3rd-4th Week Research Articles

Seasonal Incidence and Infestation Pattern of Sunflower Head Borer (Helicoverpa armigera) and Leaf Eating Caterpillar (Spodoptera litura) under the Influence of Climatic Factors

Field experiments were conducted at Regional Research and Technology Transfer Station (RRTTS), Ranital, Bhadrak, OUAT during the summer seasons of 2019-20 and 2020-21 to study the seasonal incidence of sunflower head borer and leaf-eating caterpillar in sunflower in relation to the abiotic factor. The seasonal incidence of the target insects, Spodoptera litura and Helicoverpa armigera, was investigated using pheromone traps installed in the unprotected sunflower plots (10 m x 5 m) at the research block. The trap catches of male adults were expressed as a number of males trapped per trap per week. In the observation plots, the sunflower hybrid Aruna was cultivated with the approved agronomic package of techniques without any plant protection measures. Weekwise larval populations of Spodoptera litura and Helicoverpa armigera were counted from 10 randomly selected tagged plants starting from the initiation of damage and expressed as larval intensity i.e. average larval population per plant. Besides, weekwise incidence of the pest (leaf damage by tobacco caterpillar and head damage by head borer) were also recorded. The findings of the investigation indicated that tobacco caterpillars' adult activity commenced from the 5th to 6th standard weeks (1st and 2nd week of February) and peak activity in the 11th standard week (3rd week of March). Similarly, the larval population began to appear in the 6th to 7th standard weeks in 2020 and 2021, respectively with a peak population build-up stage during the 12th standard week and their activity steadily decreased as the cropping season progressed. The peak infestation stage coincided with the period of maximum larval activity and the pest caused sizable damage from the early vegetative stage to the peak flowering stage of the crop. The sunflower head borer (Helicoverpa armigera) infested sunflower crops throughout the reproductive stage of the plant with adult activity beginning in the 9th to 10th standard weeks (last week of February-first week of March) and attaining the peak in the 12th to 13th standard weeks (3rd-4th week of March). Similarly, the larval population began to appear in the 10th to 11th standard week and reached the peak in the 13th to 14th standard week (last week of March to first week of April). Various environmental parameters viz. temperature, relative humidity and rainfall were collected from the automated weather station of Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS) located at RRTTS, Ranital., These abiotic factors were correlated with trap catch, larval intensity, leaf damage head damage to study the influence of ecological parameters on pest incidence and infestation. The findings of the investigation indicated that among the abiotic factors temperature had a positive influence and relative humidity exhibited a negative effect on the population and damage of Spodoptera litura. All the temperature variables and bright sunshine hour (BSH) exhibited a significant positive correlation and relative humidity (afternoon) had a significant negative correlation with the head damage Helicoverpa armigera.

Online Adaptive Radiotherapy for Pharyngeal Cancer: Dose-Volume Histogram Analysis between Adapted and Scheduled Plan

The present study aimed to evaluate whether online adapted plan with artificial intelligence (AI) driven work flow could be used in clinical settings with variable changes of the targets and organs at risk (OARs) for pharyngeal cancer. Ten patients with pharyngeal cancer who underwent chemoradiotherapy at our institution between January and July 2020 were included for the analysis. All patients had been previously aligned daily with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and treated by O-ring Linac. A simulated treatment was performed on the treatment emulator. Weekly fractions, once in every 4-5 fractions, were simulated in the treatment emulator for each patient using their previous on-treatment CBCTs. The dataset was divided into three groups according to the treatment period (1st-2nd week, 20 CBCTs), middle (3rd-4th week, 20 CBCTs), and late (5th-7th week, 30 CBCTs) period. In the present study, all of reference plan generation in treatment emulator were created on the initial plans of two-step method using 12 equidistant field IMRT. The prescribed dose was 70 Gy in 35 fractions and normalized to the dose of 68.6 Gy (98% dose) to 95% of the planning target volume (PTV). The adaptation process on treatment emulator includes auto-segmentation of daily anatomy, calculation of the dose in scheduled plans using the same monitor units and optimization and calculation of the dose in adapted plan. Dose-volume histogram (DVH) parameters between adapted and scheduled plans in terms of PTV (D98%, D95%, D50% and D2%), spinal cord (Dmax and D1cc), brain stem (Dmax), ipsilateral and contralateral parotid glands (Dmedian and Dmean) were evaluated in each period. D98% of PTV of adapted plan was significantly higher than that of scheduled plan in early and middle period (p = 0.02 and <0.01, respectively). D95% of PTV of adapted plan was significantly higher than that of scheduled plan in all periods (p<0.01). D2% of PTV of adapted plan was significantly lower than that of scheduled plan in all periods (p = 0.04, 0.04 and 0.02 in each period, respectively). There was not significant difference in D50% of PTV between adapted and scheduled plan in all periods. In terms of OARs, Dmax of spinal cord of adapted plan was significantly lower than that of scheduled plan in all periods (p<0.01). Similarly, D1cc of spinal cord of adapted plan was lower than that of scheduled plan. Dmean of ipsilateral and contralateral parotid glands of adapted plan were lower than those of scheduled plan in the late period (p<0.01 and 0.03, respectively). The present study revealed that adapted plan with AI driven work flow could create dosimetrically better plans for pharyngeal cancer compared to scheduled plan. It was suggested that online adaptive radiotherapy could be necessary to maintain PTV coverage while reducing the dose to OARs in all periods for pharyngeal cancer.

Electrophysiological features of Guillain-Barré syndrome in Mongolian adult patients

The Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a rare but severe disorder that affects peripheral nerves and is classified into several subtypes based on clinical presentation and electrophysiological abnormalities. Incidence and predominant subtypes of GBS differ geographically. The diagnosis is made upon clinical features and confirmed by nerve conduction studies (NCSs) which can differentiate subtypes such as demyelinated and axonal. Demyelinating subtypes in Europe and North America and axonal subtypes in Asia are predominant. Electrophysiological subtypes have not been determined in Mongolia. Therefore, we aimed to determine common electrophysiological subtypes of Guillain-Barré syndrome in Mongolia. In our study, 75 patients referred to Reflex Neurological Clinic between 2016 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. After excluding the cases by the criteria, patients were classified as demyelinating, axonal, normal and equivocal subtypes based on Hadden criteria. We compared the electrophysiological features of axonal and demyelinating subtypes. SPSS-23 was used for statistical analysis. The results are expressed in averages (standard deviations) and percentages (numbers). The difference between the mean and the group of variables was calculated using the T-test and the Chi-square test. Patients were 44% male (33), and the mean age was 46.4±15.1. There was no significant association between seasonal factors and electrophysiological subtypes. Among 75 patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a nerve conduction study was performed in the first week on 36% of patients, 33.3% in the 2nd week, and others in the 3rd-4th week after symptom onset. Electrophysiology subtypes were classified as demyelinating (65.3%), axonal (20%), within the normal range (5.4%) and equivocal (9.3%) based on Hadden criteria. The absence of F-waves on electrophysiological examination was higher in patients within 14 days of the disease onset, whereas non-sensory changes were higher in patients after 14 days. We conclude that acute inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy (AIDP) was the most frequent subtype of GBS in Mongolia.

Predictors of Quality of Life Change in Head-and-Neck Cancer Survivors during Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy: A Prospective Study

Objective:Head-and-neck cancer (HNC) and its treatment impact patients' quality of life (QoL) and survival. The symptom burden of HNC survivors severely affects QoL, while hope serves as an impetus for adjustment that enables survivors to sustain basic QoL. This study investigated the change of QoL, symptom burden, and hope and the predictors of QoL change in HNC survivors from diagnosis to 3 months after concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) completing.Methods:This was a prospective, correlational study conducted between January 2016 and April 2017 at a medical center in northern Taiwan. Purposive sampling 54 adults newly diagnosed with HNC had completed the first CCRT. The questionnaires of Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-HNC Scale, M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory, and Herth Hope Index were collected. The five measuring times were before CCRT (T1), the 3rd–4th week of CCRT (T2), the last week of CCRT (T3), and 1 month (T4) and 3 months (T5) after the completion of CCRT.Results:The change of QoL first declined and then rose at T2–T5. The change of symptom burden increased initially and then declined at T2–T5. The change of hope remained steady between T1 and T5. The change of symptom burden and hope significantly predicted the change of QOL over time.Conclusions:Clinicians are suggested to assess symptom burden and hope regularly in HNC during their CCRT and, if needed, promptly provide interprofessional care in time. Reducing symptom burden and maintaining a mindful hope could improve QoL in HNC survivors during CCRT.

Target Volume Dynamics During Radiation Therapy in Lung Cancer - Identifying the Window of Opportunity

To assess the dynamic changes in the target volume (TV) during the course of radical radiotherapy in Lung Cancer. We studied 83 consecutive patients with lung cancer treated with radical intent from January 2012 till December 2017.These patients received concurrent CTRT or Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy followed by Radiotherapy (RT) or RT alone. Radiotherapy was delivered to a total dose of 60-66Gy either with conventional fractionation or hypofractionation, using 3DCRT or IMRT technique. The gross tumor volume was contoured on the CBCTs and volume changes were computed from baseline planning scan for assessing the impact of treatment. Seventy-eight patients were found to be eligible for volume analysis (NSCLC = 69, SCLC = 9, CTRT = 38, NACT = 9, no chemotherapy = 31, conventional fractionation = 51, hypo fractionated RT = 27, 3DCRT = 38, IMRT = 40). The mean tumor volume at the beginning of radiotherapy was 105.62cc (range 4-689cc). The weekly mean percentage change in the volume of primary disease from pre-RT volume were 5.4% after week 1, 13.5% after week 2, 18.8% after week 3, 26.2% after week 4, 25.4% after week 5 and 31.5 % after week 6 (Pearson correlation coefficient - 0.607-1; moderate to strong relationship). Mean change in volume from week 1 to week 2 was 7.3%, week 2 to week 3 was 7.9%, week 3 to week 4 was 7.8%, week 4 to week 5 was 1% and week 5 to week 6 was 6.4 %. The weekly changes in volume with conventional fraction were 2.1%, 11%,17.2%,26.2%,25.3% and 31.5%, from week 1 till week 6; and with hypofractionation were 11.73%,17.63% and 23.87% from baseline till week 1, week 2 and after week 3 respectively. Weekly percentage changes seen with conventional fractionation were as follows: 8.4% for week 1-2; 7.2% for week 2-3; 7.8% for week 3-4; 1% for week 4-5 and 6.4% for week 5-6. For the entire cohort, at a median follow up of 36 months, 2-year overall survival (OS) rate was 65% and at 3-years was 56%. The 2-year PFS was 42% and 3 year was 30% with median PFS of 16 months. In patients with stable target volume, median PFS was 22 months compared to 14 months in patients with early volume reduction; early target increase and late decrease showed a similar PFS of 12 months (p value = 0.913, using log rank test). Also, patients with volume change at week 3 had statistically significant longer PFS compared to rest. Patients with a 20% volume change at week 4 had statistically significant longer OS. Patients with more than 10% and 30% volume change at week 4 had a trend towards better LRC (0.08) and OS (0.09) respectively. We observed that the maximum change in volume during treatment was seen at 3rd-4th week. This has implications, particularly for adaptive re-planning which may be done at mid treatment to reduce the doses delivered to normal tissue without compromising on the dose received by the target volume. We also observed significant correlation between various outcome parameters and volume changes during radiation for lung cancer.

2-Morpholino-5-Phenyl-6H-1,3,4-Thiadiazine Corrects Metabolic Disorders during the Development of Alloxan Diabetes Mellitus in Rats.

Metabolic disorders were evaluated in rats with alloxan diabetes mellitus after administration of 2-morpholino-5-phenyl-6H-1,3,4-thiadiazine (compound L-17). Administration of L-17 reduced the severity of metabolic disorders associated with diabetes mellitus. At the end of the experiment, the concentration of glucose, glycated hemoglobin, malonic dialdehyde, and catalase activity were significantly higher and peroxidase activity was significantly lower in the group of animals receiving L-17. The decrease of glycemia, glucose concentration, and glycated hemoglobin content was reached by the 3rd-4th week of the experiment. These data suggest that correction of biochemical parameters in rats with alloxan diabetes was reached after administration of L-17 for at least 3 weeks.

Secretory pattern of metabolic hormones in the lactating sow.

Two experiments were conducted to monitor hormonal changes during lactation in crossbred sows (Pietrain x German Landrace). Sows were fed twice daily without weighing the remaining food. Number of piglets was not standardized. Plasma concentrations of growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), IGF-2, insulin (INS), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxin (T4), free thyroxin (FT4), non esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and glucose (GLUC) were determined by RIA, EIA or enzymatically. In exp. A (n = 5 sows), blood samples were taken via permanent jugular cannula in weekly 24 h windows at 20 min intervals and additionally once daily for 6 weeks during lactation and for 3 days after weaning. In exp. B (n = 24 sows), blood was collected by needle puncture of the ear vein 2 and 1 week before parturition, the 1st and 3rd-4th week of lactation and 1 and 2 weeks after weaning. GH (0.8 ng/ml) and PRL (10.2 ng/ml) increased with onset of lactation (3.3 resp. 91.5 ng/ml), remained at high levels (2.5-2.8 resp. 39-41 ng/ml) during the 2nd and 3rd week, declined slowly thereafter and considerably after weaning to concentrations of 0.7 resp. 2.7 ng/ml. During lactation in 4 of 5 sows in exp. A, the typical episodic secretory pattern of GH and PRL was lost due to frequent suckling. Basal values, as known from non lactating sows, were not reached and number of pulses was elevated during lactation for both pituitary hormones. Insulin levels showed a high individual variation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Preoperative oxaliplatin (O), capecitabine (X), and external beam radiotherapy (RT) in patients (pts) with newly diagnosed, primary operable, locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC)

14527 Background: Local recurrence after surgery is a cause of treatment failure and relapse in pts with LARC. Preoperative RT decreases local recurrence but not distant spread. X and O are both highly active chemotherapies for advanced colorectal cancer, particularly in combination, and both are radiosensitizers. Therefore, the addition of X and O to preoperative RT should improve efficacy in terms of local control and prevention of metastases. Methods: This study investigated the efficacy (rate of downstaging) and safety of preoperative chemoradiation in pts with LARC (of lower and middle rectum), T3NxM0 staged by MRT. RT was administered for 5 weeks, 5 days/week, 1.8 Gy/fraction, total dose 45 Gy, 3D conformation technique, in combination with O 50 mg/m2 intravenously on days 1, 8, 15, and 22, and oral X 825 mg/m2 twice a day on RT-days during weeks 1–4. Surgery was performed 14–28 days after completion of RT. Results: 59 pts were enrolled (19 female, 40 male); median age 61 years (range 34–76), 100% of pts are evaluable for efficacy and toxicity. 41 patients had comorbidities: 16 cardiac, 3 hepatic, 6 diabetes, 1 neurological/psychological, 49 others. Tumor downstaging was observed in 53% of pts (23 T2, 2 T1, 6 T0). 5 pts withdrew because of adverse events. 28 pts (47%) experienced grade 1 neurotoxicity and 5 pts (8%) had grade 2 neurotoxicity. The most frequent grade 3/4 NCI-CTC adverse event was diarrhea: 5/59 pts (8%). Total O and X doses received were 90% and 93% of the planned doses, respectively. The main reason for chemotherapy dose reduction was diarrhea occurring during the 3rd-4th week of treatment. Per-protocol therapy was terminated for 8 pts due to interruption of RT for more than 3 days or adverse events such as diarrhea and nausea (total dose received 25.2–34.2 Gy). Conclusions: These results demonstrate that preoperative O and X in combination with RT is feasible in pts with LARC, and comparable with 5-FU. As expected, the only clinically relevant toxicity was diarrhea, and dose intensity of both chemotherapeutic agents and RT was high. [Table: see text]

Effects of recombinant mouse growth hormone treatment on growth and body composition in GHRH knock out mice

Objective GH deficiency (GHD) causes growth failure and alterations in body composition both in humans and mice. Mouse models of GHD are used to study the effect of GH replacement therapy on these parameters. As the administration of human GH to mice causes development of antibodies and progressive reduction of its effectiveness, the use of species-specific GH is recommended. To determine the optimal GH replacement schedule in GHD mice, and to study its effect on body composition, we treated mice with targeted ablation of the GHRH gene (GHRH knock out-GHRHKO) with recombinant mouse GH (rmGH). Design One week-old GHRHKO male animals received either placebo or one of two different regimens of escalating doses of rmGH: R1: 30 μg/daily (1st week), 50 μg/daily (2nd week), 70 μg/daily (3rd–4th week); R2: 15 μg/twice a day (1st week), 25 μg/twice a day (2nd week), 35 μg/twice a day (3rd–4th week). Sex- and age-matched wild-type (WT) animals served as controls. At the end of the study we measured body length and weight, tibia and femur length, and body composition. Results While R1 normalized all growth parameters (TBW, N–A, femur, tibia length), R2 mice achieved significantly higher TBW, N–A and femur length when compared to WT. Body composition abnormalities (increased subcutaneous fat and reduced lean mass) were completely reverted by both treatment schedules. None of the GH-induced parameter modification described above was reflected in parallel changes in circulating serum IGF-1 and liver IGF-1 mRNA. Conclusions Our findings indicate that in GHD mice body composition changes are reverted by rmGH and that twice/daily is more effective than daily administration.

The choise of suture for fresh rupture of anterior cruciate ligament

The method of surgical treatment for fresh rupture of the anterior criciate ligament is presented. Surgical interventions have been performed in 148 patients (95 patients have been operated within the first week after injury, 36 - within the second week and 17 patients - during 3rd-4th week). In 109 patients, ligament reconstruction has been carried out using tractopexy and in 17 patients augmentation of the ligament by semitendinous muscle or central segment of the patellar ligament has been used. The choise of suture technique depended on the type of ligament injury. Tie long-term results have been studied in 104 patients.

Congenital heterotopic gastrointestinal cyst of the oral cavity in a neonate: case report and review of literature

Heterotopic gastrointestinal cysts of the oral cavity are rare benign lesions which may mimic both benign and malignant neoplasms. These cysts are usually discovered during infancy, but may not appear until well into adulthood. This lesion involves the tongue and floor of the mouth in 97% of cases and has a male predilection. The cyst may range in size from less than 1 cm to 9 cm, with most lesions being 1–3 cm in size. About 30% of affected individuals have symptoms related to difficulties with feeding, swallowing and respiration. The epithelial lining is quite variable, but all cysts have an enteric lining. The histogenesis is related to entrapment of undifferentiated, noncommitted endoderm within the oral cavity during the 3rd–4th week of fetal life. The purpose of this paper is to report a congenital heterotopic gastrointestinal cyst of the oral cavity presenting in a neonate. The clinical and histopathologic features of this cyst are reviewed, as well as the histogenesis of this lesion.

Development and regression of right heart ventricular hypertrophy: biochemical and morphological aspects.

Male Wistar rats were exposed, in a hypobaric chamber, to a simulated altitude of 6000 m for up to four weeks. The animals quickly developed pulmonary hypertension with an important media hypertrophy of the pulmonary arteries, followed by severe right heart hypertrophy (cor pulmonale). Right heart hypertrophy is evident in three morphologically and biochemically definable stages. In stage 1 (1st-2nd week) a manifest thickening of heart muscle cells develops due to increased protein synthesis. In stage 2 (2nd-3rd week) one can find, in the regular biochemical composition of heart muscle, an activation of mitochondrial ATPase, a multiplication of mitochondria, a proliferation of interstitial cells and an increase in interstitial volume. In stage 3 (3rd-4th week) the hypertrophied myocardium exhibits signs of biochemical and morphological decompensation. Besides a loss of myofibrils and a reduction in mitochondrial ATPase, DNA and protein concentrations sink to subnormal values. Only myocardium from stage 1 of hypertrophy shows complete reversibility after cessation of hypobaric conditions, but not so in stage 3. Parallel with the developing cor pulmonale, the animals also react with a small hypertrophy of the left heart ventricle. This concomitant growth persists under normobaric conditions, too. These investigations document that growth of myocardium under extreme conditions shows a phasic development. Severe forms of myocardial hypertrophy do not always seem to be reversible.

1116 LIVE ATTENUATED VARICELLA VACCINE IN HEALTHY 12–24 MONTH-OLD CHILDREN

A safety and immunogenicity study of the Oka/Merck live attenuated varicella vaccine was conducted among 51 healthy children 12-24 months, with a negative clinical history of varicella. Parents maintained a detailed medical diary for 6 weeks following immunization, and all children with fever or rash were seen by a physician. 11 children had fever > 38 C during the 6 week follow-up period, including 3 children with documented bacterial infections. 3 children in the 1st week and 6 in the 3rd-4th week developed non-specific maculopapular rashes. Only one child had swelling and pain at the injection site. Pre-immunization and 6 week post-immunization sera were titered simultaneously by an indirect fluorescent antibody test which detects antibody to membrane antigen (modified FAMA). 48 of 51 children (94.1%) demonstrated sero-conversion with a ≥ 4 fold rise in antibody titer. Sero-conversion was less in 12-15 month old infants (14/16, 87.5%) than in 15-24 month old infants (34/35, 97.1%). Geometric mean titers (expressed as the reciprocal of the mean) were not related to age: 12-15 months, 57.4 (n = 14); 15-18 months, 35.3 (n= 8); 18-21 months, 43.9 (n = 11), and 21-24 months, 44.5 (n = 15). Oka/Merck varicella vaccine appears safe and immunogenic in children 12-24 months. Further study is indicated to determine the optimal age for vaccination.

WATER—THE MAJOR NUTRIENT

Water metabolism is a major problem in infants of very low birth weight. Their surface is proportionally larger, they have a relatively low intracellular water volume and a high extracellular and total body volume. Kidney function is immature compared to bigger infants, and the neuroendocrine function is also immature. Finally the large surface and the high skin permeability causes a very high insensible water loss in the early neonatal period. Water imbalance presents itself as either dehydration or overhydration. Dehydration gives poor peripheral--and renal circulation and thereby decreased renal function with acidosis. Furthermore hyperosmolar dehydration will give increased hematocrit and blood viscosity and hyperbilirubinaemia. Excessive administration of water will give oedema and congestive heart failure and possibly an increased risk for patent ductus arteriosus, bronchopulmonal dysplasia and necrotising enterocolitis. The evaporative water losses varies according to the thermal environment and air humidity and it is therefore impossible to give narrow limits for the daily water intake. Clinical examination, frequent controls of body weight (twice daily) and measurements of urine volume and osmolarity serve as guide lines. Yet inappropriate secretion of ADH may confuse the value of measuring urine osmolarity. Finally a neonatal weight loss of 5-10% may be beneficial as a decrease in extracellular water may lessen the working load of the heart and therefore possibly lessen the risk for a patent ductus. Renal immaturity in handling sodium reabsorption on the other hand, will often give an excessive dehydration. For this reason about 2 mmol Na/kg body weight should be given daily to very low birth weight infants from the fourth day of life to the 3rd-4th week if the baby is on human milk or a low salt formula.

Pathophysiology of hepatic coccidiosis in rabbits

Abstract Four groups of 5 40-day-old, Eimeria stiedai -naive, New Zealand rabbits were infected with 0 (Group A), 10 2 (B), 10 3 (C) and 10 4 (D) sporulated oocysts of E. stiedai and observed for 50 days. Serum glutamic pyruvic (GPT) and glutamic oxalacetic (GOT) transaminases, bilirubinemia, lipemia, proteinemia, glycemia, oocyst output, body, carcass and liver weights, and mortality were recorded. Four physiopathological events were identified: (1) a phase of indirect damage to the hepatocytes that takes place during the first 2 weeks of infection and is characterized by increased transaminases; (2) a cholestatic period consequent to the production of oocysts that begins suddenly in the 3rd week, diminishes gradually towards the 7th week, and is characterized by a rise of bilirubinemia and lipemia; (3) a stage of metabolic dysfunction that begins in the 3rd–4th week, intensifies for the next 3 weeks and starts to recover during the 7th week. It is characterized by hypoproteinemia and hypoglycemia; (4) a period of immunodepression characterized by the inability of the heavily infected host to inhibit oocyst production. Apart from the cholestatic phase, the respective pathogenic mechanisms remains to be studied.

Oriented migration and differentiation of neuroblasts in organ cultures of mouse embryonic spinal cord

During cultivation of transverse sections of the spinal cord of 12–14 day mouse embryos in Maximow's chambers differentiation of nerve and glial cells took place with the formation of the organotypical structure of the explant. In some cases migration of groups of bipolar neuroblasts was observed in the 3rd–4th week of cultivation outside the explant, along bundles of nerve fibers consisting of axons of mature nerve cells located in the central fragment of the cultivated tissue. The results show that nerve fibers growing out from the explant can guide migrating neuroblasts and can evidently induce their subsequent differentiation. The hypothesis is put forward that similar processes of migration of neuroblasts along tracts formed by axons can also take place in the developing brain and that they are followed by differentiation where these tracts terminate.

Effect of prednisone on secretion of enzymes in the alimentary tract

The effect produced by prendisone on the secretion of digestive juices and enzymes was studied. Experiments were staged on dogs, in which isolated stomach pouches and fistulae of the pancreas were formed after Pavlov, and intestinal segments were isolated. Prednisone was given once a day/os (0.3 mg/kg of body weight). The hormone was administered for 4 weeks according to the hormone therapy scheme accepted at the clinic. During the administration of the preparation there was a rise of pepsin concentration in the gastric juice, of amylase and lipase — in the pancreatic juice, and of enterokinase — in the intestinal juice. The secretion of digestive juices decreased, as a rule, by the end of the 3rd–4th week.