Richard H. Egdahl

Ribonucleic acid in "transformation" of lymphoid cells.

When incubated with reactive ribonucleic acid extracted from lymph nodes of rabbits immunized by skin homografts, neutral lymph node cells from nongrafted rabbits were apparently altered to a state of transpiantation immunity, as manifested by a positive skin reaction upon injection of these cells into the donor of the skin homografts.

Adrenal Cortical and Body Temperature Responses to Repeated Endotoxin Administration

Summary Dogs given large doses of bacterial endotoxin do not become tolerant to either fever producing or adrenal cortical stimulating effects. Dogs receiving small doses of endotoxin readily become tolerant to the fever-producing effect, but either do not become tolerant at all or achieve only partial tolerance to adrenal cortical stimulating properties. The partial adrenal cortical tolerance observed following endotoxin administration probably represents decreased pituitary release of the ACTH rather than tolerance of adrenal cortex itself.

Current mortality in appendicitis

Abstract Experience at the Medical College of Virginia Hospitals during the period 1955 to 1960 with acute appendicitis is reviewed and a high mortality for late appendicitis with rupture and generalized peritonitis is described. In this series the greater mortality in colored patients than in white patients is simply a reflection of a higher percentage of late cases with generalized peritonitis in the colored patients. It is suggested that very sick patients with apparent generalized peritonitis due to perforated appendices be treated conservatively until toxemia at least partially abates; and that when such patients are operated upon, the use of peritoneal lavage and intermittent intraperitoneal administration of broad spectrum antibiotics postoperatively be seriously considered. This study also indicates that patients with acute appendicitis without toxemia should be operated upon without delay.

Effects of β-hydroxybutyrate, glycerol, and free fatty acid infusions on glucagon and epinephrine secretion in dogs during acute hypoglycemia

The importance of glucagon in the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism is clearly established. However, the role played by this hormone in the regulation of the overall fuel economy is less certain, particularly with respect to such nonglucose fuels as free fatty acids, glycerol, and ketoacids. In order to elucidate glucagons role with respect to the latter substrates, dogs were infused with solutions of these three fuels, and their A-cell responses to concomitant insulin-induced hypoglycemia were studied. In addition, epinephrine levels were also monitored. It was found that while these infusions failed to suppress glucagon release, the ketoacid infusion did significantly reduce epinephrine secretion during the insulin-induced hypoglycemic period. It was therefore concluded that glucagon secretion under these experimental conditions is not responsive to prevailing non-glucose fuel levels. Indeed, these data suggest that the sympathetic nervous system may play an important role in the regulation of the over-all fuel economy.

Transplantation antigenicity of lymphoid cells grown in vitro

Abstract 1. 1. Rabbit spleen cells grown in tissue culture for as long as six weeks and injected into allogeneic recipients, consistently induced transplantation immunity as indicated by the accelerated rejection of a subsequent skin homograft from the spleen cell donor. A gross exception to this pattern, seen in one animal, is discussed. 2. 2. The medium in which the cells had been cultivated similarly induced clear cut transplantation immunity in three of twelve experiments. In addition, the mean survival of all test homografts in this experimental group was significantly shorter than first set homograft survival in control animals. 3. 3. Supravital staining of the cultured spleen cells indicated that most of the surviving cells, after as long as six weeks in vitro, were descended from lymphocytes, rather than monocytes, as might have been anticipated from several reports in the literature.

Studies on human thyroid venous blood—TSH response

Abstract In seven of eight patients given 1.0 U of TSH via a thyroid artery, a significant rise of radioactivity in the thyroid vein was observed. In two control patients and in four others receiving less than 1.0 U. of TSH, there was slight or no rise in thyroid vein I 131 content. In only one of three patients receiving 1.0 U. TSH IV was a significant rise in I 131 content in the thyroid vein observed. Peripheral venous samples failed to reflect the change in thyroid vein radioactivity. The response to TSH is observed as early as ten minutes after injection and may continue to rise 30 to 60 minutes later. Manipulation of the intact thyroid gland did not increase the release of thyroglobulin into the circulation. Iodoprotein may be released into the thyroid vein by TSH. The increase in the I 131 content of thyroid venous blood appears to be reflected in both iodide and thyroxin-like fractions.

Postoperative uses of adrenal steroids

Abstract The primary indications for use of postoperative adrenal steroids are bilateral adrenalectomy, pituitary adrenal insufficiency, and cerebral edema. Secondary indications include a variety of conditions, such as unresponsive shock, gram-negative septicemia, aspiration pneumonia, and allergic emergencies. Although steroids have been suggested in the treatment of other pathologic conditions which are discussed in the paper, it is emphasized that these uses are controversial.