Effect of intravenous alfacalcidol on lymphocyte phenotyping in hemodialysis patients

Chronic renal failure is associated with decreased production of active vitamin D and also results in altered lymphocyte population. We studied the effect of alfacalcidol on lymphocyte phenotype. There were 15 patients (10 males, 5 females) with a mean age of 54.3+/-14.4 years who had been on chronic maintenance haemodialysis for a mean period of 3.2+/-1.5 years. Intravenous alfacalcidol was given three times weekly during dialysis for a duration of 6 months. Our results show a significant increase in NK cells from 0.20+/-0.12 to 0.27+/-0.28 (P=0.001), without a significant change in CD2, CD19, CD4, CD8 population, and CD4/CD8 ratio.

Neurological disorders in renal transplant recipients

The charts of 175 renal transplant recipients were retrospectively reviewed. The mean duration of follow up since the transplantation was 4.17 +/- 1.66 years. Apart from cyclosporin induced tremor, which occurred almost in all patients, 22 patients (12.5%) had neurological disorders during their follow up (mean annual incidence of 3%). Eight patients had epileptic seizures, seven had strokes, four had neurological infections, two developed a pseudotumor cerebri syndrome, two neuropathies, one myopathy and one conus medullaris infarction. This study demonstrates that neurological disorders are not uncommon in renal transplant recipients and that their mechanisms are variable and may be related to the underlying diseases such as hypertension and diabetes; to the operation itself; to the side effects of immunosuppression agents or rarely, they can accompany graft rejection.

Hepatitis G virus infection in lymphoma and in blood donors

AIMS

To determine whether the recently described flavivirus, hepatitis G virus (HGV), might contribute to the pathogenesis of lymphoma by testing for the presence of HGV RNA in sera from patients attending lymphoma clinics; to compare the incidence of HGV RNA in lymphoma patients with that in normal blood donors; and to look for potential risk factors for HGV infection and for evidence of hepatic disease in the HGV positive patients.

METHODS

Sera were examined from 76 patients with lymphoma and 100 blood donors for the presence of HGV RNA using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTS

HGV RNA was detected in 10% of patients' sera, but only in 1% of blood donor samples. HGV infection was found in patients with various different types of lymphoma, including Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The majority (75%) of patients who were HGV PCR positive had undergone transfusion, but only 30% of those who were HGV PCR negative had received blood products. In addition, the number of donor exposures per HGV positive patient was approximately twice that of the HGV negative group.

CONCLUSIONS

The data suggest (1) that HGV is present in the normal blood donor population; (2) that patients with lymphoma are at risk of acquiring HGV because of their exposure to blood products; and (3) that persistent HGV infection does not appear to cause serious liver disease in these patients.

Ceruminous gland neoplasia

Ceruminous glands are modified sweat glands, confined to the skin lining of the cartilaginous part of the external auditory meatus. Tumours arising from these glands are extremely rare. Confusion exists regarding the nomenclature 'ceruminoma' and controversies prevail on the standard way of management. Treatment often involves a multidisciplinary approach, requiring reconstruction after extensive surgical resection. A case report of adenoid cystic carcinoma of ceruminous glands is presented along with discussion of the various pathological types and a review of management.

Absence status: an overlooked cause of acute confusion in hemodialysis patients

Epileptic seizures are a known complication of uremia, but non-convulsive seizures appear to be rare. We describe a patient with absence status presenting with acute confusion who responded well to intravenous diazepam. Attention is drawn to this rare cause of acute confusional state in the hemodialysis population.

Doppler ultrasound evaluation of hemodialysis vascular access

Brescia-Cimino arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) ad synthetic grafts are the usual forms of vascular accesses for hemodialysis. Although angiography has been the traditional means of imaging these vascular systems, colour Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) offers a non-invasive method of evaluating AVF dysfunction. We retrospectively evaluated 22 patients with clinical evidence of access dysfunction who were studied by CDFI and of whom 14 also underwent angiography. We analyzed the results of whom the 14 patients who had both CDFI and angiography as angiography was impossible in the remaining eight patients due to difficulty with cannulation. Eight patient had thrombosis on CDFI and angiopraphy in all eight patients confirmed these findings. CDFI showed six stenoses, all of which were proven on angiopraphy. Overall,, CDFI correctly identified all lesions that were seen angiographically ginging a sensitivity and specifificity of 100%. Moreover, CDFI detected two cases of pseudoaneurysms which were missed by angiography. CDFI provides an adequate means of evaluating AVF dysfunction and should be the initial imaging technique of choice.

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for systemic AL amyloidosis

Low-intensity chemotherapy is ineffective in most patients with AL amyloidosis, probably because clinical benefit requires regression of the amyloid deposits, and this occurs only very gradually after the underlying plasma cell dyscrasia has been suppressed. We report the first successful allogeneic bone marrow transplant (allo-BMT) for AL amyloidosis, which after 3 years was associated with complete clinical recovery. This supports the idea that there may be a brief window of opportunity in patients with AL amyloidosis during which dose-intensive chemotherapy is feasible and most likely to produce clinical benefit.

Hereditary multiple glomangiomas

Hereditary multiple glomangiomas are an interesting rare problem which can either present as multiple painful cutaneous lesions or, rarely, a cosmetic challenge due to site, size or number of lesions. It may also pose a diagnostic dilemma, which can only be settled by biopsy. Malignant change in glomangioma is extremely rare and only a few cases are well documented in literature. A case report of this condition, along with extensive review of the literature, is presented. The prognosis of various forms of glomangiomas and efficacy of diagnostic and therapeutic tools is discussed.

The use of an all oral chemotherapy (idarubicin and etoposide) in the treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia in the elderly: a report of toxicity and efficacy

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is predominantly a disease of the elderly but such patients are not always appropriate candidates for intensive intravenous (i.v.) based treatment regimens. The development of the anthracycline idarubicin which is highly effective in the treatment of AML and is active when given orally has made it possible to design anti-leukaemic regimens which may be given orally and be particularly useful in those elderly patients with AML considered unsuitable for standard intensive aggressive treatments. We have assessed an oral regimen combining idarubicin 30 mg/m2 and etoposide 80 mg/m2 for 3 consecutive days as initial treatment in 28 elderly patients with AML (median age 69 years, range 56-81) who were not considered suitable for more intensive i.v. chemotherapy schedules. Following informed consent, two patients died before treatment began and one patient withdrew prior to treatment. Twenty-five patients underwent one to four courses of treatment. The schedule was well tolerated with minor nonhaematological toxicity. The first course was given in hospital, eight of 21 subsequent courses of treatment were given entirely as an out-patient. Eleven patients responded to treatment with nine (36%) achieving complete remission (CR). The median survival for all patients was 3 months, but for the nine who achieved a CR it is 9 months with six patients still alive, five in first CR and one in second CR. We conclude that a combination of idarubicin and etoposide given orally as first-line treatment in elderly patients with AML is safe and effective. In some patients this means treatment and follow-up can be given entirely on an out-patient basis.

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis associated with nephrotic syndrome in cholesterol atheroembolism: clinicopathological correlations

To better characterize the heavy proteinuria occasionally described in cholesterol atheroembolic renal disease (CAE), we reviewed the clinical features and histological findings of 24 patients found at renal biopsy to have CAE. Twelve (50%) had a typical clinical presentation soon after an invasive vascular procedure. Eight (33%) underwent biopsies to evaluate proteinuria and four (17%) with insidiously developing renal failure to exclude rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. All had usual and similar risk factors for CAE; 71% were male, 96% had peripheral vascular disease, 79% had recently undergone an invasive vascular procedure, 74% were hypercholesterolemic, and all were hypertensive. Proteinuria was higher and serum creatinine lower in the proteinuria group. In the nine (38%) nephrotic patients, serum creatinine measurements were lower (2.7 +/- 1.2 v 5.6 +/- 2.4 mg/dL), duration of renal disease to biopsy longer, and time from biopsy to dialysis greater (23.5 +/- 14.8 v 0.03 +/- 0.098 mo, P < 0.05 for all). Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) was observed in 15 (63%) of the biopsy specimens. Although FSGS itself did not occur more commonly in nephrotic patients, these patients did have a higher fraction of segmentally sclerosed glomeruli (0.158 +/- 0.097 v 0.026 +/- 0.050, P < 0.01). A variant of FSGS, the cellular lesion with epithelial cell prominence and capillary loop collapse, was observed in 7 of 9 (78%) patients with nephrotic-range proteinuria, but in only 3 of 12 (25%) patients with lesser degrees of protein excretion (P < 0.05). The cellular lesion was accompanied by higher mean proteinuria, 7.6 +/- 4.3 versus 2.1 +/- 2.4 g/24 hr (P < 0.01). In a larger group of patients with a similar age range as the CAE group who were identified by search of a computerized biopsy database, membranous nephropathy was the only other form of idiopathic glomerulonephritis that occurred with CAE. One of 82 (1.2%) patients with membranous nephropathy also had CAE, compared with 20 of 102 (19.6%) with FSGS (P < 0.0002, chi2). Thus, the finding of FSGS with CAE was not coincidence. Mean follow-up was 20 +/- 26 months (range, 0 to 103 months). Six patients (25%) were followed-up at least 3 years after renal biopsy. These findings indicate that extended survival in CAE is not rare and that heavy proteinuria occurs as part of a chronic disorder with distinctive histological features. Cholesterol atheroembolism with FSGS should be considered in the differential diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome in elderly patients with advanced atherosclerosis.

Low-dose filgrastim significantly enhances neutrophil recovery following autologous peripheral-blood stem-cell transplantation in patients with lymphoproliferative disorders: evidence for clinical and economic benefit

PURPOSE

To assess the clinical and economic benefit of low-dose (50 microg/m2) filgrastim after peripheral blood stem-cell transplantation (PBSCT) in a randomized, placebo-controlled double-blinded study.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Thirty-eight patients with lymphoproliferative disorders were randomized to receive low-dose filgrastim (19 patients) or placebo (19 patients) beginning on the first day after stem-cell reinfusion and continuing until absolute neutrophil count (ANC) was greater than 0.5 x 10(9)/L. All patients received greater than 2.5 x 10(6) CD34+ cells/kg, which was mobilized with chemotherapy and filgrastim 300 microg from the fifth day. An economic analysis was performed based on the outcome in the two groups.

RESULTS

Neutrophil engraftment was significantly more rapid in patients who received filgrastim with a median number of days until ANC was greater that 0.5 x 10(9)/L of 10 (9 to 13) versus 14 (9 to 19; P < .0001). The time to reach an ANC greater than 1 x 109/L was 12 (9 to 14) versus 16 days (10 to 25; P < .0001). The total number of patients who required intravenous antibiotic therapy was lower in the filgrastim-treated group (68%) compared with the placebo group (89%); also, the median number of days with fever and the duration of antibiotic therapy were shorter, although these differences did not reach statistical significance. However, although only three of 19 (16%) patients who received filgrastim required amphotericin, 11 of 19 (58%) who received placebo did require it, and amphotericin usage was significantly less in the filgrastim group (P = .029). Finally, in-patient stay was significantly shortened in those who received filgrastim from 16 (13 to 23) to 13 days (11 to 18; P = .0003).

CONCLUSION

Low-dose filgrastim significantly reduces neutrophil engraftment time post-PBSCT and also reduces in-patient stay and costs, which makes it economically viable for patients who are undergoing high-dose chemotherapy.

Plasma exchange with solvent/detergent-treated plasma of resistant thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

A patient with unremitting thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), with circulating von Willebrand factor (VWF) multimers of unusually high molecular weight, and refractory to standard plasma exchange therapy, was treated with solvent detergent (S/D) plasma. The patient achieved a sustained clinical and haematological remission, with normal VWF multimeric profile. Spontaneous remission of this patient's condition could not be excluded but would appear unlikely. S/D plasma was efficacious and potentially safe for repeated large-volume plasma exchange with respect to viral safety and reduction of anaphylactoid reactions. We have assayed coagulation factors and physiological inhibitors of haemostasis in S/D plasma, which were comparable to normal plasma except in the distribution of VWF multimers. The use of S/D plasma, previously reported in paediatric chronic relapsing TTP, should be assessed in further cases of adult TTP in the context of a clinical trial.

Henderson-Hasselbalch equation is inadequate for the measurement of transmembrane diffusion of drugs and buccal drug absorption is a useful alternative

1. The transmembrane diffusion of weakly acidic or basic drugs is being commonly assessed from their degree of ionization or ratio unionized/ionized forms (ratio U/I) as calculated from Henderson-Hasselbalch equation (HHEq). 2. Buccal drug absorption (BA) at pH 5-9 has been proposed as an in vivo model for passage of drugs across lipid membranes. 3. Area under the curve (AUC) of BA against pH 5-9 of 18 basic drugs has been reported to be significantly related to their pH dependent renal excretion. 4. We have calculated, using HHEq, ratios U/I of 10 weak bases at pH 5-9 and 10 weak acids at pH 4-8, whose percentage BA at these pH levels was available in the literature. 5. These ratios were not related to their %BA at corresponding pH levels. 6. Therefore it is proposed that HHEq is inadequate in the anticipation of transmembrane diffusion of drugs and AUC of %BA of drugs at pH 4-9 is a useful alternative.

Functional hyposplenism following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

AIMS

To investigate the incidence of functional hyposplenism in a group of patients who had undergone allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT).

METHODS

Splenic function was assessed by counting the number of gluteraldehyde fixed red blood cells containing pits or indentations as examined by interference phase microscopy. Normal values are < 2% whereas splenectomy patients have values of 25 to 40%.

RESULTS

Twenty eight BMT recipients (17 men, 11 women) were studied at varying periods post-transplant and the results compared with 20 healthy volunteers and 10 patients who had undergone splenectomy or had splenic atrophy because of haematological conditions. Of the 28 BMT recipients, one had undergone a prior splenectomy; of the remaining 27 patients, four (15%) had evidence of functional hyposplenism with between 5.0 and 34.0% pitted cells. Of these four patients, one had active extensive chronic graft versus host disease (GvHD) which has been previously reported to be associated with functional hyposplenism following transplantation. Only one of the four patients had peripheral blood red cell changes typical of hyposplenism.

CONCLUSION

These results confirm that extensive chronic GvHD is associated with hyposplenism. Intermediate degrees of functional hyposplenism may also occur following BMT in the absence of chronic GvHD and in the absence of haematological features of hyposplenism on routine blood films. This may be of significance in mediating the susceptibility to infection with encapsulating bacteria seen following allogeneic BMT.

Prognostic value of exercise radionuclide angiography in a population-based cohort of patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease

Five hundred thirty-six residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, who underwent supine rest and exercise radionuclide angiography because of known or suspected coronary artery disease, were followed for a median of 46 months to determine the prognostic value of exercise radionuclide angiography in a community population who generally did not undergo coronary angiography. There were 71 persons who experienced a new cardiac event (the initial events were cardiac death and nonfatal myocardial infarction in 26 and 45 persons, respectively). A proportional-hazards model identified 4 independent predictors of cardiac events: exercise ejection fraction (p < 0.001), exercise heart rate (p < 0.001), and age (p = 0.04). Four-year infarct-free survival was 98% for the 152 patients with a peak exercise heart rate at or above the median (122 beats/min) and an exercise ejection fraction at or above the median (0.58). In the 150 patients with a peak exercise heart rate < 122 beats/min and an exercise ejection fraction < 0.58, 4-year infarct-free survival was 68%. When this population-based cohort was compared with a referral case series previously reported from our institution, these population-based patients were significantly more likely to be men, to have typical angina, to have higher exercise heart rates and exercise ejection fractions, and were less likely to be receiving beta-receptor antagonist therapy. At each level of exercise ejection fraction, the population-based patients had a slightly but insignificantly greater risk than referral patients for subsequent cardiac events. These population-based data provide strong evidence of the prognostic value of exercise radionuclide angiography in community practice.

Protection by oestradiol against the development of cardiovascular changes associated with monocrotaline pulmonary hypertension in rats

1. We studied the effects of oestradiol 17 beta on the development of pulmonary vascular changes and right ventricular (RV) hypertrophy in response to monocrotaline in male Sprague-Dawley rats. 2. Rats were treated with either placebo or oestradiol 17 beta (10 mg) in the form of slow release pellets implanted subcutaneously 48 h before monocrotaline administration. Rats were injected with either saline or a single dose of monocrotaline (60 mg kg-1, i.m.). Pulmonary vascular changes and RV hypertrophy were studied at 4 weeks following monocrotaline administration. 3. Monocrotaline induced a significant increase in the ratio of right ventricle (RV) to left ventricle-plus-septum (LV + S) weights. Monocrotaline-treated rats also showed significant myointimal proliferation in small pulmonary arteries, decrease of arterial numbers and increase in the number of abnormal alveolar macrophages. 4. Oestradiol 17 beta attenuated myointimal hyperplasia in pulmonary vessels, decreased the RV/(LV + S) ratio in monocrotaline-treated rats. Oestradiol 17 beta had no significant effect on control animals. 5. Oestradiol treatment prevented the increase in lung wet to dry weight ratio, observed 7 days post monocrotaline administration. 6. These results suggest that oestradiol 17 beta protects against the pulmonary vascular remodelling and RV hypertrophy associated with monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension in the rat. Oestradiol also protects against microvascular leak observed in the early days of lesion.

Evolution of echocardiographic modalities in detection of postmyocardial infarction ventricular septal defect and papillary muscle rupture: study of 62 patients

Diagnostic sensitivity of various echocardiographic modalities was assessed for postinfarct ventricular septal defect (40 patients) and papillary muscle rupture (22 patients). Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography enabled direct visualization of ventricular septal defect in 68% and combined two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography was diagnostic in 95%. Papillary muscle rupture was directly visualized in 45%, and severe mitral regurgitation was present on Doppler color flow images in 100%. Transesophageal echocardiography was diagnostic in all nine patients (five with ventricular septal defect and four with papillary muscle rupture) in whom this modality was applied. Thus two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography (transthoracic and transesophageal if necessary) is highly sensitive in detecting postinfarct ventricular septal defect and papillary muscle rupture.

Heroin addiction and sex hormones in males

To investigate the effects of illicit heroin abuse on the endocrine system a study was carried out in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) where heroin addiction is prevalent. Sixty-eight subjects were included in this study. Thirty-three were untreated heroin addicts visiting "drug abuse treatment centres" in Peshawar and 35 age matched normal males. Urine samples of all addicts showed the presence of morphine. The serum concentrations of testosterone (T) in addicts was 228 ng/ml, leutinizing hormone (LH) 10.7 mlU/ml and folical stimulating hormone (FSH) 4.9 mlU/ml whereas the corresponding values for control males were T 630 ng/ml, LH 14.3 mlU/ml and FSH mlU/ml, respectively. Heroin exerts a depletion effect on T and FSH levels in more or less all the groups studied irrespective of age, amount of heroin intake per day and period of contact with heroin. LH levels remained affected and are within clinically accepted normal range.

Vascular actions of TA 3090, a novel analog of diltiazem: interaction with endothelium-dependent relaxation in canine femoral and coronary arteries

The effects of a new 1,5-benzothiazepine calcium antagonist, TA 3090 (an analog of diltiazem), were analyzed in isolated canine femoral and coronary arteries suspended in organ chambers or studied in a bioassay system. TA 3090 (10(-9) to 10(-4) M) caused comparable relaxations in arterial rings with and without endothelium contracted by prostaglandin F2 alpha. Coronary arteries were more sensitive to the Ca++ antagonist. In both preparations, TA 3090 was more potent than diltiazem. In femoral (but not coronary) artery rings with endothelium, acetylcholine (10(-8) M) inhibited relaxations to TA 3090. Previous treatment of femoral or coronary arteries with TA 3090 (10(-6) M) had no effect on endothelium-dependent relaxations to acetylcholine. In a bioassay system, TA 3090 (2 x 10(-7) M) caused partial reversal of acetylcholine-induced relaxation in perfused femoral arteries and superfused coronary arterial rings. The dihydropyridine enantiomer (-)-202,791 did not affect acetylcholine-induced relaxations and did not prevent the reversal by TA 3090. These data indicate that, in addition to a direct action on vascular smooth muscle, this novel benzothiazepine Ca(++)-antagonist interferes with the synthesis/release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor stimulated by acetylcholine in canine femoral arteries. These findings, which are similar to those obtained with d-cis-diltiazem, support the hypothesis that a specific benzothiazepine-dependent mechanism(s) can suppress the production of endothelium-derived relaxing factor in endothelial cells.

Noninvasive assessment of cardiac risk in insulin-dependent diabetic patients being evaluated for pancreatic transplantation using thallium-201 myocardial perfusion scintigraphy

We examined the value of thallium-201 myocardial perfusion scintigraphy in noninvasive assessment of cardiac risk in 36 insulin-dependent (type 1) diabetic patients being evaluated for pancreas or combined pancreas/kidney transplantation. An extensive cardiovascular evaluation including electrocardiogram was performed in all patients, and most patients were also evaluated by two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography. Exercise thallium studies were performed in 31 patients. Five patients were unable to exercise and underwent dipyridamole-thallium study. The thallium images were abnormal in 12 patients, 10 of whom underwent coronary arteriography. Significant coronary artery disease was found in 7 of these patients. Nineteen patients underwent pancreatic (3 patients) or pancreato-renal (16) transplantation without any occurrence of cardiac death or nonfatal myocardial infarction peri-operatively or on follow-up ranging from 7 months to 21 months. In contrast, 3 cardiac events occurred in 12 patients not approved for transplantation, each of whom had an abnormal thallium study exhibiting significant ischemia. Resting left ventricular global and regional function was not helpful in determining perioperative risk. Thus, thallium-201 myocardial perfusion scintigraphy may be useful in identifying diabetic patients at low risk for pancreas transplantation and may obviate the need for routine coronary angiography in these patients.

Effect of malathion and methyl-parathion on rat liver enzymes

The effect of sub-lethal doses of Malathion and Methyl-parathion was studied on the rat liver enzymes. Intravenous administration of both insecticides at weekly interval for four weeks resulted in increase in heart and spleen weight. Short term (24 hr.) and long term (4 weeks) treatment with insecticides resulted in increased specific activities of liver enzymes, Acid phosphatase, Alkaline phosphatase, Glutamate dehydrogenase, Glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and Glutamate pyruvate transaminase. The increase in enzyme activity was not as profound when the insecticide administration was spread over 4 weeks. Malathion had greater effect than Methyl-parathion on the biochemical parameters studied.

Growth hormone induced stimulation of the T4 to T3 conversion in fed and fasting dwarf goats

Fed and food deprived (7 days) adult dwarf goats were injected intravenously with 75 micrograms/kg b. w. of ovine growth hormone (o-GH). Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein -2, -1 and 0 hr prior to and 30, 60, 90 and 120 min after injection and assayed for thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) concentrations. The 5'-monodeiodination (5'-D) activity was consequently determined in liver and kidney samples following slaughtering. Fasting alone increased plasma concentrations of T3 and T4, whereas injection of o-GH raised T3 additionally and more profoundly in food deprived animals compared to fed ones. A small increase in plasma T4 was also observed following o-GH injection, but only in starved goats. At the same time the hepatic, but not the kidney, 5'-D activity was stimulated in food deprived and GH injected animals. It is concluded that during prolonged fasting an increased peripheral T4 to T3 conversion is occurring contrary to the known decrease in T3 production during short periods of food deprivation. This increased conversion may be under the control of GH.

Inhomogeneous deposition of radiopharmaceuticals at the cellular level: experimental evidence and dosimetric implications

We have undertaken an experimental examination of the conventional internal dosimetry assumptions of homogeneity of radionuclide deposition in tissues. The distribution of radiolabeled Microlite has been quantitated in mouse liver at the millimeter (multicellular) and the micrometer (cellular) levels. Measurements of radioactivity in 1-mm3 tissue samples indicate homogeneous radionuclide distribution; those derived from autoradiographs of 0.5-micron tissue sections show that, relative to other cells, the colloid was concentrated 200- to 1000-fold in liver macrophages. The dosimetric implications of such inhomogeneous radionuclide distribution in human liver, where similar radionuclide distribution is expected, are discussed on the basis of a recently developed model for calculating the dose at the cellular level, and the estimates are compared to conventional internal dosimetry predictions. It is demonstrated that during routine diagnostic examinations with 99mTc-Microlite, conventional dosimetry underestimates the dose to labeled human liver cells by factors of 8-30.

Effect of malathion and methyl-parathion on rat liver enzymes

The effect of sub-lethal doses of Malathion and Methyl-Parathion was studied on the rat liver enzymes. Intravenous administration of both insecticides at weekly interval for four weeks resulted in increase in weight of various tissues, i.e., heart and spleen. Short term (24 hr) and long term (4 weeks) treatment with insecticides resulted in increased specific activities of liver enzymes, Acid phosphatase, Alkaline phosphatase, Glutamate dehydrogenase, Glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and Glutamate pyruvate transaminase. The increase in enzyme activity was not as profound when the insecticide administration was spread over 4 weeks. Malathion had greater effect than Methyl-parathion on the biochemical parameters studied.

Endothelium-dependent effects of carteolol

Experiments were designed to study the effect of the beta adrenergic antagonist, carteolol, on the endothelium-dependent responsiveness of isolated arteries. Rings of canine coronary arteries were suspended in organ chambers for isometric tension recording; carteolol inhibited the relaxation to isoproterenol and abolished the difference in responsiveness to the beta adrenergic agonist between rings with and without endothelium. Carteolol did not cause endothelium-dependent relaxations of femoral or coronary arteries. In bioassay experiments, carteolol augmented the basal release of relaxing factors from the endothelium of the femoral artery; this effect was prevented by indomethacin. In rings of femoral arteries, carteolol increased the endothelium-dependent relaxations induced by the alpha-2 adrenergic agonist UK 14,304; this was not affected by indomethacin but prevented by propranolol. Carteolol did not modify the endothelium-dependent relaxations to acetylcholine, adenosine diphosphate, bradykinin, thrombin and the Ca+-ionophore A23187. Carteolol inhibited the endothelium-dependent hypoxic contraction of the canine coronary artery. It did not affect endothelium-dependent contractions to acetylcholine in the aorta of the spontaneously hypertensive rat. These experiments suggest that carteolol facilitates the abluminal release of endothelium-dependent relaxing factor caused by alpha-2 adrenergic activation, and causes the intraluminal release of vasodilator prostaglandins. The compound prevents the endothelium-dependent contractions which are not mediated by products of cyclooxygenase. These actions may contribute to the vasodilatator properties of carteolol in the intact organism.

Flunarizine inhibits endothelium-dependent hypoxic facilitation in canine coronary arteries through an action on vascular smooth muscle

1. Hypoxia augments contractile responses to several vasoactive agents in canine isolated coronary arteries with intact endothelium. Calcium antagonists inhibit the further increases in tension caused by hypoxia. The present experiments were designed to determine whether the calcium-antagonist flunarizine would inhibit hypoxic contractions in isolated blood vessels through an action on the endothelium or on the vascular smooth muscle. 2. Rings of canine coronary arteries, with or without endothelium, were suspended at optimal length for isometric tension recording in organ chambers filled with modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate solution. 3. Hypoxia (95% N2 and 5% CO2) augmented contractile responses to prostaglandin F2 alpha (2 x 10(-6) M); removal of the endothelium abolished this hypoxic facilitation. 4. Flunarizine (5 x 10(-5)-5 x 10(-7) M) exerted a long-lasting inhibition of the hypoxic facilitation in a concentration-dependent manner. Flunarizine did not inhibit the response to prostaglandin F2 alpha. 5. To differentiate between the response of smooth muscle and the endothelium, strips of coronary arteries without endothelium were layered with strips with or without endothelium. Hypoxia augmented contractions only in layered preparations with endothelium. Flunarizine prevented the hypoxic contractions in layered preparations in which only the smooth muscle was treated with flunarizine. In contrast, when only the endothelium was treated, no or minimal inhibition of the hypoxic contraction occurred with flunarizine (10(-5) and 5 x 10(-5) M, respectively). 6. These experiments indicate that the calcium antagonist flunarizine inhibits endothelium-dependent hypoxic facilitation in canine coronary arteries primarily through its action on vascular smooth muscle.

The coordinate replication of the human beta-globin gene domain reflects its transcriptional activity and nuclease hypersensitivity

The temporal order of replication of DNA sequences in the chromosomal domain containing the human beta-globin gene cluster and its flanking sequences (140 kilobases) was measured and compared in two different human cell lines. In human erythroleukemia (K562) cells, in which embryonic and fetal globin genes are transcribed, all of the sequences we examined from the beta-globin domain replicated early during S phase, while in HeLa cells, in which globin genes are transcriptionally silent, these sequences replicated late during S. Potential sites of initiation of DNA replication within this domain were identified. The beta-globin gene domain was also found to differ with respect to the nuclease sensitivity of the chromatin in these two cell lines. In K562 cells, hypersensitive sites for endogenous nucleases and DNase I were present in the chromatin near the earliest-replicating segments in the beta-globin domain.

Inhibitors of cyclooxygenase augment serotonergic responsiveness in canine coronary arteries

Experiments were designed to determine the role of products of cyclooxygenase in contractions of coronary smooth muscle evoked by serotonin. Rings of canine coronary artery without endothelium were suspended in organ chambers filled with modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate solution. Serotonin caused concentration-dependent contractions followed by secondary relaxations at higher doses. Indomethacin and meclofenamate augmented both the contraction and the relaxation. Indomethacin did not affect contractions evoked by increasing concentrations of either phenylephrine, prostaglandin F2 alpha, or potassium chloride. Propranolol did not affect the concentration-response curve to serotonin under control conditions; it prevented the facilitated contraction to the monoamine but not the augmented secondary relaxation caused by the inhibitors of cyclooxygenase. These results suggest that endogenous prostanoids simultaneously inhibit the contractile process and brake relaxations induced by higher concentrations of serotonin. As a consequence, inhibitors of prostanoid formation facilitate the vasospastic component of the response to the monoamine in large coronary arteries. For unknown reasons, propranolol prevents this facilitation.

Thyroid hormone response to thyrotropin releasing hormone after cold treatment during pre- and postnatal development in the domestic fowl

The purpose of the present study was to compare the effect of periodic cooling during the establishment of a functional pituitary-thyroid axis at days 11-14 of incubation and at other developmental stages, on the subsequent thyroid hormone response to thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH). In the first and second experiment chick embryos were cooled for 6 hr/day to 30 degrees C from day 11 till 14 and from day 15 till 18 respectively, whereas control groups were incubated throughout at 37.8 degrees C. In both experiments the thyroxine (T4) response upon TRH in 19 day-old embryos was higher in the previously cold treated embryos, according to the percentages of increase. However, the higher T4 response in the cold treated animals disappeared in 1 or 7 day-old chicks hatched from the 2nd experiment, but remained present in chicks of the same ages in the 1st experiment. In a third experiment the T4 response to TRH injection immediately and 3 and 8 days after a temperature treatment (25 degrees C or 12 degrees C) for one week on four weeks old broiler chickens was found to be similar in both temperature groups. In all experiments there was a concomitant triiodothyronine (T3) increase after TRH injection, but differences between experimental groups were observed at days 15 and 19 of incubation and immediately after the postnatal temperature treatment. As an overall conclusion the results indicate that cold treatment only during the establishment of the hypothalamo-hypophysial control of thyroid function can have a long lasting effect by enhancing the T4 response to TRH injection.

Thyrotropic and peripheral activities of thyrotrophin and thyrotrophin-releasing hormone in the chick embryo and adult chicken

The influence of an intravenous injection of thyrotrophin-releasing hormone (TRH) and bovine thyrotrophin (TSH) on circulating levels of thyroid hormones and the liver 5'-monodeiodination (5'-D) activity is studied in the chick embryo and the adult chicken. In the 18-day-old chick embryo, an injection of 1 microgram TRH and 0.01 I.U. TSH increase plasma concentrations of triiodothyronine (T3) and of thyroxine (T4). TRH, however, preferentially raises plasma levels of T3, resulting in an increased T3 to T4 ratio, whereas TSH preferentially increases T4, resulting in a decreased T3 to T4 ratio. The 5'-D-activity is also stimulated following TRH but not following TSH administration. The increase of reverse T3 (rT3) is much more pronounced following the administration of TSH. In adult chicken an injection of up to 20 micrograms of TRH never increased plasma concentrations of T4, but increases T3 at every dose used together with 5'-D at the 20 micrograms dose. TSH on the other hand never increased T3 or 5'-D, but elevates T4 consistently. It is concluded that TSH is mainly thyrotropic in the chick embryo or adult chicken whereas TRH is responsible for the peripheral conversion of T4 into T3 by stimulating the 5'-D-activity. The involvement of a TRH induced GH release in this peripheral activity is discussed.

The influence of methimazole on the thyrotrophic and peripheral activity of thyrotrophin and thyrotrophin-releasing hormone in the chick embryo and growing chicken

Plasma concentrations of thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) were profoundly depressed both in chick embryos and growing chickens after methimazole (MMI) treatment. There was no response of T4 and T3 levels to TRH or TSH injections in the MMI group, either in embryos or growing chickens. Peroxidase activity measured in the thyroid gland was significantly higher in embryos and growing chickens treated with MMI. However, neither TRH nor TSH affected this activity 2 hr after injection in either control or the MMI-treated group. Hepatic 5'-monodeiodinase activity was significantly stimulated in the MMI-treated groups of embryos and growing chickens but only when additional sulphydryl groups (DTT) were provided. In embryos, monodeiodination activity 2 hr after TSH injection was not significantly different from control values for either DTT-stimulated or unstimulated conditions within the control and MMI-infused groups. However, in both control and MMI-treated embryos monodeiodination activity significantly increased 2 hr after TRH injection. In the growing chickens, monodeiodination activity 2 hr after TRH or TSH injection was not significantly different from control values in either stimulated or unstimulated conditions of each group.

Cell-mediated immunity in idiopathic polyneuritis

The role of cell-mediated immunity (CMI) in the pathogenesis of idiopathic polyneuritis (IP) is discussed. Of significance has been the finding of a decreased suppressor T cell response in IP. This may provide an important common denominator linking the numerous antecedent events which trigger IP to the disease. The role of humoral immunity in IP and chronic relapsing inflammatory polyneuritis (CRIP) remains controversial, but has awakened renewed interest in view of recent reports of favorable response to plasmapheresis in IP and CRIP patients. P2 protein is an important neuritogenic factor in experimental allergic neuritis (EAN), but we failed to find antibody directed against P2 in either IP or CRIP even though anti-P2 antibody was regularly detected in EAN. Whether CMI response to P2 occurs in IP or CRIP remains controversial. We did not detect CMI response to P2 in IP or CRIP. It may be that the neuritogenic factor (or factors) in IP and CRIP remains to be found.

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum: a review of neurological complications

A case of pseudoxanthoma elasticum with multisystem involvement is described. Neurological complications, as reported in the literature, are reviewed. These include cerebrovascular insufficiency, multiple lacunar infarcts, aneurysms, subarachnoid and intracerebral hemorrhages, progressive intellectual deterioration, and psychic and mental disturbance which may be due to cortical atrophy. Seizures occur more frequently than in the general population. Hypertension and alteration of cerebral vessels are the two basic pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for the neurological complications of this disease.