A potent inhibitor of cell proliferation in "middle molecules" isolated from the urine of uremic patients

A potent inhibitor of cell proliferation was found in the urine of a patient with chronic renal failure. This substance included in "middle molecules" (MM) fraction, was obtained by chromatography. This factor was shown to inhibit noticeably the proliferation of various cells : lymphocytes stimulated by allogeneic cells, monolayer cell lines of normal or tumorous origin and leukemic cell lines derived from acute lymphoblastic leukemia. This effect was reversible and thus could not be related to a direct, rapid cytotoxic effect of MM. Such substances could play an important part in uremic symptoms, such as immunodeficiency, anemia, thrombopenia, gastrointestinal or skin manifestations.

Effect of inducers and inhibitors of monooxygenase on the hydroxylation of prostaglandins in the guinea pig. Evidence for several monooxygenases catalyzing omega- and omega-1-hydroxylation

The incubation of prostaglandins (PG's) with liver microsomes from guinea pigs treated with inducers of monooxygenase (1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT), benzo[alpha]pyrene (benzpyrene), or a mixture of chlorinated biphenyls (Aroclor 1254)) exhibited marked elevation of 19-hydroxylation of PGE1, PGE2, PGA1, and PGA2 without affecting significantly 20-hydroxylation. However, with respect to effects on hydroxylation of a variety of xenobiotics, benzpyrene and Aroclor treatments differed markedly; whereas Aroclor treatment elevated the demethylation of ethylmorphine, benzphetamine, and p-chloro-N-methylaniline (PCMA), benzpyrene treatment had no effect on demethylation of ethylmorphine and only a marginal effect on that of PCMA. Both inducers elevated benzpyrene hydroxylation. By contrast, treatment with phenobarbital did not affect the hepatic microsomal PG's hydroxylation, although the hydroxylation of benzpyrene and the demethylation of ethylmorphine, benzphetamine, and PCMA were enhanced. Also, the hydroxylation of PG's by kidney cortex microsomes was not affected by either benzpyrene or Aroclor treatment. Inhibitors of monooxygenase were used to help delineate the type of monooxygenases induced. At low levels of alpha-naphthoflavone (ANF), benzpyrene hydroxylation in control- and Aroclor-treated guinea pigs was only little affected; by contrast, the same concentration of ANF markedly inhibited benzpyrene hydroxylation in benzpyrene-treated guinea pigs. On the other hand, metyrapone was most inhibitory in control guinea pigs. Support for the conclusion that benzpyrene induces in the guinea pig a hepatic monooxygenase with different characteristics than that found in control animals was provided by the observation that ANF (10 MICROM) inhibited PGE1 hydroxylation more pronouncedly in liver microsomes from benzpyrene-treated than from Aroclor-treated guinea pigs or controls. In addition, in benzpyrene and Aroclor-treated guinea pigs, ANF inhibited the (omega-1)-hydroxylation more pronouncedly than that of omega-hydroxylation. By contrast, metyrapone appeared to inhibit omega-hydroxylation more effectively than (omega-1)-hydroxylation. These results indicate that in the guinea pig, hydroxylation of PG's at the omega (20-) and omega-1 (19-) positions is catalyzed by different monooxygenases and that the inducers tested affect several hepatic monooxygenases with different specificities toward xenobiotics; however, with respect to PG's only the enzyme(s) involved in the 19-hydroxylation is affected.

Anti-inflammatory and platelet anti-aggregant activity of phospholipase-A2 inhibitors

Mepacrine, papaverine, p-bromophenacyl bromide and 2,3-dibromo(4'-cyclohexyl-3'-chloro)-phenyl-4-oxo-butyric acid (CB 874) inhibit the hydrolysis of phospholipids induced by thrombin in dog platelets. They also exhibit anti-inflammatory and anti-aggregant properties. These biological activities may be explained by a direct or indirect inhibitory action on phospholipase A2. Phospholipase A2 inhibitors may block not only the release of arachidonic acid and its subsequent conversion into prostaglandins but also the formation of lysophospholipids involved in inflammation and/or platelet aggregation.

[Vitamin B2 deficiency and total parenteral nutrition]

A 15 year old adolescent with Crohn's disease who received total parenteral nutrition for three months developed riboflavin deficiency. The aetiology, the clinical picture and the method of diagnosis of this unusual deficiency are reviewed. The importance of an adequate intake of vitamin B2 and the other B group vitamins, particularly in the malnourished, is emphasied.

[Supply of vitamin A, E, C, B 12 and folates during total parenteral nutrition in pediatrics]

Serum vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin B12, folate and leucocyte vitamin C were measured in 45 patients between the ages of one month and 2 1/2 years who were receiving total parenteral nutrition. After allowing for variations in intake the following recommendations are made: Vitamin A (central vein) 2,500 i.u./day (peripheral vein) 1,000 - 1,500 i.u./day. Vitamin E (peripheral vein) 0.8 mg/kg/day, Vitamin B12 (central vein) 0.8 - 1 microgram/day, Folate (central vein) 10 - 80 microgram/day, Vitamin C (central vein) 25 mg/day.

[The treatment of Crohn's disease in the child. 12 cases (author's transl)]

Therapeutic aspects of Crohn's disease in pediatrics are discussed. New renutrition techniques are pointed out: total parenteral nutrition in 4 cases, and constant rate enteral nutrition in 6 cases (with elemental diet). In association with anti-anflammatory and anti-bacterial drugs results seemed very remarkable: in all cases, dramatic clinical recovery, and even radiologic improvement. In two cases surgery appeared to be defered after more than one year of evolution.

[Obstinate diarrhea in infants. A review of 84 cases]

Eighty-four cases of obstinate severe diarrhoea in infants are reported. Criteria for clinical and biological severity are precised. Histological examination of the small bowel was performed in 57 cases; a total atrophy of intestinal villi was found in only 33% of the cases during the first 3 months. Exclusive parenteral feeding, from the beginning or after failure of enteral feeding was given to 71 infants. Later on, enteral renutrition at constant flow, was administered, after simple preparation, in most cases. Seventeen died out of 84 infants, 7 of them within 2 weeks. For the others, the average time for recovery was 4 months. The conditions of prevention of obstinate severe diarrhoea in infancy are emphasized.

[Pancreatico-peritoneal fistula in the newborn infant revealed by a hemorrhagic ascites]

Chronic haemorrhagic ascites in an infant is reported. After much hesitation without a definite diagnosis the first laparotomy was carried out and the estimation of amylase, lipase and proteolytic enzyme activities in the ascitic fluid suggested a pancreatic origin for the ascites. This was conformed at a second laparotomy when the condition was correted. This emphasises the importance of the estimation of pancreatic enzymes in unexplained ascites in children.

Ambient temperature of hypoxia: a differential study of liver catalase and cytochrome oxidase in guinea pig

The activities of liver catalase and cytochrome oxidase have been determined in sea-level and high-altitude native guinea pigs exposed to different ambient temperatures. The activities of both of these enzymatic systems have been found to increase as ambient temperature is reduced, and this occurs in the sea-level and the high-altitude animals. At equal temperatures, cytochrome oxidase activity is identical in the liver of guinea pigs from sea-level and high-altitude. Catalase activity is approximately 50% lower in the high-altitude animals than in the sea-level ones maintained at the same ambient temperature. It is necessary to reassess current data on hypoxia-induced enzymatic and hormonal changes measured under conditions where the ambient temperature was not controlled, especially in those cases involving volunteer human subjects.

["In vitro" effect of medium size molecules on lymphocyte proliferation (author's transl)]

Eluates from uremic sera were obtained by chromatography on sephadex G 25. They were assayed on lymphocytes cultured in the presence of various stimulants. Lymphocyte proliferation induced by mitogens or allogeneic cells was markedly inhibited in the presence of medium size molecules (MM), or of larger molecules (MW greater than 5000).

[Digestive intolerance to cow's milk proteins in infants. Clinical study of 42 cases]

The criteria chosen for the diagnosis of gastro-intestinal intolerance to cow milk proteins were the following: occurrence of shock or anaphylaxis, reccurrence of gastro-intestinal symptoms as a consequence of repeated trials of reintroduction of cow milk proteins into the diet. Under these conditions the transient forms, including the secondary forms, of intolerance to cow milk, were eliminated. This diagnostic attitude may explain the early appearance of gastro-intestinal disturbances, the higher frequency in infancy than in childhood of the severe forms, characterized by shock, subacute malabsorption, exsudative enteropathy, bloody diarrhea, the authors are describing in their study report.

Inhibitory effect of medium sized molecules from patients with renal failure on lymphocyte stimulation by phytohemagglutinin

Middle molecular weight molecules were separated from uremic sera by chromatography on Sephadex G25 fine and assayed on lymphocyte cultures stimulated by phytohemagglutinin. They were found to inhibit markedly the cell proliferation by this mitogen, and this inhibition was still noticeable when cells were incubated for only one hour with eluate, before the culture. These molecules, as well as methylguanidine, might play a part in the cell-mediated immunodeficiency secondary to renal failure.

Small intestinal biopsy in cows milk protein allergy in infancy

Intestinal biopsies were performed in 31 infants with cow's milk protein intolerance. Mucosal damage was constant, partial villous atrophy being the most usual finding. Though these changes are nonspecific, small intestinal biopsy can be a useful investigation in these patients. With a milk-free diet, recovery of normal mucosal appearence is reached between 3 and 13 months.

Additional data on hepatic function tests in cystic fibrosis

Fifty cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, of whom 9 had multilobular cirrhosis, were observed regularly for a period of 3 years and various liver function tests, indicating cytolysis, cholestasis and cellular insufficiency were performed. Immunoglobulin and prothrombin were assayed. In 9 patients with cirrhosis, the tests were generally abnormal. Two distinct biochemical patterns of cirrhosis were distinguished, one clearly cholestatic and the other of a more cellular type. The distinction was made on the basis of the IgA : Transferrin ratio and of gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase levels. In the non-cirrhotic patients, a temporary increase of cytolysis and cholestasis was observed in 50% of the cases.

Acute renal insufficiency in the rabbit by glycerol

The appearance of an acute renal insufficiency in the rabbit, after glycerol injection (10, 13 or 15 ml/kg of a 50% solution) is investigated. After a 24 hours of intoxication, especially in the ten following days, cylinders, erythrocytes and renal cells appear in the urine sediment. Proteinuria appears after 24 hours and practically disappears after 72 h. Glucosuria persists from 24 hours to 6 days. Haemoglobinuria is intense after 24 and 48 hours and persists slightly about 6 days. Na, K and Cl elimination in urine diminishes clearly in all animals. Plasma K increases in non-surviving animals and does not change in those surviving. Plasma Na does not change in the dying ones, and decreases in those surviving. In non-surviving animals, pH, pCO2 and CO3H minus decrease sharply. In the surviving ones pCO2 decreases clearly after 24 hours, increasing afterwards slowly to normal values. pH increases, slightly during the first 48 hours, and then neatly during approximately 6 days. Standard CO2H minus does not change during the first 48 hours, increasing afterwards during 6 to 7 days. Histologically, the chief lesion is a vacuolar degeneration of the proximal tubule. The possible mechanisms of such alterations are discussed.

Pattern of spatial distribution in Drosophila melanogaster

The effect of temperature and sex on spatial distribution of Drosophila melanogaster adults was studied in a specially designed apparatus. It was observed that individuals tend to aggregate in sections of the sphere independently of sex and temperature. Nevertheless, decrease in temperature increase aggregation. The mobility of both males and females indicates a negative geotactic tendency.