Effects of testosterone propionate and cyproterone acetate on carbohydrate metabolism in rat mammary glands

The effects of administration of testosterone propionate on the activities of seven of the enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism in normal rat mammary glands were investigated and the validity of the results was confirmed by simultaneous injection of the hormone and cyproterone acetate. The administration of the androgen increased the activities of phosphofructokinase (PFK), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in glands from both intact and from ovariectomized and adrenalectomized animals. Administration of cyproterone acetate alone resulted in a significant reduction in the activities of PFK and G6PDH and when given together with the androgen it inhibited increases in the activities of PFK, G6PDH, 6PGDH and LDH induced by testosterone. It was concluded that these results did not explain the known inhibitory effects of the androgen on normal mammary gland growth and function.

Prolactin, thyrotrophin interaction in the regulation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase activities in rat mammary glands

The roles of prolactin and thyrotrophin (TSH) in the regulation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH) activities in rat mammary glands were investigated by the administration of thyroid hormone-releasing hormone (TRH), bromocriptine, prolactin, TSH and triiodo-1-thyronine (T(3)). TRH failed to induce changes in the activities of these enzymes in glands from intact animals but the releasing hormone significantly increased the activities of both the enzymes in the glands of ovariectomized and adrenalectomized animals. Bromocriptine administration had no effect on the activities in both, intact and ovariectomized-adrenalectomized animals. Administration of ovine prolactin to hypophysectomized rats did not affect the activities of these enzymes. On the other hand treatment with TSH resulted in significant increases in the activities. On the other hand treatment with TSH resulted in significant increases in the activities. Similarly, administration of T(3) to these animals resulted in changes similar to those observed after TSH administration. Combined administration of prolactin and TSH showed that prolactin is capable of partially inhibiting the TSH-induced increases. It is concluded that TSH is involved in the channelling of substrates into the pathways of nucleic acid synthesis and prolactin probably plays a regulatory role in this process.

Bronchial hyperreactivity in cystic fibrosis and asthma

We studied 113 patients with CF and compared their responsiveness to inhaled methacholine to that of 50 asthmatic children and 26 normal children. Positive responses to MCh occurred in 51% of the patients with CF and 98% of those with asthma. There was a significant correlation between a positive response to MCh in CF and poor pulmonary function. There was no relationship between allergic rhinitis or positive allergen skin tests and a positive MCh response. Dose-response curves and time course to MCh challenge differed in CF and asthma. Bronchial hyperreactivity is thus common in CF but is different from that in asthma.

Severe ventilatory failure in asthma in children. Experience of 13 episodes over 6 years

During the 6-year period from 1 October 1971 to 30 September 1977, 13 (about 1%) of 1225 admissions to hospital with asthma developed severe ventilatory failure (peak arterial PCO 2 greater than 8 kPa). Mean age was 4.1 years (2.3--7.9), and on average each patient had been admitted to hospital on 5 occasions during the preceding year. 11 gave a family history of asthma or a personal history of associated allergies. A viral upper respiratory tract infection was the commonest precipitant of wheeze, and in 7 patients the duration of wheeziness before admission to hospital was 12 hours or less. Six (0.5%) patients were treated by mechanical ventilation and all survived. The changing patterns of management during the study period are reviewed.

Microbial assays for mutagenicity: a modified liquid culture method compared with the agar plate system for precision and sensitivity

A microbial assay system for mutagenicity was developed in which bacterial cells divided in liquid culture. The statistical and practical problems associated with dividing cells were avoided or reduced, whilst the advantages in precision and reliability resulting from the determination of mutation per colony-forming unit (survivor) and of separating the mutation and selection systems were retained. Seven mutagens, two of which required microsomal activation, were evaluated by this liquid-medium method and by the agar-plate method with two strains of Salmonella typhimurium to determine which assay system was the more sensitive. At highly mutagenic and/or very toxic concentrations of the test substance the liquid-medium assay was markedly more sensitive than the agar-plate assay, but at weakly mutagenic and less toxic concentrations the advantage of the liquid-medium test was reduced; however in only one case was the agar-plate assay obviously the more sensitive. There was a clear indication that the liquid-medium assay would be superior to the agar-plate assay for the detection of mutagenic agents active only at toxic concentrations, and also could be more easily and exactly quantified.

Viral infection as a precipitant of wheeze in children. Combined home and hospital study

Sixteen children with asthma were studied for one year and viral isolation attempted during all episodes of wheezing. In 91 episodes investigated, 13 viruses were isolated (isolation rate 14%); whereas only one virus was isolated from 120 specimens taken when the children were symptom free. Rhinovirus was the commonest isolate and most were obtained during August, September, October. Episodes of wheezing associated with virus infection were not clinically different not more severe than those due to other precipitants.

Neonatal thyrotoxicosis is associated with transplacental passage of human thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin (HTSI)

A woman who developed thyrotoxicosis during pregnancy had a high level of HTSI at the time of delivery. The baby had high levels of HTSI initially but, unlike the mother, the levels fell, giving a half-life of HTSI of 10 days.

Transient acute myositis in childhood

Eight cases of transient acute polymyalgia with weakness are described. All had abnormal serum creatine phosphokinase levels and most had minor haematological abnormalities at the time of diagnosis. Virological studies were performed with negative findings.

Social and environmental aspects of self-poisoning

Six hundred and thirty seven admissions (331 males and 416 females) to a General Medical Unit (1965–1971) because of self-poisoning are studied. There was an increase in the incidence in both sexes and all ages throughout the period, but the increase was most marked in young females in 1970 and 1971. The admission rate varied from area to area, as did the drugs involved, although salicylates, barbiturates, benzodiazepines and Mandrax accounted for most poisonings. The major adverse social factors were marital disharmony, unemployment, disagreement with a close relative and chronic physical disability. Of males 41.2 per cent and of females 38.1 per cent were thought to be mentally normal. Differences between different studies are discussed and it is suggested that results obtained from one area should be applied with caution to another area.

Definition of the blue mutant phenotype and its genetic basis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Mutant colonies of yeast are described which varied in colour from blue to green and in intensity of colour when grown on medium containing methylene blue. Blue mutant colonies contained more dead cells, decolorized redox dyes more slowly, had a higher respiratory quotient on glucose containing medium, and absorbed more methylene blue dye than did wild-type. The blue colony phenotype was induced both spontaneously and at high frequency by ultraviolet light and ethylmethane-sulphonate in both haploid and diploid strains. Many of the light-coloured colonies isolated following mutagenic treatment reverted to wild-type when subcultured but most dark-coloured colonies remained stable. Stable blue mutants were shown to arise by mutation of many separate nuclear genes in haploids and were often caused by recessive lethals in diploids.

Ependymal lined paraventricular cerebral cysts; a report of three cases

Three cases are reported, each with a benign ependymal-lined cyst which produced clinical signs and symptoms simulating cerebrovascular disease or cerebral neoplasm. The pathological features are described and their histogenesis discussed.

Monozygous twins with hypothyroidism and diabetes mellitus

Monozygous twins with diabetes mellitus and autoimmune hypothyroidism are described. The onset of the hypothyroidism was simultaneous, but one twin had had insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus for 9 years while the other twin developed insulin-independent diabetes concurrently with the hypothyroidism. Two other siblings had diabetes mellitus and one of them had a goitre, possibly lymphadenoid. The aetiology of autoimmune hypothyroidism is discussed, and evidence is presented which supports suggestions that diabetes mellitus may be an autoimmune disease.

Patients with acute poisoning seen in a general medical unit (1960-71)

A review of the 637 out of a total of 941 consecutive cases of acute poisoning admitted to an acute medical unit without special facilities for the treatment of poisoning has shown that despite considerable limitations in the medical, nursing, and laboratory facilities available the results compare favourably with those reported from specialized units.

Adjuvant effect of bendrofluazide on propranolol in hypertension

A double-blind trial was undertaken to assess the effect of bendro-fluazide in lowering the blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension controlled on propranolol. An increased hypotensive effect was found and the greatest fall occurred in the supine systolic blood pressure. Side-effects were mild and transient and did not interfere with treatment.

Teratogenic evaluation of 2,4,5-T

The herbicide 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid is teratogenic and fetocidal in two strains of mice when administered either subcutaneously or orally and in one strain of rats when administered orally. The incidences of both cystic kidney and cleft palate were increased in the C57BL/6 mice as well as the incidence of cleft palate in the AKR mice. The incidence of cystic kidney was also increased in the rats. In addition, an increase in the ratio of liver weight to body weight in the mouse fetus and the occurrence of hemorrhagic gastrointestinal tract in the rat fetus suggest that this compound also has fetotoxic properties.