Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase in human prostate

Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) was present in explant cultures of human prostate obtained from surgery of benign prostatic hyperplasia and was inducible by benz[a]anthracene (BA). The induction of AHH ranged from 14- to 150-fold when compared with control values and 10-fold variation of AHH inducibility among individuals was observed. Epithelial cells grown from human prostate tissue also contained measurable AHH activity and AHH was inducible by BA and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA). Inducibility of AHH by BA ranged from 2- to 63-fold. The inducibility of AHH by DMBA was always less than that by BA. In cells treated with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), there were no changes in AHH activity. These findings support the view that the human prostate is susceptible to environmental polycyclic hydrocarbon carcinogens and that environmental and occupational factors might contribute to the etiology of human prostatic carcinoma.

Consulting to children in crisis

Although community consultation is common for psychiatrists, such activity is usually carried out on an elective rather than emergency basis. In a world troubled by community disaster situations--children are often at risk. Psychiatrists, through the use of skillful crisis consultation, can be of great help to these young people. This report describes the effort of a mental health consultation team to meet the needs of a large population of children under acute stress.

Cardiovascular dynamics after large doses of fentanyl and fentanyl plus N2O in the dog

The effects of large doses of fentanyl (0.05 to 2 mg/kg) and fentanyl plus N2O on cardiovascular dynamics were determined in 10 unpremedicated dogs breathing 100% O2. Using computer analysis of the central aortic pulsepressure curve, stroke volume (SV), cardiac output, heart rate (HR), peripheral vascular resistance (PVR), and systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressures (BP) were determined while fentanyl was being given at a rate of 0.3 to 0.44 mg/min. Fentanyl caused a dose-related decrease in HR, which was significant at 0.05 mg/kg. Cardiac output, PVR, and systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial BP were also decreased and SV increased. The latter changes became significant at 0.1 mg/kg for diastolic BP; 0.15 mg/kg for cardiac output and mean BP; 0.25 mg/kg for sv and systolic BP; and at 1.25 mg/kg for peripheral vascular resistance. Addition of N2O after fentanyl did not significantly change any parameter, although SV, cardiac output, and HR were usually increased and PVR decreased. These data demonstrate that, while large doses of fentanyl or fentanyl plus N2O do alter cardiovascular dynamics in dogs, the changes appear to be less profound than those produced by equianalgesic doses of morphine. Our findings suggest that large doses of fentanyl-O2 may be an attractive alternative to morphine-O2 anethesia in critically ill patients.

Cytologic changes following the use of oral contraceptives

Abnormal cytologic findings in gynecologic smears were more common among patients using oral contraceptives than among control patients. Cytologic examination should be routinely performed before oral contraceptives are prescribed. The exfoliation of endometrial cells was essentially the same between control and oral contraceptive patients. No evidence of excessive stimulation of epithelial element in endometrium accompanied the continued use of hormonal contraceptives. In general, the cytohormonal effect associated with oral contraceptives showed a depressed superficial cell count in the vaginal smears. Teenagers using oral contraceptives constituted 2 to 3% of the surveyed group. Long-term effects of antiovulatory drugs in young females are yet to be observed.