BEHAVIOR, DIET AND GLUCOSURIA OF DIABETIC CHILDREN IN A SUMMER CAMP

Observations were made on 13 pre-adolescent diabetic boys at a summer camp. Glucosuria, hypoglycemia, dietary intake with self-regulated and prescribed diets, emotional adjustment and measures of group structure were recorded and correlated to determine the relationship between psychologic-sociologic factors and metabolic changes in the diabetic state. Average values for glucosuria for the entire group indicated that during the period of a prescribed diet, the per cent glucose in the urine was not statistically different during any of the three periods of the 24 hours. With the self-regulated diet there was a significantly greater per cent glucose in the urine during the day and evening periods than during the night period. The type of diet the boys had received at home did not affect their performance during the two dietary programs. There was less hypoglycemia and a higher per cent glucose in the urine during the day with the self-regulated diet than with the prescribed diet. These differences were significant, with a P value of less than .025. There was no difference in glucosuria during the night collection with the two dietary programs. Well adjusted boys had less of an increase in glucosuria when they went from a prescribed diet to a self-regulated one than did the poorly adjusted boys. The differences in glucosuria were partially correlated with the differences in caloric consumption, the poor adjustors having a greater increase in calories consumed than the good adjustors. These changes did not reach the .05 level of significance. Eating as a preferred activity increased in prominence during the course of the study. Group structure did not become well defined with these boys because of the lack of a cabin-oriented program in the camp, so no correlation could be made between group position and change in glucosuria.

Ruminal flora studies in the sheep. IX. The effect of pH on the ciliate population of the rumen in vivo

Daily infusion of 7, 35, and 70 g of glucose m solution (1, 5, and 10 per cent. of the ration) into the rumen of Merino sheep maintained on an adequate diet resulted in the ruminal pH falling 2–4 hr after feeding, from a mean of 5.66 without added glucose to 5.40 at the higher glucose levels. The concentration of ammonia also decreased, whereas that of volatile fatty acids increased. At the 10 per cent. glucose level, food intake was depressed and the ruminal pH in this treatment did not fall below that at the 5 per cent. glucose level. A significant daily fall in the ruminal pH minima was found during the 3-day sampling period. No consistently significant differences in the concentration of ciliate Protozoa were found at four different sites in the rumen, either before or 1 hr after feeding, although there were significant differences between sheep. Samples taken from the bottom of the rumen immediately inferior to the ruminal cannula, before feeding and 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 16 hr after feeding, showed: (a) Only oligotrichs in the ciliate population; (b) Marked diurnal fluctuation in the ciliate population, the concentration after feeding falling to as low as one-third of the prefeeding levels; (c) A diurnal cycle for dividing Protozoa which indicated that their capacity to multiply was strongly inhibited by the low pH experienced 2–4 hr after feeding. A depression of the average ciliate concentration daily during the 3-day sampling period was also demonstrated. This was related to a consistent but inexplicable fall in the daily ruminal pH minima over this period. It was concluded that the minimum pH within the rumen is an important factor controlling rumen protozoal concentrations in the sheep, and the need for cognizance of this phenomenon in studies of rumen Protozoa is stressed.

The Effect of Alkali Metal, Magnesium, and Calcium Ions on the Motility of Fowl Spermatozoa

Potassium (5-45mM), magnesium (1�5-IS�5mM), and calcium (O�3-2�7mM) chlQrides each increase the viability of fowl spermatozoa in vitro when added to a diluent composed of O� 02M sodium phosphate buffer, 0�5 per cent. sodium chloride, and I� 5 per cent. glucose.

Observations on the Toxic Fractions of Scarlatinal Streptococci

1. Among a series of strains of haemolytic streptococci from thirty-five cases of scarlatina in the first week of illness, fourteen were found to correspond with one or other of Griffith's serological types I, II, III and IV.2. Of these fourteen strains, twelve were selected for further examination and found to yield a true heat-labile exotoxin completely inactivated by heating for 30 min. at 100° C.3. The concentration of exotoxin in 0·5 per cent, glucose broth cultures was at a maximum after 96 hours' incubation, and thereafter on further incubation progressively diminished.4. No qualitative difference could be detected among the exotoxins from the different strains, the test criterion being the dermal reaction in Dick-positive persons.5. Cultures of organisms of the same or different serological type isolated from the same source and thereafter similarly treated yielded approximately equivalent amounts of exotoxin.6. Broth culture filtrates also contained an acid-insoluble toxic fraction, the concentration of which increased with the age of culture and which appeared to be identical with a similar acid-insoluble fraction derived from an alkaline extract of washed bacterial bodies.7. This acid-insoluble fraction was extremely heat-resistant, 3 hours' boiling at 100° C. being required for inactivation. In this respect the acid-insoluble fraction corresponded to the bacterial endotoxins.8. The acid-insoluble fractions from cultures of the same serological type produced equivalent skin reactions in susceptible persons.9. The acid-insoluble fractions from cultures of different serological types differed qualitatively as determined by skin reactions.10. The reaction to crude filtrate was found to be the sum of the reactions to the exotoxin fraction and to the acid-insoluble fraction present in the filtrate.

TEMPERATURE CHARACTERISTICS FOR METABOLISM OF CHLORELLA

The temperature characteristic for the rate of O2 consumption by Chlorella pyrenoidosa suspended in Knop solution containing 1 per cent glucose was studied between 1° and 27°C. with the Warburg technic. The value of µ was found to be about 19,000 ±1,000 cal. There is some indication of a critical temperature at 20°C., with shift to a lower µ above this temperature. The effect of sudden changes in temperature on the rate of respiration and the variation of the latter with time at constant temperatures are discussed. It is concluded that the "normal" respiration (in absence of external glucose) does not appear in the determination of this temperature characteristic.

THE EFFECT OF SODIUM CHLORIDE ON THE CHEMICAL CHANGES IN THE BLOOD OF THE DOG AFTER OBSTRUCTION OF THE CARDIAC END OF THE STOMACH

A study is reported of the effect of different methods of treatment on the toxemia of cardiac obstruction. The average duration of life of untreated dogs is 3 days. Three dogs treated with 1 per cent salt solution subcutaneously lived 32, 36, and 45 days respectively without developing a toxemia. 2 per cent glucose similarly given, does not alter the course of the toxemia. Concentrated salt solution in small quantities given directly into the jejunum prevents the marked rise in non-protein nitrogen but does not materially prolong life. Release of the obstruction does not change the course of the toxemia in untreated animals. The subcutaneous injection of 1 per cent sodium chloride solution after release of the obstruction causes a rapid return of the blood to normal and allows the animal to recover. A similar amount of fluid given as 2 per cent glucose does not alter the course of the toxemia after release of the obstruction.