[Hemorrhagic shock and encephalopathy]

Levin et al. described a new syndrome called haemorrhagic shock and encephalopathy in 1983. The authors present a case report and give an overview about the disease. They summarize the informations published recently.

[The origin of hyperprolactinemia associated with infertility and its treatment with Bromocriptin-Richter tablets]

Authors used the tablet Bromocriptine in 22 cases for the treatment of infertility and in 15 cases for that of extra-puerperal galactorrhoea. The serum-prolactin level of the patients of the two groups remained in 16 cases below and in 13 cases beyond of the upper value of the normal menstrual cycle. It turned out, that the average prolactin-level of patients, treated against infertility, diminished significantly even after one month after the treatment. Between the values of serum FSH, before and after LH treatment there have not been found any significant difference. On the contrary, in the values of serum progesterone and 17-beta-oestradiol significant differences have been observed after treatments of one month as well as of two months duration. On the basis of the results, authors can state, that the prevailing progesterone-level is the adequate indicator of potential fertility. During the treatment of hyperprolactinaemic pathologies eight pregnancies occurred (21.6%). It turned out, that hyperprolactinaemia was the real cause of procured abortion. For the registration of latent hyperprolactinaemia the Cerucal (metoclopramide) load proved to be an adequate diagnostical method.

[Prenatal lead blood levels in a city heavily exposed to lead]

The blood lead concentrations were measured in 38 pregnant women and their newborn babies in a high exposure area. The lead content of human milk was also determined on the 5th day after delivery. The blood lead concentrations were higher than 12 micrograms/100 ml in more than 80 per cent of the samples. The lead content of breast milk was also greater than those of published recently. We found a strong correlation between the blood lead levels of the mothers and the newborns. There was a moderate correlation between the lead concentrations in the blood and the breast milk.

[Chromoendoscopic study of the gastric mucosa]

Chromoendoscopy is an intravital endoscopic mucosa dyeing method. Chromoendoscopical methods suitable for examination of gastric mucosa are described including the steps of premedication as well as the steps of Congo-red and methylene-blue tests. The Congo-red test is capable of estimating the extent of acid-secreting area of gastric mucosa. Large acid secreting areas were found in four-fifth of duodenal ulcer patients with the Congo-red test. An equal ratio of small and large acid-secreting areas was found in gastric ulcer patients. The extent of acid-secreting area decreased parallely with the increase of mucosal atrophy in chronic gastritis patients. Methylene-blue test is suitable for detecting mucosal areas containing intestinal metaplasia and cancer. Intestinal metaplasia was detected histologically in 80% of cases containing mucosal areas stained by methylene-blue test. According to the authors' observations chromoendoscopy is a time consumptive additional method, which requires careful premedication and accurate endoscopic technique. Chromoendoscopy is suitable to detect the accurate places of mucosal biopsies therefore it seems to be a valuable element of morpho-functional diagnostic methods.

[Mass screening of neonates for histidinemia]

The authors report on newborn mass-screening for histidinemia by Guthrie bacterium inhibition assay. 51,618 newborns were screened and 805 cases with more than 5 mg% histidine blood level were found. A second test, urocanic acid thin-layer chromatography was done from these samples. According to these tests no histidinemic patient was detected. It is worth mentioning that blood histidine level exceeded 20 mg% in 55 cases from 805 newborns. Considering our screening results, the low incidence and the relatively good prognosis of the disease, a mass-screening in Hungary is not necessary.

[Morphologic and clinical aspects of chronic gastric erosions]

Chronic erosions of the stomach are mostly papular lesions of the gastric mucosa with large base, 0.5-1 cm in diameter, often with superficial central depression covered with fibrin, less frequently without it. The typical site of lesion is the antrum the chronic erosions are here manifold, solitary forms are infrequent. In the course of 5694 gastroduodenoscopies the authors observed in 198 patients (5.2%) typical endoscopic picture of chronic erosions. In biopsy samples volcano-type lesions of the mucous membrane characteristic of the disease were found. According to the results the chronic erosions of the stomach are lesions of aspecific symptomatology, the disturbance of the mucosal barrier cannot be made probable. It is important to know the morphological characteristics of the rather frequent independent entity also for separating it from adenomas. Malignant transformation was not found in the material of the authors.

[Ph measurement in the stomach and duodenum through endoscopy]

The pH values were measured by means of a flexible glass-electrode through endoscope in the stomach and duodenum. The measuring instrument and technique are described. The luminal and juxtamucosal pH values were determined. The latter indicates the pH value prevailing on the epithelial surface of the viscid mucous layer. The gradient between the two values expresses the hydrogen-ion neutralizing capacity of the viscid mucus on the surface of the mucosa. Quantitative data on the first protective line of the gastric and duodenal mucous membrane may be obtained by measuring it. The pH values at different points of the stomach and duodenum were determined through endoscope in 24 patients with duodenal ulcer and in 15 controls. No significant difference was found between the two groups concerning the gastric luminal pH values, however the luminal pH of the duodenal bulb was significantly lower in patients with duodenal ulcer than that of the controls. In patients with duodenal ulcer the juxtamucosal pH value was significantly lower at several points in the stomach and in the duodenum too as compared to the controls. This refers to the insufficient neutralizing capacity of the viscid mucous layer. The pH measurement performed through endoscope furnishes in a simple way valuable clinical data, it is furthermore the first quantitative method which can be used routine-like for the examination of the barrier function of the viscid mucous surface in the stomach and duodenum of man.

Mass spectrometric characterization of some human metabolites of flumecinol

The mass spectrometric behaviour of six human metabolites formed by hydroxylation in various positions of the alpha-ethyl group or/and on the phenyl ring of 3-trifluoromethyl-alpha-ethyl-benzyhydrol (flumecinol) and seven related compounds has been studied. The electron impact mass (EI) spectra of these compounds show significant and characteristic effects of substituents, but many of them suffer from weakness or even from absence of the M+. peak owing to the very facile primary loss of the alpha-aliphatic chain, i.e. no direct information can be obtained about the size of the molecule and that of this chain. It is demonstrated for derivatives possessing a hydroxylated alpha-ethyl group that the difficulties in structural characterization due to the lack or weakness of M+. and [M + H]+ peaks in their EI and chemical ionization mass spectra, respectively, can be overcome by studying their silyated or boronated derivatives. Furthermore, silyation enables us to obtain a clear base for distinction of the primary and secondary alcohols of this type.

Metabolism of flumecinol in humans

1. The metabolism of 14C-flumecinol (3-trifluoromethyl-alpha-ethyl-benzhydrol) was studied in volunteers after a single oral dose of 100 mg (11.1 MBq; 300 microCi). Radioactivity excreted in urine was 78.8 +/- 6.0% of dose and in faeces was 12.0 +/- 5.3% dose in 120 h. 2. Unchanged flumecinol was not excreted in urine, but was present in faeces unconjugated (1.2% dose) and as conjugates of glucuronic and sulphuric acids (10.8% dose). 3. Enzymic hydrolysis showed that all urinary metabolites were conjugated with glucuronic and/or sulphuric acids (77.8% dose). Unconjugated urinary metabolites were not found. 4. The major route of flumecinol metabolism was hydroxylation of the alkyl side chain and/or the phenyl group followed by conjugation. 5. Both the CF3-group and the skeleton of the original compound remained intact during metabolism.

Psychological effects of chronic haemodialysis

Ninety-four patients, partly on chronic haemodialysis, partly after successful kidney transplantation, were studied. Progress of perceptual performance was followed up by measurements of the reaction time. It is pointed out that accumulation of uraemic toxins causes permanent damage to the central nervous system. The psychological tests revealed behavioural and personality deviations typical of other chronic diseases, the main features being growing anxiety, neuroticitation, sense of inferiority, egocentric attitude, primitive defense reactions, social introversion, distorted image of the ego, etc. Dependence of the patients on the medical or nursing staff and on the dialysing system also favour these symptoms. The uncertain outcome of the illness and the "over-protective" attitude of the close or the more distant milieu also add to the sense of insecurity and uselessness. The need for individual and group psychotherapy is emphasized.

Capsaicin pretreatment reduces the gastric acid secretion elicited by histamine but does not affect the responses to carbachol and pentagastrin

Gastric acid secretion was studied following stimulation with a subcutaneous injection of histamine (0.1, 0.5 or 5 mg/kg), carbachol (4, 40 or 160 micrograms/kg) or pentagastrin (25 or 250 micrograms/kg) in conscious rats pretreated with either capsaicin or the vehicle. The secretory response to histamine (0.5 or 5 mg/kg) was greatly reduced in the capsaicin-treated rats, while the slight effect of 0.1 mg/kg histamine and the increase of secretion in response to carbachol and pentagastrin were not affected. The basal secretion was also normal in the capsaicin-treated rats. It is suggested that unlike the effects of carbachol and pentagastrin, the increase of acid secretion elicited by histamine involves a capsaicin-sensitive mechanism. Since capsaicin is a specific neurotoxin for the peptide-containing primary sensory neurons, the present results may indicate that the neurons contribute essentially to the effect of histamine on gastric acid secretion.

Inhibition of ethanol absorption by butyl-biguanide in rat gastrointestinal tract in vivo

The effect of 1-butyl-biguanide and glibenclamide on the ethanol absorption in the rat gastrointestinal tract has been investigated. Oral administration of biguanide (100 mg/kg) inhibited the appearance of ethanol in the blood following oral ethanol loading. Glibenclamide (10 mg/kg) did not induce any alteration in the blood alcohol concentration as compared with the control's level. Oral biguanide pretreatment did not induce any change in the blood alcohol concentration when ethanol was given i.v. We conclude that 1-butyl-biguanide does exert an inhibitory effect on the absorption of ethyl alcohol in vivo in the rat.

The fate of drotaverine-acephyllinate in rat and man. I. Absorption, distribution and excretion in the rat

Two different labelled forms were used for the pharmacokinetic investigations: the carbon 1 in the isoquinoline ring (Drotaverine-14C-Acephyllinate) and the carboxyl group of theophylline-7-acetic acid (Drotaverine-Acephylline-14C-ate). Drotaverine-14C-Acephyllinate was rapidly absorbed from duodenal and ileal segments. Biliary excretion was substantial after oral administration and radioactivity was excreted mostly in the feces. Absorption of Drotavenine-Acephylline-14-C-ate from the gastrointestinal tract was very poor and radioactivity was therefore excreted for the most part in the feces. The results of the study were confirmed by whole body autoradiography.

Mode of action of photosynthesis inhibiting 4-hydroxy-benzonitriles containing nitro group

The effects of 3,5-disubstituted 4-hydroxy-benzonitriles - bromoxynil and compounds containing nitro group - on some photosynthetic parameters of spinach and wheat were investigated. There is considerable difference in the effectivity of the compounds even at the level of chloroplasts. On the basis of their effect on the development of CO2 fixation of greening wheat seedlings bromoxynil and 3,5-dinitro-4-hydroxy-derivative were ineffective, while the asymmetric - 3-nitro-5-halogenic-substituted - compounds showed a strong effectivity. The bromine and iodine containing asymmetric compounds reduced the intensity of the short wavelength fluorescence. All asymmetric compounds shifted the long wavelength fluorescence maximum with 5-8 nm to shorter wavelength. These results refer to inhibition of formation of chlorophyll forms absorbing at longer wavelengths and to the change in the conditions of energy migration. The ultrastructure of the chloroplasts in the treated seedlings became similar to the shade adapted chloroplasts.

[Correlation between psoriasis and cardiovascular diseases (author's transl)]

18 out of 137 psoriasis-patients had cardio-vascular complications (myocardial infarction: 3, angina pectoris: 5, deep vein thrombosis: 3, superficial thrombophlebitis: 6, sudden death: 1). Predisposing factors may be found, however, the preliminary results reveal that psoriasis does not predispose to cardio-vascular complications by itself. An exception is psoriatic arthritis.