus has been located in the mouse X chromosome, the order of genes being centromere-Bn-Phk-Ta-jp. Since the Phk locus of the mouse may be identical to the locus responsible for the X-linked phosphorylase kinase deficiency trait of man, and there may be a high degree of gene-order homology in the X chromosome of all mammals, the location of Phk in the mouse reported here may aid in locating the phosphorylase kinase gene on the X chromosome of man.This research was supported by grants AM 13359 (to F.H.) and AM 14461 (to D.L.C.) from the National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases, and by an allocation (to E.M.E.) from NIH General Research Support Grant RR-05545 from the Division of Research Resources to The Jackson Laboratory. F.H. is a recipient of a Research Career Development Award (AM 46 421) of the National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases.     

A FINE STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF CLEAVAGE INDUCTION AND FURROWING IN THE EGGS OF ARBACIA PUNCTULATA

A fine structural study has been carried out on the various formed elements present before, during, and after the first cleavage division, not only in normally developing Arbacia eggs, but also in eggs which have been induced to cleave prematurely by high-pressure centrifugation. The aim has been to ascertain whether or not any of the morphologically identifiable components may be involved in initiating the furrowing process. Also, attention has been given to the fine structure of the cytoplasmic cortex, particulary in the walls of the furrow, in the hope of reaching a better understanding of the mechanics of cleavage. The annulate lamellae and the membranous envelope of the nucleus are the only formed elements which disappear shortly before cleavage, not only in eggs undergoing normal division, but also in eggs which have been induced to cleave ahead of schedule by high-pressure, high-force centrifugation. Therefore, it is suggested as a tentative hypothesis that materials liberated upon disintegration of the nuclear membrane and the annulate lamellae play an essential role in initiating and effecting the furrowing reaction, especially since the stratification of these elements in experimentally induced eggs corresponds to the position of the developing furrow. Another of the membranous elements in the egg, the Golgi complex, shows considerable modification as a result of high-pressure centrifugation, but these structures do not undergo disintegration. Rather, they become curled into rounded bodies. The vacuole population is not greatly affected by inducing treatments. During cleavage, both naturally occurring and experimentally induced, a considerable number of 50 A filaments appear in the denser cytoplasmic cortex, but only in the walls of the furrow. These filaments are similar to those which have been demonstrated in a number of contractile cells. Accordingly, it is suggested that this fibrillar system may be actively involved in the development of the cleavage force.     

Method for Assessing the Frequency of Transfer of an R Factor on Solid Media and for Isolating Cells of the Donor Type from a Predominantly Repressed Culture

A method for assessing the incidence of R factor transfer on solid media is described. The method gives values similar to those obtained with conventional techniques but allows the derepressed cells from a predominantly repressed population to be isolated.     

In Vitro Susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to Nine Antimicrobial Agents

The in vitro action of nine antibiotics was tested by the agar streak method against 45 gonococcal strains isolated from penicillin-therapy failures. The penicillin susceptibility range of these strains was 0.003 to 1.32 μg/ml, and the tetracycline susceptibility range was 0.125 to 2.0 μg/ml. Minimal inhibitory concentrations of minocycline and doxycycline paralleled the activity of tetracycline and ranged from 0.125 to 1.0 μg/ml and 0.125 to 2.0 μg/ml, respectively. Rifampicin, with a narrow range of 0.5 to 1.0 μg/ml, inhibited 75% of the strains at 0.5 μg/ml. The range for cephaloridine and cephaloglycine was 0.5 to 20.0 μg/ml, but another cephalosporium derivative, cephalexin, exhibited greater activity in its range of 0.25 to 20.0 μg/ml. A semisynthetic penicillin, carbenicillin, with a range of 0.025 to 0.75 μg/ml, displayed more activity against the lower susceptible penicillin G gonococcal strains.     

Xylene Poisoning: A Report on One Fatal Case and Two Cases of Recovery after Prolonged Unconsciousness

Three cases of xylene poisoning occurred after prolonged inhalation of paint fumes. Analysis showed that xylene comprised more than 90% of the solvent in the paint, the total solvent comprising 34% of the paint by weight. One patient was dead on admission, while the other two recovered after at least 15 hours'' loss of consciousness. Both patients had transient liver cell damage, and one temporary impairment of renal function.     

Effect of RA233 on Platelet Function In Vitro

RA233, a new pyrimido-pyrimidine compound, is a powerful inhibitor of platelet function tested in vitro; it inhibits calcium and adenosine diphosphate (A.D.P.)-induced platelet aggregation, inhibits the retention of platelets by glass beads, decreases the release of platelet factor 3 by kaolin, and inhibits clot retraction. In some in-vitro systems RA233 is significantly more potent that its analogue RA433 in inhibiting platelet function.