Interaction of small dermatan sulfate proteoglycan from fibroblasts with fibronectin

Immunogold labeling was used to localize the core protein of small dermatan sulfate proteoglycan (DS-PG) on the surface of cultured human fibroblasts. At 4 degrees C, DS-PG core protein was uniformly distributed over the cell surface. At 37 degrees C, gold particles either became rearranged in form of clusters or remained associated with fibrils. Double-label immunocytochemistry indicated the co-distribution of DS-PG core protein and fibronectin in the fibrils. In an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, binding of DS-PG from fibroblast secretions and of its core protein to fibronectin occurred at pH 7.4 and at physiological ionic strength. Larger amounts of core protein than of intact proteoglycan could be bound. Fibronectin peptides containing either the heparin-binding domain near the COOH-terminal end or the heparin-binding NH2 terminus were the only fragments interacting with DS-PG and core protein. Competition and replacement experiments with heparin and dermatan sulfate suggested the existence of adjacent binding sites for heparin and DS-PG core protein. It is hypothesized that heparan sulfate proteoglycans and DS-PG may competitively interact with fibronectin.

Histamine stimulates progesterone synthesis and cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate accumulation in isolated preovulatory rat follicles

The effect of histamine on progesterone synthesis and cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) accumulation was studied in superfused and incubated follicles dissected free from immature rats treated with pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG). Histamine, like LH, increased the progesterone synthesis, but to a smaller extent. The H2-antagonist, cimetidine, inhibited completely the histamine-induced progesterone increase while the H1-antagonist, pyrilamine, as well as propranolol and atropine did not affect the initial response but modified its duration. The specific H2-agonist, 4-methylhistamine, but not the H1-agonist, 2-methylhistamine, mimicked the effect of histamine on progesterone synthesis. In the presence of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor, IBMX, histamine increased tissue levels of cAMP. These results suggest that histamine stimulates progesterone synthesis via the H2-receptor with cAMP acting as secondary intracellular messenger.

[Clozapine-induced cholestatic liver lesions. A case study]

During neuroleptic treatment with clozapine, transitory reversible rise in transaminases is not rare, while severe parenchymal damage with icterus has not previously been reported. Such a case is now described: a 54-year-old woman developed clozapine-induced cholestasis with severe liver damage.

[Spontaneous variability of ventricular extrasystoles: criteria for validating anti-arrhythmia therapy in relation to the length of the control interval]

Calculations about the variability of PVCs are usually based upon the results of two Holter ECGs, either successive ones or separated by a short interval. No studies are available indicating whether the criteria calculated for short control intervals also holds true when evaluating chronic antiarrhythmic treatment over longer control periods. This study was performed to investigate the influence of the length of the control interval on the spontaneous variability and thus on the reduction of PVCs required to secure an antiarrhythmic effect. In a prospective study, 444 ambulatory ECGs were obtained in 90 patients with CAD or IDC and untreated ventricular arrhythmia of Lown grade IV. Patient follow-up was carried out over an average of 181 +/- 297 days. The degree of arrhythmia was expressed as the mean hourly PVC rate. The variability of PVC counts between two Holter ECGs was defined as the logarithm of the quotient PVCday 2(n + 1)/PVCday 1(n + 1). The spontaneous distribution of variability quotients was defined separately (mean +/- 2 SD) for each of four ranges of control intervals (0-6 days, 7-89 days, 90-364 days, greater than or equal to 365 days). The per cent reduction (R) in PVC frequency necessary to establish drug efficacy, was calculated according to the formula R (%) = 10(0)-10(-2SD) X 100, whereas the percentage change necessary to prove aggravation of arrhythmia (A) was assessed by the formula A (%) = 10(0)+10(+2SD X 100. R increased from 63% (0-6 days), 81% (7-89 days), 93% (90-364 days) to 98% (greater than or equal to 365 days).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

In vitro fertilization and embryo transfer as a treatment for male factor infertility

In vitro fertilization was attempted in 25 consecutive cycles as a treatment for male factor infertility. These cycles were compared with 25 control cycles in which a male factor was not present. The fertilization rates for mature oocytes in male factor cases and controls were 17% and 70%, respectively (P less than 0.001). For immature oocytes, the fertilization rates for study patients and controls, respectively, were 16% and 57% (P less than 0.001). Embryos were available for transfer in 36% of study cycles and in 88% of control cycles (P less than 0.01). The pregnancy per transfer rate for study cycles was 33% and for control cycles was 32%. The hamster ova penetration assay was 100% specific and 50% sensitive in predicting fertilization in vitro among male factor patients.

Alteration by histamine of the sympathetic nerve-mediated contractions in the bovine ovarian follicle wall in vitro

The histaminergic effect on electrically induced contractions and tritium release was studied in vitro, using strips from the wall of mature bovine ovarian follicles. Follicular fluid and blood plasma from the animals were analysed for electrolyte, bicarbonate, glucose and total protein concentrations in order to compare them with the concentrations of these components in the Krebs-Ringer solution used in the experiments. Electrical field stimulation (EFS) of the follicle strip caused a contraction which was completely blocked by tetrodotoxin and was predominantly of adrenergic origin since phentolamine, in contrast to atropine, blocked the response. The neurogenic response was inhibited by histamine in a concentration-dependent way via the H1-receptor since the H1-antagonist, pyrilamine, counteracted the inhibitory effect of histamine while the H2-antagonist, cimetidine, potentiated the effect. This histaminergic response of EFS-induced contractions could be reproduced in experiments where the H1-agonist, 2-methylhistamine, was inhibitory while the H2-agonist, 4-methylhistamine, had no obvious influence on the twitch response. Histamine reduced the contractile response to exogenous noradrenaline via the H1-receptor, because pyrilamine counteracted, and cimetidine potentiated the effect. The histamine-induced depression of the motor response to EFS and exogenous noradrenaline was probably due to a postjunctional effect mediated by the H1-receptor. Experiments utilizing [3H]noradrenaline release during EFS did not suggest prejunctional effects of histamine. Chemical determinations on follicle fluid and plasma showed that the artificial follicular fluid imitated well the environmental conditions the follicle wall is exposed to in situ.

[Functional significance of lung siderosis in electrode welders]

56 electric arc welders found in a cross-sectional study to show pulmonary siderosis in full size x-rays were clinically examined. Looking for the discussed functional, relevance of such lung diseases in welders the diagnostic program included spirometry, flow-volume-curves, body-plethysmography, single breath diffusion capacity, pulmonary compliance and ergooxytensiometry. The results are supporting that "lung siderosis" in welders is associated with slight functional deterioration in the type of interstitial lung diseases.

[Syncopes of unclear etiology. Diagnosis, follow-up observation and pacemaker therapy]

Clinical findings after syncopal attacks were evaluated in 295 inpatients for examining their clinical significance and the course and prognosis in syncopes of unclear aetiology. This was done after having defined the criteria for "very probable" and "possible" causes of the syncopes. A "typically rhythmogenic" anamnesis had a sensitivity rating of 79%. Long-term ECG proved the most frequent contribution to clarification. Doppler examination of the carotid artery was hardly relevant. Patients with tachycardia usually suffered from cardiac disease (coronary heart disease or cardiomyopathy). Bradycardia predominated in patients with a clinically "healthy" heart, especially in elderly patients. An overall percentage of 37% of the cases could not be clarified despite thorough clinical examination using all available diagnostic tools. Follow-ups over two years and outpatient examinations revealed a favourable prognosis in patients whose syncopes had remained unexplained: No further syncopes had occurred in 75% of these patients over a period of two years. In 12% of the subjects the cause was identified by the follow-up examinations. In 95.5% of the patients subjected to pacemaker treatment no syncopes recurred. A relatively small proportion (19.5%) of the patients with unclarified syncopes continued to suffer from syncopes, the aetiology of which could not be determined during the 2-year follow-up period. This group of patients would require better diagnostic techniques, e.g. long-term ECGs over several days or long-term EEGs.

Physiological pacing: present status and future developments

With the increasing tendency to implant pacemakers not only for life-threatening bradycardias but also for improving cardiodynamics in patients with bradycardia, it soon became apparent that classical VVI pacing is not truly able to optimize circulatory performance. Experience has shown that with ventricular pacing augmentation of cardiac output takes place only initially but is not maintained on a long-term basis, exercise capacity remains markedly reduced, there is only an unsatisfactory influence on the degree and course of heart failure and, in an occasional patient, cardiac function may even deteriorate as compared to the situation prior to pacing. Because the disappointing hemodynamic effect of fixed rate ventricular stimulation was at least partly due to the "unphysiological" mode of pacing provided by those systems which fail to restore AV synchrony and to increase heart rate with changing metabolic requirements, so called physiological pacemakers were developed. These pacing systems either maintain AV-synchrony and/or reestablish some way to adapt the pacing rate (Table I). This study delineates the hemodynamics of the paced heart with special reference to the role of AV relationship and rate control; it describes the clinical experience with physiological pacing and provides some ideas leading to present and future developments for rate adaptive pacing systems.

On the viscosity behaviour of field bean protein isolates in dependence on their degree of acetylation

The increase of apparent viscosity when protein concentration is raised becomes more and more distinctly pronounced with an increasing degree of acetylation and is displaced at lower protein concentrations. Investigations of the influence of temperature on viscosity behaviour are therefore carried out on the basis of comparable initial viscosity. 20 min heat treatment at different temperatures shows that above 40 degrees C the order of magnitude of the temperature-induced increase in viscosity depends decisively on the degree of acetylation. With an increasing degree of acetylation there is a comparably stronger increase in viscosity. An increase of viscosity is also linked to increasing duration of the heat treatment. The higher the degree of acetylation, the greater--related to a defined duration of heat treatment--is the growth of viscosity. During the heating phase in cyclical temperature tests a viscosity maximum is formed at 60 degrees C, which becomes more and more distinctly pronounced with an increasing degree of acetylation. From computerised evaluation of flow curves it is generally established that the complexity of flow properties increases with increasing degree of acetylation, increasing concentration of protein and the effect of heat.

[Computer-assisted identification of basic substances]

The potential applications of a personal computer with integrated database software in toxicologic analysis are discussed. A toxicologic database including 370 basic compounds, is presented that was built up without knowledge of a higher programming language and was used as a base for drug identification in normal analysis by PC, DC and GC.

Inhibitory effect of nifedipine on cholecystokinin-induced gallbladder contraction in man

A prospective study was performed on seven male and eight female patients with normal hepatobiliary findings to investigate the effect of 20 mg nifedipine on cholecystokinin-induced gallbladder contraction. Each patient received 1 IDU (Ivy dog unit) cholecystokinin per kg body weight intravenously on two consecutive days, with additional administration of 20 mg nifedipine sublingually on the second day. Gallbladder volumes were assessed by ultrasonography over a period of 25 minutes. Cholecystokinin induced a maximal reduction in the mean initial volume of 56.8 +/- 3.6%. After nifedipine, this volume change was significantly reduced to 30.9 +/- 5.1% (p less than 0.001). Thus our data suggest for the first time that the calcium-channel-blocking agent nifedipine can have an effect on human gallbladder kinetics.

Methimazole-associated cholestatic liver injury: case report and brief literature review

The authors report a further case of methimazole-associated liver damage and present a brief review of eleven previous cases found in the literature. The main clinical features of this 58-year-old female patient were laboratory evidence of leucopenia and cholestasis, and biopsy features of fatty liver parenchyma degeneration with granulocytic portal infiltration and bile stasis, demonstrated 20 days after the initiation of antithyroid therapy with 20 mg methimazole daily. An immediate cholestatic liver reaction was also provoked by drug rechallenge, with spontaneous amelioration of signs and symptoms after drug discontinuation.

[Fatal poisoning by protriptyline and haloperidol following an extreme overdose]

In this paper the authors report on a case of lethal suicidal toxification with protriptyline and haloperidol after oral ingestion. Gas chromatographic and radioimmunologic investigations were used for quantitative determination of protriptyline and haloperidol in blood, urine, and tissues. The highest concentrations were found in lung and liver. These concentrations are discussed with reference to the cause of death.