Volume 93 · Issue 01 · 1980

Experimental evidence obtained from microelectrode analysis of the nociceptive discharges of neurons in the medical thalamus lends support to the hypothesis that the parafascicular nucleus is essentially a structure receiving the pain bearing impulses and the centromedian nucleus which receives the afferent impulses from the point of acupuncture may serve as a pain modulation center. A nociceptive stimulus, be it a natural painful stimulus or strong electrical stimulation of a sensory nerve, can produce characteristic electrical responses of the parafascicular neurons which bear all the signs of pain, viz long latent period, prolonged after-discharges, lack of adaptation and eliminability by morphine. The nociceptive discharges of the parafascicular neurons can be inhibited by activation of an acupuncture point, moderate electrical stimulation of a sensory nerve, pinching the Achilles tendon or direct electrical stimulation of the centromedian nucleus. The optimal pulse frequency for inhibition of nociceptive discharges of parafascicular neurons either in acupuncture or in direct centromedian stimulation ranges from 4 to 8 per second. The nociceptive discharges can be completely arrested for about 100-170 msec following each stimulating pulse applied to the centromedian nucleus at a lower frequency. The development of this temporary inhibition necessitates a latent period of 15-20 msec. It is thus assumed that the elaboration and transmission of the inhibitory effect on the nociceptive discharges of the parafascicular neurons are probably achieved through a forebrain circuit consisting of the caudate nucleus and putamen as important links. On theoretical grounds, the author considers a surgical lesion stereotactically placed in the centromedian nucleus is probably ineffective in relief of intractable pain.

18 cases of "pure" ovarian immature teratoma undergoing 34 operations are studied. The recurrence rate is rather high but there is a tendency for the recurrent tumor to develop from immaturity to relative maturity. The discovery of this biologic retroconversion from the malignant to benign led the authors to take an enthusiastic and active attitude towards treating these cases. The tumors, primary or metastatic or recurrent, were removed as thoroughly as possible, even including some big recurrent tumors in the liver. As a result the final outcome was much improved. None of the 8 patients treated in this manner since 1968 have died, while of 10 cases treated before 1976 0nly 1 is still living.

Cultivation of Plasmodium knowlesi and P falciparum in vitro by the continuous transfer technic is reported. Various types of culture methods, media, sera and red blood cells were systematically studied. P knowlesi cultures were successfully trial incubated and maintained over 1 month at least 5 times and 1 was continuously cultivated for 183 days. Materials from cultures of 2, 4 and 5 months were taken for intravenous injection into normal monkeys and the infectivity of the parasites grown was proved unaltered. P falciparum was cultivated more or less the same way for more than 14 months. Inactivated new-born calf serum has been utilized successfully instead of human serum and the infectivity rate was 8-10%. All these tests can be repeated without difficulty and may provide the basis for expanded cultivation as well as for preparation of parasitic antigens.

The etiology of autumnal infantile acute gastroenteritis which occurred in 1978 in Beijing was studied. Typical rotavirus particles were found by electron microscopy in stool samples of 11 out of 32 cases. Rotavirus complement-fixing antigen was demonstrated in fecal specimens of 16 out of 23 cases. According to the morphologic appearance of the virus particles, the immune electron microscopic findings and a 4-fold or greater rise of the corresponding antibody titer in the course of infection, we confirmed the existence of rotavirus and its main etiologic role in autumnal infantile gastroenteritis in China.

Seven constituents have been isolated from Fructus schizandrae 五味子仁. Experiments showed that they were active in lowering the elevated SGPT levels in CCl4 intoxicated mice, but their potencies varied considerably. Further experiments indicated that these agents might temporarily inhibit the activity of liver GPT. Three of the 7 components showed a biphasic effect on pentobarbital sleeping time, while another constituent affected only the prolongation phase of the sleeping time. Four of the constituents have been found to promote glycogenesis in both normal and adrenalectomized mice, indicating that the effect on glycogenesis is not mediated by the pituitary-adrenal system.

Muscular pseudohypertrophy due to cysticercosis cellulosae is a rare clinical syndrome. Two cases had been reported in China and 12 abroad. The present article reports 3 additional cases from North China. This syndrome is often mis- diagnosed and treated as acute rheumatic fever before the appearance of muscular hypertrophy of the extremities and trunk. So far no effective remedy is available for this syndrome. Prednisone or indomethacine may be useful in relieving the general symptoms. Specific drugs fOr killing cysticerci within the nodules are also wanting. Prophylaxis is most important.

An ultrastructural study is made of the repair and regeneration in canine experimental myocardial infarction. Tissue samples are taken from the centre of the induced infarcted area for electron microscopy. It is observed that besides the reparative processes by proliferation of interstitial tissue, regeneration of myocardial cells is also evident. Regenerative myocardial cells are scattered among the proliferating interstitial cells, a few of them are contiguous to the original heart muscle cells. The ultrastructure of these cells is characterised by: a large nucleus, prominent nucleolus and fine chromatin with euchromatin predominating; a well developed Golgi complex; abundant glycogen granules and ribosomes; numerous myofilaments and myofibrils at different developmental stages in the periphery of the cell; and fascia adherens at the contact surfaces of the cells.

The results of a 5.5-year mass survey on rectal malignancies have been analysed. Among 472,766 subjects examined, 142 cases of rectal malignancy (49 adenocarcinoma, 92 carcinoid and 1 squamous carcinoma) were found giving a morbidity rate of 30/100,000 and incidence of 14.8/100,000. 127 patients were treated by radical surgery and 15 by palliative measures. The overall 5-year survival rate is 91.0%

"Omohyoid muscle syndrome" (hyaline degeneration of omohyoid muscle) is presented in this article. The authors encountered 10 such cases. They were treated by simple severance of the omohyoid muscle with satisfactory results. One of them has been followed up for 4 years and 3 months without recurrence of the cervical mass.

Puncture of the vas deferens percutaneously may be used to inject an obliterating agent for contraception, radio opaque agents for X-ray examination or drugs to treat certain diseases of the seminal tract. It is a route recommended for extensive use in urology. The technic and some tests are described to promote popularization.