Volume 95  ·   Issue 10  ·  1982

Higenamine, an active principle of Strobal, is found to have action similar to isoproteranol. Of 14 cases of bradyarrhythmias of different etiology, treated at 5 mg by iv drip, 10 showed improvement. Immediately after iv injection at 2.5 mg in 5 dogs, His bundle electrogram shortening of A-H interval, marked increase in heart rate and increase in systolic but decrease in diastolic blood pressure are recorded.

After analyzing the Dubowitz's (D) and Finnström's (F) methods and using stepwise regression, the authors have formulated a simple method of assessing newborn gestational age rising only 4 characteristics (plantar creases, nipple formation, finger nail and skin texture). The results obtained are satisfactory and comparable to the D and F methods. The method is easy to use and suitable for general adoption. The importance of gestational age assessment is discussed.

The skin of an unearthed circa 2,100 year old female corpse is studied, the eruption-like structures on her skin surface seem to be postmortem changes. They are adipoceration changes due to autolysis of fatty skin tissue leading to formation of fatty acids which after combination with Ca-ions form calcium salt. The latter entangles with upper dermis collagen fibers and accumulates gradually to form skin lesion like structures on the skin surface. The skin components, especially of the dermis are well preserved because the tomb was airtight. A comparative study with a Shanghai (6 months old) corpse and a Yangzhou (circa 400 years old) corpse showed that the skin changes of the 2,100 years old corpse seemed to have gone through 3 stages: homogenous, granular and definite form, with formation of different kinds of skin lesion like structures. Although in an air tight state, organisms couId grow slowly and scantily.

An effective adhesion-precipitation technic for recovery of Schistosoma japonicum cercariae from natural waters is reported, the technic being based on S japonicum cercariae floating on the surface and adhering to surface which they contact. Differential identification on S japonicum cercariae is easy and in field trials this method is more efficient, covering a wider area in less time, than the conventional mouse exposure method.

A study of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) mortality over the period of 1970-1976 shows lower disease risk in the Guangzhou non-Guangdong migrants. The mortality rate was 3.6 per 100,000 for the migrants and 10.9 for the local Guangzhou residents. The standardized mortality ratios of migrants of 5-9 years standing and more than 15 years standing were 0.31 and 0.14. Both groups had a significant level at 0.01. The same results showing more NPC in Guangdong people were obtained in Shanghai over the period of 1965-1975. The NPC Grrtortality rate was 7.1 per 100,000 for Guangdong migrants and only 2.7 for indigenous Shanghai residents. The difference was statistically significant. The difference between Guangdong migrants in Shanghai and Yuexiu district residents in Guangzhou was insignificant. The reasons for these differences are discussed, a genetic explanation of the susceptibility cannot be entirely ruled out.

The epithelium of human amniOn from patients following normal pregnancy (normal amniotic epithelium) and from patients with toxemia were examined under the light and electron microscopes. In contrast to normal amniotic epithelium, the epithelium in toxemia exhibits the following morphologic changes: The cells are low cuboidal; the light cells are frequently seen; the microvilli on the free cell surfaces are inequally distributed; the nuclei are elongated and highly deformed, forming loops and lobes; there are no glycogen particles in the cytoplasm; and the basal membrane is thickened and in parts stratified.

The stereo televised X-ray examination was done of various parts of body in 200 cases, of which 130 were videotaped and carefully studied for classification.

In 19,129 live births, 3,624 required emergency treatment. Of 2,359 followed up, 26 had cerebral palsy. Obstetrical factors are the chief causes of neonate cerebral palsy. The pathologic basis is brain destruction by cerebral oxygen deficiency and intracranial hemorrhage. Owing to the different areas and degrees of brain damage, the signs and symptoms vary and include motor disturbance, epilepsy, mental retardation and behavioral disorders which may appear singly or multiply. However, there is controversy about cerebral palsy symptoms. Symptom analysis of this series shows only 9 with motor disturbances combined with other symptoms. The other 17 cases had no motor disturbances. For convenience, we propose neurologic sequelae of obstetric injury in l cerebral sequela syndrome category, including nonprogressive motor disturbance, mental retardation, epilepsy and behavioral disorders. Our series of cerebral palsy shows t.hat obstetricians should improve the quality of medical and nursing care in order to achieve the goal of bear a live, healthy and clever infant, 1 to a family. The goal is to improve the quality of our population.

Assays of blood dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) activity are done by dual-wave length spectrophotometry. DBH activity is lower in cirrhotics than in normals in both the peripheral blood and splanchnic blood. These results suggest that an impediment in transforming dopamine into norepinephrine may exist in cirrhotics. The authors consider that the hyperdynamic circulation in patients with intrahepatic portal hypertension may be related to abnormal dopamine accumulation due to decreased DBH activity.

2 cases of restoration of finger flexion with latissimus dorsi myocutaneous free flaps are reported. Follow-up for two and a half years revealed normal electromyograms and Grade 3-4 muscular power. Operative indications and technics are also described.