Effects of growth technique on the microstructure of CuInSe 2 ternary semiconductor compound.

X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (EDXRF) are employed to investigate the microstructure of bulk C u I n S e 2 specimens grown through the Bridgman technique and traveling heater process, respectively. We investigate the lattice parameters, grain sizes, and microstrains of the two grown samples. For a crystal grown by the vertical Bridgeman method, the vacancy V C u serves as an acceptor, resulting in p-type conduction, whereas the vacancy V S e expected to serve as a donor, occurring in n-type conduction for the crystal grown via the traveling heater technique. The concentration of crystal grown via the VBM is determined to be p-type, whereas the concentration of that grown via the THM is n-type. Concerning C u I n S e 2 crystal, the determined crystallite sizes obtained to be 165 and 182 nm for the VBM and THM, respectively.

Growth and anisotropy of transport properties of CuGaSe 2 single crystals.

Single crystals of C u G a S e 2 are prepared by a technique based on the vertical Bridgman procedure. The crystal chemical and phase compositions were identified by using dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and X-ray diffraction data analysis, respectively. The Hall effect and the electrical conductivity were determined in terms of temperature, parallel and orthogonal to the layer surface, and the parameters proved to be strongly anisotropic. From carried out measurements, different parameters such like the carrier mobilities, the carrier concentration, the relaxation time, the diffusion coefficient, and the length of diffusion for both, majority carriers and minority carriers were estimated.

The impact of neurotrophin-3 on the dorsal root transitional zone following injury.

STUDY DESIGN: Morphological and Stereological assessment of the dorsal root transitional zone (DRTZ) following complete crush injury, using light microscopy (LM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of exogenous neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) on the response of glial cells and axons to dorsal root damage. SETTING: Department of Anatomy, University College Cork, Ireland and Department of Physiology, UMDS, University of London, UK. METHODS: Cervical roots (C6-8) from rats which had undergone dorsal root crush axotomy 1 week earlier, in the presence (n=3) and absence (n=3) of NT-3, were processed for LM and TEM. RESULTS: Unmyelinated axon number and size was greater in the DRTZ proximal (Central Nervous System; CNS) and distal (Peripheral Nervous System; PNS) compartments of NT-3-treated tissue. NT-3 was associated with a reduced astrocytic response, an increase in the proportion of oligodendrocytic tissue and a possible inhibition or delay of microglial activation. Disrupted-myelin volume in the DRTZ PNS and CNS compartments of treated tissue was lower, than in control tissue. In the PNS compartment, NT-3 treatment increased phagocyte and blood vessel numbers. It decreased myelinating activity, as sheath thickness was significantly lower and may also account for the noted lower Schwann cell and organelle volume in the test group. CONCLUSIONS: Our observations suggest that NT-3 interacts with non-neuronal tissue to facilitate the regenerative effort of damaged axons. This may be as a consequence of a direct action or indirectly mediated by modulation of non-neuronal responses to injury.

Effect of early feed restriction on reproductive performance in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).

Reproductive performance of quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) was evaluated following feed restriction (100, 85, and 70% of ad libitum) between 2 to 5 wk of age with three replicates of 12, 2-wk-old chicks per replicate. Body weight, feed conversion, and leucocyte distribution were measured during feed restriction. After experimental feed treatment, BW, age at first egg, egg production, fertility, hatchability, and embryonic mortality were evaluated from five replicates of two females and one male per treatment. Feed-restricted female chicks had lower BW from 3 to 5 wk of age, but male weights were depressed only during the most severe restriction at 4 and 5 wk. No treatment differences were observed among BW within a sex from 6 to 13 wk. Body weights at first egg were significantly heavier for females fed 70% ad libitum than for birds on other treatments. Fertility, age at first egg, feed conversion, egg production, and egg weight were unaffected by feed restriction. Although hatchability was unaffected by feed restriction, percentage of late dead and total dead embryos were significantly reduced in eggs from restricted quail. Thirty quail fed 70% of ad libitum control intake had significantly increased egg specific gravity. Feed restriction increased the percentage of heterophils and basophils and the heterophil/lymphocyte ratio, whereas the percentage of lymphocytes and eosinophils decreased. Feed can be restricted to 85 or 70% of ad libitum feed intake from 2 to 5 wk of age without detrimentally affecting reproductive parameters between 6 to 13 wk of age.

Effect of acetyl salicylic acid in drinking water on reproductive performance of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).

The impact of acetyl salicylic add (ASA) on reproductive performance during periods of heat stress was studied in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). During a season when daily high temperatures averaged between 34 and 40 degrees C, four treatments each containing four replicates of five males and five females were given 0, 0.5, 1.0, or 1.5 g/L ASA in drinking water from 34 to 45 wk of age. At 39 wk of age control quail were lighter than quail fed ASA. Quail receiving 1.5 g/L ASA exhibited increased fertility, hatchability, and egg production and decreased late dead and total embryonic mortality. Early dead embryos, pips, chick weight, and egg weight were not different among treatments. The lumen of uterovaginal junction sperm host glands (UVJSHG) from control quail was apparently devoid of spermatozoa, whereas quail receiving 1.5 g/L ASA had the greatest apparent accumulation of spermatozoa. Control caudal infundibulum host glands (CPOI) were devoid of spermatozoa in contrast with CPOI from quail receiving ASA. Results show that UVJSHG lumens from quail receiving 1.5 g/L ASA had larger inside diameters than other treatment groups. However, the CPOI inside diameter and the outside diameters of both UVJSHG and CPOI were not affected by ASA. Adding 1.5 g/L ASA to the drinking water of quail under heat stress improved body weight, fertility, hatchability, embryonic mortality, egg production, egg specific gravity, and sperm storage capacity.

Effect of feeding time on the reproductive performance of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).

Several feeding regimens are applied to improve performance of fertile egg production during times of heat stress. During a period of heat stress (34 to 36 degrees C), two feeding periods were used to measure the impact of feeding time on reproductive performance of Japanese quail (Coturnix cotunix japonica) between 44 and 60 wk of age. Each feeding time treatment had 25 individually caged male and female pairs. Quail were fed ad libitum between 0600 to 1400 or 1400 to 2200 h daily. Results indicated that feeding between 0600 to 1400 h reduced BW, fertility, hatchability, egg production, and egg specific gravity when compared with the effects of feeding between 1400 to 2200 h. Feeding time had no effect on total embryonic mortality, egg weight, or the period between subsequent ovipositions. The different feeding times affected the distribution curve of oviposition over time. An instrument designed to record oviposition time is described. Results showed that selection of the time of day for application of an 8-h restricted feeding regimen affected BW, fertility, hatchability, egg production, egg specific gravity, and oviposition time in Japanese quail.

Ultrastructural aspects of the oesophageal and reproductive systems of the equine parasite Strongylus vulgaris.

The ultrastructure of the dorsal oesophageal gland ampulla and its relationship with the oesophagus, oesophageal ultrastructure, and control mechanisms in oesophageal activity were studied. Terminal ducts of the sub-ventral glands open through the oesophageal crown at the base of the buccal cavity. The terminal duct of the dorsal oesophageal gland running through the dorsal gutter opens to the exterior at the rim 'groove' of the buccal capsule. The posterior oesophageal region is clavate and the cuticle of the lumen folds to form outlet valves, 'valvulae'. An inconspicuous oesophago-intestinal valve (three lobes) connects oesophagus and intestine and is visualized in the open and shut position. In the female reproductive tract, with the exception of the uterus, the cells lie on a thick, irregular (convoluted) basal lamina. The apical plasma membrane of the uterus, and seminal receptacle, extend into the lumen by microvilli-like projections with which spermatozoa make intimate contact. The lumen of the uterus is filled with oocytes, fertilized and unfertilized. Testicular cells have two parts linked by a rachis. Spermatocytes are elongated with a large nucleus, distinct nuclear membrane, and many granules. The apical membrane of the rachis forms long microvilli-like projections with balloon-like tips. The amoeboid spermatozoa contain membrane specializations, a nucleus devoid of a membrane, and are enclosed by a pseudopodial-like extension.

Neuroblastoma.

OBJECTIVE: Due to the poor results achieved on combination chemotherapy and the unproven cost-effectiveness value of myeloablative therapy, the question has been raised; should patients with stage IV neuroblastoma be actively treated? The aim of the current study is to analyze retrospectively treatment results of 43 children with neuroblastoma with special stress on the rate and duration of remission in children with disseminated neuroblastoma. METHODS: Treatment of children with neuroblastoma consisted of surgical removal of the tumor, if possible, followed by chemotherapy for unresectable residual tumor including metastases. Second look surgery was performed to resect residual masses rendered resectable on chemotherapy in the absence of distal metastases. The chemotherapy protocol used in the current study consisted of alternating combination chemotherapy regimens containing, Cyclophosphamide, Vincristine and Doxorubicin, alternating with Cis-platinum and Etoposide. RESULTS: The male to female ratio was 2:1 with a median age of 2.1 years. The abdomen was the primary site of involvement encountered in 32 patients (74%). According to the childrens cancer study group (CCSG) staging system, only 6 patients (14%) had localized tumors (stages I and II). Two patients (5%) were found to have stage IV. Stage III was documented in 5 patients (12%). The majority of patients (70%) had disseminated disease at presentation. The bone marrow was the most common site of metastatic deposit, encountered in 23 patients out of the 30 with stage IV disease (77%). Out of the 12 evaluable non-stage IV patients, only one patient (8%) showed treatment failure. Assessment of response by the end of the 6th month from the date of diagnosis revealed that out of the 27 evaluable patients with stage IV, 4 patients achieved complete remission, 7 patients achieved very good partial remission, 8 patients achieved partial remission and 4 patients achieved mixed response. Three patients showed progressive disease on chemotherapy. Twenty-one patients (78%) were symptom-free and were conducting normal life. Assessment of response to treatment by the end of the 12th month from diagnosis revealed that 6 patients (2 complete remissions, 1 very good partial response, 3 partial responses) were maintaining their remission. Out of the 19 patients showing complete or partial remission at early assessment, 4 patients maintained their remission for more than 18 months. Two (one was in complete remission and the other was in partial response) of them progressed in areas of previous involvement after 20 and 21 months. The other 2 patients (one was in complete remission and the other was in partial response) showed disease progression in areas not previously affected by disease at presentation after 23 and 42 months. CONCLUSION: Results of treatment by multiagent chemotherapy regimens used in the current study show that children with neuroblastoma, even those with advanced stages, should receive the benefit of intensive multimodal therapy, even those with partial response to initial therapy. These patients may experience reasonable symptom-free and sometimes, disease-free survival.

Differentiated thyroid carcinoma referred for radioiodine therapy.

OBJECTIVE: The current work was conducted to study the disease status and treatment results of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma referred for radioactive iodine therapy. METHODS: Retrospective review of 78 patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma referred for radioiodine therapy in the Nuclear Medicine Unit, King Abdulaziz Hospital and Oncology Center, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Analysis of the clinicopathologic characteristics, age correlation to different risk factors, treatment protocol and results were performed. RESULTS: Seventy seven percent were female and the female to male ratio was 3.5:1. The age of patients ranged between 13-63 years with a median age of 36 years. Cervical lymph node involvement was detected in 22 patients (25%). Papillary carcinoma was encountered in 78 patients (90%) and follicular carcinoma in 9 patients (10%). Analysis of the clinicopathologic characteristics showed no statistically significant difference between patients in the different age groups except for extrathyroid extension and lymph node involvement. Patients older than 45 years had a statistically significant lower incidence of nodal involvement and higher incidence of extra thyroid extension (P<0.02). In the current study we used a high dose method (Radioiodine-131 dose 75-100mCi) for thyroid remnant ablation after thyroidectomy (total or near total) in 67 patients. An Iodine 131 dose of 150 mCi was used in 12 patients with radioiodine-avid cervical lymph nodes and in 3 patients with gross residual tumor. In 4 patients with distant metastases an Iodine 131 dose of 200 mCi was used. For the whole study group the 5 year overall survival and disease-free survival was 96% and 88%. CONCLUSION: The current study, as with many other retrospective studies, concluded that despite the fact that differentiated thyroid carcinoma is among the most curable cancers, some patients are still at high risk for recurrent disease and associated mortality.

Fever and granulocytopenia in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia under induction therapy.

OBJECTIVE: Infection is one of the most serious complications of cancer therapy. The rationale of using broad spectrum antibiotics prophylactically has led to a great change in the causative organisms. The aim of the present study is to review retrospectively the type and sequence of infectious complications among Saudi children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. METHODS: A total of 233 febrile episodes were observed in 137 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia under induction therapy using modified BFM protocol were studied. RESULTS: Profound neutropenia (Absolute Neutrophil count < 100/mm3) was encountered in 72 episodes (31%). Clinical signs and symptoms suggestive of infection were evident in 39% of the neutropenic episodes. The respiratory system was the most frequently affected site encountered in 17% of the episodes. Microbiologically documented infection was recorded in 59% (n=137) of the fever and granulocytopenia episodes. In 96 episodes (41%), there was neither clinical nor microbiological evidence of infection fever of unknown origin. Out of the 932 cultures, positive isolates were detected in 346 cultures (37%). Gram positive cocci were the most frequently organisms (54%) followed by gram negative bacilli (39%). In the current study, 7 patients (3%) died because of direct or indirect consequences of infection. CONCLUSION: The current study stresses the importance of frequent reviewing of the type, frequency, severity and outcome of infection complications over years to detect changing epidemiological patterns.

Neuroblastoma: A clinical review.

OBJECTIVE: Due to the poor results achieved on combination chemotherapy and the unproven cost-effectiveness value of myeloablative therapy, the question has been raised; should patients with stage IV neuroblastoma be actively treated? The aim of the current study is to analyze retrospectively treatment results of 43 children with neuroblastoma with special stress on the rate and duration of remission in children with disseminated neuroblastoma. METHODS: Treatment of children with neuroblastoma consisted of surgical removal of the tumor, if possible, followed by chemotherapy for unresectable residual tumor including metastases. Second look surgery was performed to resect residual masses rendered resectable on chemotherapy in the absence of distal metastases. The chemotherapy protocol used in the current study consisted of alternating combination chemotherapy regimens containing, Cyclophosphamide, Vincristine and Doxorubicin, alternating with Cis-platinum and Etoposide. RESULTS: The male to female ratio was 2:1 with a median age of 2.1 years. The abdomen was the primary site of involvement encountered in 32 patients (74%). According to the childrens cancer study group (CCSG) staging system, only 6 patients (14%) had localized tumors (stages I and II). Two patients (5%) were found to have stage IV. Stage III was documented in 5 patients (12%). The majority of patients (70%) had disseminated disease at presentation. The bone marrow was the most common site of metastatic deposit, encountered in 23 patients out of the 30 with stage IV disease (77%). Out of the 12 evaluable non-stage IV patients, only one patient (8%) showed treatment failure. Assessment of response by the end of the 6th month from the date of diagnosis revealed that out of the 27 evaluable patients with stage IV, 4 patients achieved complete remission, 7 patients achieved very good partial remission, 8 patients achieved partial remission and 4 patients achieved mixed response. Three patients showed progressive disease on chemotherapy. Twenty-one patients (78%) were symptom-free and were conducting normal life. Assessment of response to treatment by the end of the 12th month from diagnosis revealed that 6 patients (2 complete remissions, 1 very good partial response, 3 partial responses) were maintaining their remission. Out of the 19 patients showing complete or partial remission at early assessment, 4 patients maintained their remission for more than 18 months. Two (one was in complete remission and the other was in partial response) of them progressed in areas of previous involvement after 20 and 21 months. The other 2 patients (one was in complete remission and the other was in partial response) showed disease progression in areas not previously affected by disease at presentation after 23 and 42 months. CONCLUSION: Results of treatment by multiagent chemotherapy regimens used in the current study show that children with neuroblastoma, even those with advanced stages, should receive the benefit of intensive multimodal therapy, even those with partial response to initial therapy. These patients may experience reasonable symptom-free and sometimes, disease-free survival.

Ultrastructural aspects of feeding and secretion-excretion by the equine parasite Strongylus vulgaris.

Light, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy were employed to provide further data on the putative origins of the immunogenic secretory-excretory product (ESP) of Strongylus vulgaris (Looss 1900). The sharply delineated but superficial attachment to the equine caecum by the mouth leaves behind an oval area devoid of epithelial cells. Attachment does not extend deeply enough to reach the muscularis mucosa layer of the equine intestine. The progressive digestion of the ingested plug of tissue (epithelial cells, blood cells and mucous) was visualized. The coelomocytes, floating cells and membranous structures located in the pseudocoelom and intimately associated with the digestive, excretory and reproductive systems, and with the somatic muscles are described. The secretory-excretory system comprises two, ventrally-located, secretory-excretory glands connected to tubular elements. These glands synthesize granules of various sizes and densities that are delineated.

An immunohistochemical investigation of the adult stage of the equine parasite Strongylus vulgaris.

Adult Strongylus vulgaris, collected from the caecum of infected horses and embedded in paraplast using standard methods, were sectioned for immunohistochemistry (IHC) studies. Antibodies were raised in rabbit against the excretory-secretory product (ESP) and against two constituent protein bands (28-30 kDa). The use of sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblotting indicated the immunogenicity of ESP and of the subunits (28-30 kDa). In ELISA, both rabbit hyperimmune sera recognized the ESP and (28-30 kDa) bands consistently and strongly. Both hyperimmune sera recognized most ESP subunits (80, 60, 54, 42, 35, 30, 20 and 15 kDa) in immunoblots. IHC, using light microscopy, suggested that the following worm tissues reacted strongly and positively with both antisera: amphids, tooth core, intestine, excretory gland and ducts, and hypodermis. Thus, either these are antigen-producing tissues, or antigens sharing common epitopes occur in them. The following tissues reacted weakly: body cuticle, buccal capsule cuticle, oesophagus, and also somatic muscle (non-contractile portion) perhaps due to diffusion of antigen from adjacent tissues. Preimmune serum gave a negative reaction with most worm tissues.

HELLP syndrome: Clinical profile of seven patients.

HELLP syndrome is a multi-organ disorder unique to pregnancy. It is characterized by hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets in patients with pre-eclampsia or eclampsia. In King Abdulaziz Oncology Center, Jeddah, seven patients with HELLP syndrome were admitted over a period of four years (1991-94). Retrospective analysis of data was done to study the clinical profile of HELLP syndrome. The incidence of HELLP syndrome in our institution was 1 per 2285 deliveries. One patient was Saudi and six were non-Saudis. The age range was 23 to 44 years, with a mean of 29 years. All patients were multipara. The disorder occurred between 24 to 33 weeks of gestational age, the average being 29 weeks. The most commonly encountered clinical feature was right upper quadrant/epigastric pain. Other features included nausea/vomiting, jaundice, hepatic encephalopathy, azotemia, hypotension and grand mal convulsions. All patients had severe pre-eclampsia pr eclampsia. Indirect hyperbilirubinemia was in the range of 2 to 8 mg/dL and elevated transaminases up to 229 U/L (n<40 U/L) were noted. Various degrees of peripheral thrombocytopenia (<150x10(9)/L) were present in seven patients. Four patients had elevated prothrombin and partial thromboplastin time with postive fibrinogen degradation products. Laboratory abnormalities returned to normal within 10 days following delivery. Four patients were delivered by cesarean section and three had vaginal deliveries. We had two maternal deaths (mortality 34%). One died of multi-organ failure and the other with adult respiratory distress syndrome. There was one stillbirth and the second baby died soon after birth due to prematurity (infant perinatal mortality 34%). We conclude that HELLP syndrome is rare among pregnant women in our institution. It should always be suspected in women with pre-eclampsia or eclampsia when they present with upper abdominal pain. Multipara seem to be more afflicted. Subclinical disseminated intravascular coagulation was detected in 55% of the patients. A majority of our patients presented late to the hospital.

Fatal renal failure caused by diethylene glycol in paracetamol elixir: the Bangladesh epidemic.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the cause of a large increase in the number of children with unexplained renal failure. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: Children's hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh. SUBJECTS: Cases were all 339 children with initially unexplained renal failure; controls were 90 children with cause of renal failure identified; all were admitted to hospital during 35 months after January 1990. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Differences between the case and control patients in clinical and histological features and outcome; toxicological examination of 69 bottles of paracetamol from patients and pharmacies. RESULTS: Compared with children with an identified cause for their renal failure, children with initially unexplained renal failure were significantly (P < 0.05) more likely to have hepatomegaly (58% v 33%), oedema (37% v 20%), and hypertension (58% v 23%); to have a higher serum creatinine concentration (mean 519 mumol/l v 347 mumol/l) and lower serum bicarbonate concentration (10.1 mmol/l v 12.4 mmol/l); to have been given a drug for fever (91% v 31%); to have ingested a brand of paracetamol shown to contain diethylene glycol (20% v 0%); and to have died in hospital (70% v 33%). Diethylene glycol was identified in 19 bottles of paracetamol, from 7 of 28 brands tested. In the 12 months after a government ban on the sale of paracetamol elixir, new cases of renal failure decreased by 54%, and cases of unexplained renal failure decreased by 84%. CONCLUSION: Paracetamol elixirs with diethylene glycol as a diluent were responsible for a large outbreak of fatal renal failure in Bangladesh.

Mitosis in the oesophageal epithelium of rats during chronic antithyroid treatment with carbimazole.

The mitotic activity of the oesophageal epithelium of male rats maintained under carefully controlled conditions was studied, using the metaphase-arrest agent, vincristine sulphate. The accumulation of metaphases was linear (r = 0.97). In untreated rats there was a clear mitotic rhythm with a peak metaphase index (expressed as a percentage) of 12.4 +/- 0.86 (S.E.M.) at 12.00-15.00 h and a trough of 1.3 +/- 0.35 at 24.00 h. The overall mean metaphase index was 5.4 +/- 0.76. The effect of treatment with the antithyroid agent, carbimazole (0.1 g/100 ml in the drinking water), for 3 weeks was to depress the higher values at 12.00-18.00 h (P less than 0.01), while leaving the overall index unchanged. Carbimazole caused a significant (P less than 0.01), transient 40% increase in the metaphase index after 2 days; thereafter the metaphase index remained at control levels until 12 weeks of treatment when a steady decline occurred until 24 weeks. The results are in contrast to those in previously described experiments on thyroid follicular cells which show a large increase in the first few days of treatment, followed by a steady decline towards control levels at 12 weeks. The metabolic activity of the animals is about 50% of normal at 12 weeks when both the oesophageal epithelium and the thyroid follicular cells begin to show a reduction in proliferative activity.

Sex steroid levels in developing and adult male and female zebra finches (Poephila guttata).

Serum samples from male and female zebra finches ranging in age from 1 day before hatch to 54 days posthatch were assayed for 17 beta-estradiol (E), androgen, testosterone (T), or 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Additional samples were assayed from intact and gonadectomized adults, gonadectomized adults with intraperitoneal implants of testosterone propionate (TP) or estradiol benzoate (EB), gonadectomized nestlings, and nestlings injected subcutaneously with EB. DHT levels of developing birds did not vary as a function of either sex or age. During development, average androgen and T levels were highest during the nestling period, prior to sexual maturation, and were higher in females than in males. Endogenous androgen levels of most subjects that were sampled repeatedly rose and then declined between 24 and 49 days. TP implants produced higher T levels in adult females than in adult males. Levels of E were higher in both sexes during the hatching period (Days -1 through 0) than during the nestling period (Days 2 through 14). A greater number of males than females had relatively high E levels on Days 12 and 14 and during the second week overall. There was no sex difference in levels of E in adults, and gonadectomized adults had markedly higher E levels than intact adults. Gonadectomized nestlings had the same androgen and E levels as intact nestlings of the same age; EB injected nestlings had elevated E levels. The present results indicate specific endocrine changes that mirror events crucial to sexual differentiation of endocrine and behavioral components of reproduction, and have important implications for models of sexual differentiation in zebra finches.

Splenic irradiation as primary therapy for prolymphocytic leukemia.

A patient with prolymphocytic leukemia (PLL), a lymphoproliferative disorder that carries a poor prognosis, is presented. The disease was diagnosed at an early stage and treatment could be delayed for four years. When massive, painful splenomegaly developed, splenic irradiation (SI) was chosen as the primary form of therapy and an excellent systemic response could be achieved. Our observation is in agreement with preliminary studies, which advocate SI as the primary form of therapy in PLL. Furthermore, it is emphasized that an early diagnosis of PLL is necessary to establish its true course and that the prognosis may be better than originally thought.

Effect of coccidiosis on reproductive maturation of male Japanese quail.

The effects of coccidiosis on reproductive development of male Japanese quail were examined. Male Japanese quail were exposed to high (5 x 10(5) sporulated oocysts/quail) or low (5 x 10(3) sporulated oocysts/quail) doses of Eimeria uzura at 16 or 30 days of age and sampled at 37 days. Quail given high doses of coccidia had reduced testes weight and lowered circulating concentrations of androgen compared with control males. Low doses of coccidia did not affect testes weight but did result in elevated plasma androgen levels. There were no differences in average testes weights by 51 days; however, plasma androgen was still reduced in most groups. To study the effects of coccidiosis on egg production, males exposed to high doses of coccidia at 16 (16H) or 30 (30H) days of age were mated with control females, and control males were mated with control or 16H females. The onset of laying was delayed for 5 days in the control male: 16H female group. During the first week of production, eggs from females bred to 30H males had lower fertility and hatchability than those bred to control or 16H males. By the third week of production, levels of fertility were similar. Apparently, exposure of quails to coccidiosis before sexual maturation might result in long-term effects on later reproductive capability.