Noble gases in stratospheric dust particles: confirmation of extraterrestrial origin

Noble gas elemental and isotopic ratios were measured in a group of 13 "chondritic" stratospheric dust particles. Neon and argon are present in "solar" proportions; xenon appears to be dominated by contributions from "planetary" sources. The apparent xenon concentration is higher than that measured in any bulk meteorite, approaching the concentration found in the noble gas-rich, acid-insoluble residues from carbonaceous chondrites.     

Properties of the immunosuppressive factor induced by murine cytomegalovirus

Murine cytomegalovirus infection of spleen cultures induced the production of a small (less than 10,000 molecular weight) immunosuppressive factor (VISF), which suppressed concanavalin-A mitogenesis in fresh mouse spleen cells, and in fresh human peripheral blood leukocytes. The factor did not affect the growth of two murine T-cell lines or of mouse fibroblasts. A similar factor was also found in the serum of infected mice, at the time of maximum immune suppression. The properties of VISF indicate that the mechanism of MCMV immune suppression is different from that caused by several other viruses which are important in human and veterinary medicine.     

COLOR DOPPLER AND DOPPLER SPECTRAL ANALYSIS IN THE SPINAL CORD OF NORMAL DOGS

Doppler ultrasonography of the spinal cord was performed in 34 normal, anesthetized dogs following hemilaminectomy. This study was part of an investigation to evaluate the efficacy of a 21-aminosteroid compound and high dose methylprednisolone for the treatment of spinal cord trauma. Grey-scale images of the canine spinal cord were similar to those described for the spinal cord of people. Doppler waveforms of intraparenchymal spinal arteries exhibited high end diastolic blood flow velocities, indicating low resistance to flow. Doppler values (mean ± SD) for arteries immediately ventrolateral to the central canal were: Peak Systolic Velocity = 5.78 ± 2.5 cm/sec, Minimum Diastolic Velocity = 3.5 ± 1.62 cm/sec, Mean Velocity = 4.45 ± 1.96 cm/sec, Minimum Diastolic Velocity = 3.5 ± 1.62 cm/sec, Mean Velocity = 4.45 ± 1.96 cm/sec, Systolic/Diastolic ratio = 169 ± 0.19, Pulsatility Index = 0.53 ± 0.09, and Resistance Index = 0.4 ± 0.06.     

ULTRASONOGRAPHY OF PERIPHERAL NERVES DURING WALLERIAN DEGENERATION AND REGENERATION FOLLOWING TRANSECTION

Ultrasonography was performed on sciatic, tibial and/or peroneal nerves and interosseous muscles in 7 dogs using a ultrasound machine with a 7.5 MHz linear array transducer. A tibial nerve was transected near the distal aspect of the bellies of the gastroenemius muscle. Serial neurologic examinations, electromyography, and ultrasonography were performed before and after surgery. Dogs were euthanized at variable intervals and histopathology performed on nerve samples. In sagittal images, normal nerves had hyperechoic walls with multiple internal linear echoes. In transverse images, the nerves were round or oval hyperechoic structures with internal punctate echoes. After transection, the proximal stump was consistently seen whereas the distal stump and nerve were harder to identify. Neuromas were present in all 5 dogs followed beyond 2 days and appeared as hypoechoic bulbous swellings most apparent at 3 weeks after surgery. Only 1 dog developed a neuroma large enough to be considered of potential clinical significance. Four dogs were followed beyond 2 months. Regeneration was evidenced by a steady growth of nerve with an irregular outline (2 dogs) or by a knobby connection between the proximal and distal stumps (1 dog). Regeneration was not detected in 1 dog.