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A technique for the catheterization of the renal vein is described. Samples of blood were withdrawn from the vein without obstructing the flow of blood through it.

The effects of neostigmine on suxamethonium induced neuromuscular block were investigated in the intact, anaesthetised dog using the train-of-four twitch to record neuromuscular activity. Marked antagonism of the block was observed when the train-of-four ratio was 0.38 and less. To avoid potentiating the block, the use of neostigmine is not recommended without first determining the state of neuromuscular activity with a peripheral nerve stimulator using train-of-four stimulation.

Eleven patients with previous esophageal atresia repair (TEF) underwent esophageal motility studies and were compared to 10 normal patients. The upper sphincters (UES) in the two groups did not differ in resting pressure, contraction pressure, or coordination. UES relaxation, was 100% in normal patients and 83+/-8% in the TEF patients (p less than 0.05). In the proximal esophagus, 100% of the TEF group showed a normal peristaltic wave, coupled with an abnormal nonperistaltic wave. The normal group did not show this type of contraction. In the middle esophagus, the mean peak pressure of 30.5+/-2.0 mm Hg was greater in controls than the 14.6+/-1.0 in the TEF group (p less than 0.001). Coordination was observed in 97+/-1% of the controls, while present in only 27+/-4% of the TEF patients (p less than 0.001). In the distal 10 cm of esophagus, peak contraction pressures were 43.3+/-1.6 in controls and 21.3+/-1.1 in the TEF group (p less than 0.001). Coordination was 94+/-1% in normal subjects and 66+/-4% in the TEF patients (p less than 0.001). The resting pressure in TEF patients was significantly higher at all three esophageal levels (proximal, mid, distal) than in normal patients. In both groups lower esophageal sphincter function did not show any significant difference, except for closing pressure, which was significantly higher in controls (39.9+/-6.8 mm Hg) than in the TEF groups (21.3+/-3.0 mm Hg) (p less than 0.02). These studies suggest that marked motility abnormalities occur in the repaired esophagus after atresia. These abnormalities are distinctly different from other motor disorders of the esophagus.

Mice injected intravenously with Mycoplasma arthritidis developed a chronic arthritis which persisted through at least 269 days. Rats similarly treated developed an acute short-term infection. The mouse disease was characterized by periods of remission and exacerbation and was proliferative in nature, gradually spreading to adjacent joints. M. arthritidis strain 158 P10 was found to be less arthritogenic for mice than for rats, but further passage of this strain in mice substantially increased its virulence. Unlike rats, mice appeared to be susceptible to a “toxin” of M. arthritidis and they developed a necrotic spreading abscess after subcutaneous administration of the organisms. Histopathological studies revealed that mice varied greatly in the degree of joint inflammation, destruction, and repair. The disease was characterized by (i) an initial acute phase with infiltration of the articular and periarticular tissues with polymorphonuclear leukocytes and a mild hyperplasia of the synovial membrane; (ii) a mixed acute-chronic phase in which new areas of acute inflammation developed alongside areas of chronic lesions; (iii) a chronic phase followed which was characterized by massive synovial proliferation with mononuclear cell infiltration, irregularity in the articulating cartilage, pannus formation, and “punched out” defects in cortical bone near cartilagenous osseous junctures. The clinical course and histopathological characteristics of the chronic phase of mouse arthritis induced by M. arthritidis closely resembled those of rheumatoid arthritis of man.

In the case described anatomically corrected transposition of the great vessels is associated with situs inversus. Anatomically corrected transposition is extremely rare, and has not been previously reported with situs inversus. This type of transposition should not be confused with classical corrected transposition. Thus the case examined exhibited a D-bulboventricular loop with L-transposition and atrial inversion, so that blood flow was physiologically incorrect as in classical complete transposition. In the case examined, it was also found that bulbar musculature was present between the aorta and the mitral valve. Additional study of the conducting tissue revealed inversion of the sinoatrial node with the atria, and also of the atrial portion of the atrioventricular node. The atrioventricular bundle and its branches were in expected positions in relation to a large ventricular septal defect. These results are discussed with regard to previous reports and to the embryology of the conducting tissue.

Measurements of lung volume and its subdivisions were made in 89 asthmatic children and adults and 58 normal subjects. The asthmatics were divided into three groups according to the classification of Jones (1966). In this the FEV1 is used as an index of airways resistance which is divided into labile and fixed components. The compartment of lung volume showing the largest increase was the residual volume in subjects with a predominantly fixed increase of airways resistance (group 3) and this was true of both the children and adults. This compartment was also significantly enlarged in the labile subjects (groups 1 and 2). Significant increases in functional residual capacity were demonstrated in all three groups, especially in the children. Total lung capacity was significantly increased in the two labile groups of children but not in the adults. Even a low level of lability (group 1) may be associated with highly significant abnormalities in lung volume compartments which may be more evident in the child than in the adult.

BRACKEN (Pteridium aquilinum) and extracts of the plant have pluripotent carcinogenic and mutagenic properties, and if administered in sufficient concentration are acutely toxic to species as varied as mice and bovines1–9. The causative factor(s) of these different biological activities seem to be identical; they are produced by the same purified fraction although obtained by different fractionation procedures5,10–12. This is not surprising because the acute lethal syndrome is radiomimetic in nature, being characterized by bone marrow aplasia, haemorrhage and severe gastro-intestinal damage, together with other systemic changes common to both syndromes13–15.

Measurements of oxygen uptake (Vo2) were carried out in infants with congenital heart disease using a circuit devised for use during the nitrous oxide/oxygen, controlled ventilation sequence of general anaesthesia. A highly significant correlation was found between Vo, and body weight which may be useful in situations where Va, is not easily measured

The clinical and physiological responses to disodium cromoglycate have been examined in 77 children with asthma. Those in whom definite clinical benefit was observed were the highly labile (Group 2) subjects with normal or near normal ventilatory function between attacks. 60% of these responded well and since they constitute 80% of children with asthma who attend hospital, approximately half of those children may be expected to benefit. The response in the severe (Group 3) asthmatics, with impairment of function between attacks, was poor, only one-quarter deriving benefit. Disodium cromoglycate is not indicated in mild (Group 1) asthma. Disodium cromoglycate is a valuable drug in the treatment of childhood asthma in suitably selected subjects. No important side-effects or tissue reactions have been observed.