Efficacy of intratracheal administration of Newcastle disease vaccine in day-old chicks

Groups of day-old chicks with varying levels of parental antibody were vaccinated against Newcastle disease (B1 strain) with a commercially available device which simultaneously debeaks the chick and emits a fine spray of vaccine into its trachea. Some groups were also vaccinated (B1 or Lasota strain) with a commercially available vaccine sprayer at 9 days, 14 days, or 9 and 25 days of age. Response to vaccine was evaluated once each week during the experimental period of approximately 8 weeks HI titers were determined and 10 chicks were challenged with the Texas GB strain of Newcastle disease virus. In chicks with low to moderate levels of maternal antibody a satisfactory antibody response was attained by vaccination at 1 day of age, and in most cases resistance to challenge was evident by 3 weeks of age. Intratracheal vaccination of chicks with extremely high levels of maternal antibody had a minimal antibody response. All groups of chicks spray vaccinated at 9, 14, or 9 and 25 days of age showed a marked increase in antibody titer regardless of whether they had been vaccinated at 1 day of age.     

Ageing and degeneration in the macular region: a clinico-pathological study

Clinical and pathological examination was performed on 378 eyes from 216 patients aged 43 to 97 years. This series represented eyes in which the fundi were normal or showed various manifestations of senile macular degeneration. The eyes were divided into six groups according to the histological appearance of a linear deposit at the base of the retinal pigment cells. Groups I and II were considered to represent normal ageing, Groups III and IV the progressive development of senile macular degeneration and Groups V and VI the end-results. Group I showed no basal linear deposit. Thickening and hyalinization of Bruch's membrane was noted as early as the fifth decade. Group II showed patchy development of the basal linear deposit in relation to thickened or basophilic segments of Bruch's membrane, or over intercapillary hyalinization extending to the level of the outer surface of the choriocapillaris. Almost all eyes in these two groups retained a normal fundus appearance but visual acuity declined with age even in the absence of other causes. In Group III the basal deposit formed a thin continuous layer associated with moderate degeneration of the retinal pigment epithelium. More than half the eyes had developed a clinical disturbance of pigmentation and in most vision was reduced. Group IV was characterized by thickening of the deposit and more pronounced disturbance of the pigment epithelium. Clinically most eyes showed coarse pigmentary changes and vision was in the order of 6/24. 14-3 per cent of eyes in this group showed early neovascularization from the choroid. In Group V the pigment epithelium disappeared to produce circumscribed areas of depigmentation. The basal linear deposit could be traced throughout the depigmented area in most eyes. Thin fibrovascular sheets were found beneath the pigment epithelium in 41-7 per cent of eyes. Group VI represented disciform degeneration. The basal linear deposit could often be demonstrated as a disrupted hyalinized layer incorporated into the scar. Disciform degeneration was an alternative end-result to geographical atrophy. In each group the clinical and histological findings may be modified by the presence of drusen or by atrophy of the choroid. The basal linear deposit consisted of banded fibres embedded in granular material lying between the plasma infoldings and the basement membrane of the retinal pigment epithelium. This deposit seems to be a manifestation of gradual failure of the pigment epithelium and proved to be the most suitable criterion by which to study the natural history of senile macular degeneration.     

Feather protein as a support for immobilizing enzymes

Feather meal protein was prepared in granular form and used as a support for lactase using glutaraldehyde as the crosslinking agent. The support gave a high retention of activity and in column operation it yielded apparent half-lives from 50 to 100 days. Because of its gel-like consistency (water content of about 90%), there is some diffusional restricting of activity as indicated by the kinetic data of soluble and immoblized enzymes.     

Analysis of suckling-induced changes in adenohypophyseal prolactin concentration in the lactating rat by three assay methods

Suckling-induced changes in adenohypophyseal prolactin (PRL) concentrations in lactating rats were measured in two experiments by three assays: a disc electrophoretic assay (DEA), a bioassay (BA) and a radioimmunoassay (RIA). Substantial discrepancies among the three assays were found in the absolute amounts of pituitary PRL measured and in the changes in adenohypophyseal PRL concentration that were recorded between suckling intervals. The results indicate that in dynamic states of secretory activity the correspondence among BA, RIA and DEA estimates of pituitary PRL concentration is poor.     

Formalin treatment for intractable hemorrhagic cystitis: a review of the literature with 16 additional cases

Acute, exsanguinating hemorrhagic cystitis secondary to cyclophosphamide therapy, radiation therapy, or an infiltrating bladder tumor may be managed successfully with intravesical Formalin therapy. The indications for its use, the technique, success rates, and complications are discussed. This treatment was effective in 14 of 16 patients in the present series and 79 of 90 cases reported in the literature. Dilutions of 4% or less were as effective as a 10% dilution and were associated with far fewer complications. The early use of Formalin in the treatment of intractable hemorrhagic cystitis is recommended.