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Intra-individual variability in psychophysiological parameters of activation processes can be attributed to functional fluctuation and/or error of measurement. A repeated measurement design at intervals of about three weeks, three months and one-year duration, in which a laboratory-field comparison was made with respect to predictability of individual differences, provided data on a broad spectrum of physiological and psychological variables measured under various conditions. We investigated the reproducibility of commonly used laboratory measures in a sample of male students of physical education (N = 58). Results indicate that a hypothetical general trend component accounts for less than 10 percent of the total variance in a two-factorial ANOVA (Subjects X Replications). Stability coefficients based on raw scores (rest and strain scores) are relatively higher than those based on change scores. Stability of heart rate, pulse wave velocity, respiration rate during rest, mental arithmetic and cold pressor test and cardiovascular and respiratory parameters during ergometer exercise and 1000m run exceed the stability of blood pressure, parameters from impedance cardiography, eye blink and electrodermal activity during the respective laboratory conditions. The implications of such descriptive studies for the planning and evaluation of longitudinal studies and for selection of parameters depicting habitual dispositions in differential psychophysiological research are indicated.

A simple and easy-to-handle method for measuring calcium oxalate crystal formation in whole urine samples using a gel system is described. To prove reliability of the method, the crystallization-inhibiting effect of a number of well-known, so-called inhibitors of crystallization is demonstrated. In testing urine samples from recurrent stone formers and healthy controls, we found a significant difference in the inhibitor index, the stone formers producing more crystals than the controls. Experiments in test persons with oral loading of magnesium compounds and alkalinizing substances suggest that this effect is probably caused by alteration of the urine composition, e.g., a lower excretion of inhibitors by the stone formers.

Congenital seminal vesicle cysts represent a rare but illustrative type of embryological malformation. They often are combined with ipsilateral upper urinary tract abnormalities. In most of the cases described in the literature the diagnosis has been made with rather invasive procedures. On the basis of our experience with 3 cases we recommend pelvic ultrasonography as the initial study in patients in whom such a malformation is suspected. Although other radiological procedures may be required to confirm the diagnosis, this approach appears to be cost-effective and accurate in most instances. The treatment of such malformations should be restricted to symptomatic cases and usually consists of vesiculectomy with or without removal of the ipsilateral dysplastic or hypoplastic kidney.

The role of specific response patterns obtained by means of psychophysiological activation and their temporal stability are meeting with an increasing interest in the literature because of a low correlation between psychophysiological variables and of possible implications with regard to pathogenetic mechanisms in psychosomatic disease. Two empirical studies are presented that were conducted under similar stress conditions (mental arithmetic, free speech, cold-pressor test, blood-taking) and have been monitoring similar activation variables (seven physiological and four or five psychological variables) - one of which using a large sample of 125 students, the other one consisting of 47 students, who were tested three times week- by-week. Findings reveal that substantial proportions of variance in the three-factorial ANOVA (subjects, situations, variables) may be considered on the basis of individual-specific (23-29% for physiological variables, 6-11% for psychological variables), stimulus-specific (5-19% for physiological variables, 1-11% for psychological variables), and motivation-specific (21% for physiological variables, 10% for psychological variables) response patterns. Five evaluation procedures on nominal, ordinal, and interval data levels as well as various definitions of similarity found in the reaction patterns are used in a comprehensive approach to the analysis of specificities. Estimation of variance components, global tests, and individual tests are applied. The results prove to be reliable and rather stable, at least over a period of several weeks. In total, about one fourth of the subjects show a stable individual-specific response pattern on physiological variables. The results are discussed with respect to data and sampling problems as well as to various methods of data analysis.

From the beta c-hemocyanin (beta c-Hc) of the vineyard snail, Helix pomatia, the functional unit d (Mr approximately equal to 50,000-55,000) was isolated by limited proteolysis and gel chromatography. A small quantity of functional unit d was obtained intact, but the major part in the form of two peptides (Mr approximately equal to 43,000 and 10,000, respectively) connected by a disulfide bridge. After reduction and carboxymethylation, these were separated from each other and cleaved by conventional methods. The peptides were isolated by gel chromatography and HPLC, and sequenced manually or automatically. The complete sequence of Helix beta c-Hc d comprises 410 residues plus 3 residues at the N-terminus seemingly resulting from incomplete cleavage. There is apparently only one carbohydrate side-chain. Comparison of this gastropodan hemocyanin sequence to the partial sequence of a cephalopodan Hc C-terminal unit revealed sufficient identities to state that the functional units of molluscan hemocyanins have arisen by a series of gene duplications. On the other hand, there is practically no homology with arthropodan hemocyanins except for one section of 42 residues which is clearly homologous. This section corresponds to the "Copper B" site of Panulirus interruptus hemocyanin. It is also found in tyrosinases from Neurospora crassa, Streptomyces glaucescens, and mouse. In the N-terminal half of Helix beta c-Hc d there are other sections clearly homologous to the tyrosinases, but overall homology is limited. The second copper-binding site was not identified but must be completely distinct from the "Copper A" binding site of arthropodan hemocyanins. It is suggested that molluscan and arthropodan hemocyanins have evolved independently from a common ancestral mononuclear copper protein.

Comparison of industrial film with long processing time and "90-second-Film" with film-screen combination showed the first type with long processing time to be distinctly superior. Number and shape of tiny clustered microcalcification were taken as criteria for correct visualization. Under present technical and geometrical conditions only industrial type film with long processing time gives high diagnostic accuracy in early breast cancer which depends to a large degree on proper delineation of microcalcifications.

Concentrations and excretion of ten urine parameters were recorded in defined urine portions of 20 calcium oxalate stone patients and 10 normal subjects; some of these urine constituents show a day-night rhythm thus indicating a daily risk variation. From the analysis of questionnaires on physical strain and psychonervous stress, correlations between stress and urine substances can be established. In this connection, oxalic acid concentration and excretion seem to be of special importance. The obtained results provide the basis for further complex-chemical calculations.

In 19 patients ING and scintigramme were compared before and 1 year after operations of coral calculi. 7 times a transversal, 12 times a longitudinal cutting was chosen. The evaluation of the isotope nephrogrammes did not show any significant differences. The pre- and postoperative scintigrammes in the chi 2-test resulted in highly significant differences in favour of the transversal nephrotomy. The present animal-experimental results can be confirmed clinically.

With one-view mammography the detection rate for carcinoma would seem to drop considerably, in the screening situation for early carcinoma (T0 and T1) down to 50 to 60% under unfavourable conditions. The precentage of mammographic findings not completely cleared up by one-view mammography amounts to 54% among our patients. One-view mammography therefore seems to be justified neither as screening nor as routine procedure.

In the planimetric establishments of surfaces and the determination of the volume of casts of the renal calyces a linear connection is the result with high statistical security. Thus with an adequate correction of the standard exact data of volume are possible by measurements of the urogram.

Superovulated beef cows and heifers were nonsurgically collected 6 to 8 days post estrus. Commercial production results for 1976 through 1978 were 4979 pregnancies from 7814 embryos transferred for an overall pregnancy rate of 63%. In 1978, 519 superovulation procedures averaged 9.95 +/- 8.4 (S.D.) ova collected, 8.2 +/- 7.55 ova fertilized, 5.96 +/- 5.37 embryos transferred and 3.63 +/- 5.37 pregnancies per procedure. Embryos were transferred to recipient cows in estrus 12 hr before the donor (-12) the same time (0) or 12 hr after the donor (+12). The +12 group had a significantly lower pregnancy rate (61%, P<.05) than the 0 group (67%) or -12 group (66%). Transfer of early morula stage embryos resulted in a lower pregnancy rate (61%, P<.05) than late morula (67%) early blastocyst (67%) or late blastocyst (71%) stage embryos. A higher pregnancy rate (P<.05) was obtained with embryos of good morphological quality (71%) than with embryos graded fair and poor (55%). The pregnancy rate for embryos transferred nonsurgically was lower (44%) than the pregnancy rate for embryos transferred surgically during the same time period (66%). Pregnancy rates for three operators performing the nonsurgical transfers were 48%, 53%, 28%. No difference in pregnancy rate was found between embryos cultured 24 hr in BMOC-3 at 37C (62%) and embryos transferred the same day as collection (60%). Pregnancy rates for cultured embryos transferred to recipient cows in estrus 12, 24 or 36 hr after the donor were 68%, 62% and 60%, respectively. Embryos recovered on days 6, 7 and 8 were frozen in 1.5M DMSO and stored in liquid nitrogen several days to several weeks. Of 68 embryos frozen, 34 were viable post thaw. Upon transfer to recipient cows, the 34 viable embryos produced 23 confirmed pregnancies.

The efficacy of the cation exchange preparation Campanyl (T1286) was tested in the treatment and metaphylaxis of calcium-containing urinary calculi. For this purpose, in vitro experiments, animal exeriments, orienting clinical studies in 79 patients, and a long term clinical trial in 42 patients over 12 months were undertaken; 22 of the latter patients are also still being treated with the cation exchange preparation, the observation period for 15 patients being 3 1/2 years and 2 1/2 years for 7 patients. As a result of these studies a lowering of the medium calcium excretion and a reduction of calculus discharge by more than half was achieved in the patients being treated with the cation exchanger, without restriction of calcium in the diet. There was not yet seen litholysis. Serious side effects or an influence on the serum electrolytes was not recorded with Campanyl (T1286).

In the present paper 515 patients with renal calculi were examined for psychosomatic parameters and correlations to the sorts of calculi were rendered. The distribution of the various blood groups of carriers of calculi indicated a syntropy between the blood groups AD as well as 0D and calcium oxalate lithiasis. In comparison to the epidemiology for diabetes mellitus and diseases of the rheumatic forms among patients with nephrolithiasis resulted in a manifoldly higher morbidity than in the average of the population. About one quarter of all patients with lithiasis examined thinks that it undergoes negative stress situations. They feel overloaded in their profession or by other activities and without a sufficient possibility for rest at the week-end. A coarse estimation of the psychic state had the result that female as well as male carriers of calculi are to be called "questionably neurotic", where it seems not be so pronounced in males.

The relationship between high dose progestagen treatment and changes on the intravenous urogram were studied in 27 patients. For this purpose, six specific features in the urogram were examined. Our findings in the patients available to use indicate that there is no demonstrable dilatation of the renal pelves and ureters as a result of the administration of progestational substances alone. These results are discussed in relation to the relevant literature.

Metastic pulmonary calcification (MPC) developed in a patient with primary hyperparathyroidism. Renal function was only minimally impaired (creatine clearance of 65 ml/min) the day prior to appearance of the lung infiltrate, but deteriorated (creatinine clearance of 14 ml/min) concomitantly with the appearance of MPC. Lung imaging with 99mTc bone-scanning agents helps differentiate MPC from other problems with similar clinical and roentgenographic findings, thus allowing prompt therapy.

Transmitted light microscope and scanning electron microscope investigations reveal various shapes of urine calcium oxalate crystals. In addition to tetragonal bipyramids, weddellite forms further crystal shapes that have been heretofore interpreted exclusively as whewellite crystals. Weddellite is stabilized by urine foreign ions. In vivo formation of whewellite crystals occurs with massive crystallization only.

Peptides containing the sequence -His-His-Trp-His-Trp-His- have been isolated from the subunits e and a of tarantula (Eurypelma californicum) hemocyanin and III B of Limulus polyphemus hemocyanin. In view of the published spectroscopic and titration data on the copper-polypeptide complex and the strong quenching effect of oxygenation on hemocyanin fluorescence, it is concluded that this sequence represents the major part of the active site of Eurypelma, Limulus, and possibly other arthropod hemocyanins.

Disturbances in purine metabolism with hyperuricaemia and/or hyperuricosuria are a risk factor in uric acid and Ca oxalate stone formation. By way of a competitive xanthine oxidase inhibition, the formation of uric acid is reduced by allopurinol. In investigations on two groups of patients, Milurit could be demonstrated to decrease the uric acid levels in serum and urine. No differences could be seen in the dosages of 3 x 100 mg or 1 x 300 mg Milurit. Therefore, in stone recurrence prevention, the administration of Milurit 300 is recommended.

In profile urines from oxalate stone patients and normal persons the progress of concentration and excretion of 10 urine parameters was investigated. For the majority of lithogenic and litholytic urine substances, especially for oxalic acid, a day-and-night rhythm was proven. This may be transferred to a principle of zonary structure of weddellite crystals, explaining the periodically recurring change of weddellite layers of different dissolution resistances arising from different growth rates due to different concentrations of supersaturated urine.

25 to 30% of calcium oxalate urinary calculi consist of the metastable Weddellite crystal phase. By fractionation of urine it was found that mineral substances are stabilising factors. The stability was checked in dry condition at room temperature at 38 degrees C and at 110 degrees C. These results could be confirmed by precipitation from synthetic solutions. Mg, Zn, Ni, Co, Mn and Cu individually, and above all in combination, promote the formation of Weddellite. The formation of mixed crystal phases must be considered one of the main factors for the stabilisation of Weddelite in the urinaty calculus.

In the present investigation in 515 carriers of nephroliths (311 males and 204 females) age, sex, type of constitution, body weight, physical load and blood pressure are set in relation to the various kinds of calculi. Here it was revealed that males more frequently fall ill with nephrolithiasis than females, that there exist certain age peaks, the pycnic typ of constitution preferredly appears in female carriers of calculi and the athletic type in male ones, the majority of all examined patients had in comparison to the normal an increased body weight, and a very large proportion of persons with only insignificant physical load is found among the carriers of calculi. The result of the relations of blood pressure was that only half of all patients with urolithiasis examined had a normotonic blood pressure.

The growth-inhibiting influence of hydroxy-anthraquinone derivatives of root of rubia in various calcium offerings was investigated using a foreign-body bladder calculus model in rabbits. Following oral doses of glycoside-bound and free aglycemics a pronounced calcium-complex binding effect and a significant reduction in the growth rate of the calculi was observed. Use of anthraquinone glycosides to prevent recurrence of calcium-containing urinary stones is recommended.

The embryologic aberration leading to associated malformation of the upper urinary and genital tracts is discussed. Two typical cases of seminal vesicle cyst combined with ipsilateral renal agenesia or dysplasia are presented and the therapeutic possibilities discussed.

Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed for 15 minutes to the decomposition products of either a polyurethane or polyimide foam while performing an unsignalled shock escape-avoidance task. These products were generated by placing 1 g samples of the foams on a conductive plate heated to either 435, 605, or 775 degrees C. The decomposition products and behavioral toxicity of the 2 foams varied differentially with test temperature. At the 2 lower temperatures, the decomposition products of polyurethane proved to be more behaviorally disruptive than those of polyimide, while at 775 degrees C the reverse was true. These results indicate that operant behavior technology brings a sensitivity to material testing which may prove quite useful for future assessments of potential behavioral toxicity.