Janes, Joseph M.

Puppies in the second half of their growing period have been observed for one and a half to four and a half months after creation of a superficial femoral arteriovenous fistula on the right side. From measurements of the whole bone and from microradiographic and tetracycline-fluorophore studies of the diaphysial bone, it is believed that the following statistically significant phenomena may be attributed to the influence of the arteriovenous fistula. 1. All bones distal to the fistula are influenced in their growth. The tibia and metatarsals become heavier and larger, but retain normal shape. Although stimulation of longitudinal growth is small, it is significant for the tibiae and nearly significant for the femora in these short-term experiments. 2. The histological structure of the bones remains normal but quantitative changes are induced. The compact bone is more porous because of an increased number of osteones. Haversian turnover itself is affected in that the individual formation time of osteones tends to become longer, especially in the metatarsals. 3. Periosteal new bone formation is immediately stimulated, producing a flare of new bone. This accounts for the increase in diaphysial weight in the tibia but not in the metatarsals, where the same effect results from decreased resorption of old bone. 4. Endosteal new bone formation is depressed, especially in the metatarsals, resulting in an enlarged medullary cavity.

The method of producing osteogenic sarcoma in rabbits by the injection of beryllium in the form of "zinc beryllium silicate" is presented. In five of ten animals which had such injections, osteogenic sarcomas developed several months later. There was new bone formation in the medullary cavities of the long bones before malignant changes were apparent. It is of particular interest to note that there was atrophy of the spleen in those animals in which bone tumours developed, whereas the spleen seemed to be quite normal in the rabbits which did not develop bone tumours. The tumours usually developed in the metaphysial regions. More than one tumour often developed in the same animal.

The case history of a patient with apparent spontaneous rupture of the posterior tibial artery is presented, with a brief review of the previously reported cases.

This case of atherosclerotic aneurysm of the popliteal artery is of interest because the patient was a man 35 years old and because the condition was discovered only because palpation of the peripheral arteries was included as a part of routine examination. Only after the aneurysm had been found was a history of intermittent claudication elicited. The indications for the surgical treatment of popliteal aneurysms are discussed.

The present series of experiments was undertaken in an effort to delineate those aspects of ultrasonic irradiation that might be destructive to malignant tumors of bone. The experiments were performed on rabbits having Vx-2 carcinoma implanted within the tibias. In preliminary, experiments, it was shown that the destructive effect of ultrasound on normal bone and on the circulation through normal bone was probably primarily due to heat. In the current series of experiments, it was shown that the heating of the bone was critically dependent on the exact location of the focus of the ultrasonic transducer within the rabbit leg. Our experiments suggested that (1) exposure of Vx-2 carcinoma to a temperature of 50°C for at least 10 min is sufficient to destroy the transmissible characteristics of this tumor, (2) exposure of Vx-2 carcinoma to ultrasonic fields with intense cavitation (applied in the absence of heat) has an effect that is far less than that of heating to 50°C for 10 min, and (3) controlled ultrasonic heating can increase the temperature of a bone to levels sufficient to destroy tumor growth within the bone.