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3895588
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Mice of the strains C3H, DBA, NZB, and NMRI were X-irradiated with 0.475 Gy and 2.85 Gy (or 3.80 Gy) at newborn stage or at the age of six months. Their livers were prepared at the age of one to maximum 18 months and the hepatocytes isolated. The DNA content of both whole cells and separated nuclei was measured by flow cytometry and the liver ploidy pattern was determined applying a correcting calculation. Irradiation with 0.475 Gy of newborns of strain C3H results in a relative decrease of octoploid cells and an increase of tetraploid nuclei during lifetime (significance level of 0.001). After irradiation with 3.80 Gy a reversed reaction was observed. However, if the animals were irradiated as adults with a dose of 3.80 Gy the 8c cells decreased significantly three months later. Similarly, newborns of the outbred strain NMRI irradiated with 2.85 Gy, showed an increase of octoploid cells from the third month on, but an oscillating pattern of the 4c nuclear DNA content. In strains DBA and NZB, significantly altered ploidy values could not be found, perhaps due to a too great variance of experimental values.
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3895593
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Sixty carotid bifurcations in 34 symptomatic patients were examined prospectively with ultrasound (continuous wave Doppler and high resolution, B-mode imaging) and intravenous digital subtraction angiography (IV-DSA). The overall quality of examination was better with DSA than with ultrasound. Imaging of the external carotid artery was particularly difficult with sonography. For evaluation of the common and internal carotid arteries, eight percent of IV-DSA studies were poor or inadequate as compared with 12% for B-mode imaging. Overall for detection of atherosclerotic plaque, high resolution B-mode sonography was 84% sensitive and DSA 81% sensitive. When only the common and internal carotid arteries were considered, the sensitivity of high resolution sonography improved to 93% and the sensitivity of IV-DSA increased to 86%. Ultrasound (combined high resolution, B-mode sonography and CW Doppler) correctly identified all six internal carotid occlusions in the series. While IV-DSA correctly identified five of the six occlusions, the sensitivity for detection of lesions causing 70% or more stenosis was 95% for both ultrasound and IV-DSA. Sensitivity for 50% or greater obstruction was 79% for ultrasound and 85% for IV-DSA. Ultrasound sensitivity for greater than 50.9% stenoses rose to 87% when only the common and internal carotid were considered while IV-DSA sensitivity remained at 85%. Specificity was good at all levels of obstruction. It may be concluded from this study that the accuracy of ultrasound and IV-DSA are quite similar for evaluation of the carotid bifurcation and that either test is a satisfactory screening method for carotid bifurcation atheromatous disease.
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3895589
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Cerebral vasospasm following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is one of the most important causes of cerebral ischemia, and is the leading cause of death and disability after aneurysm rupture. There are two definitions of cerebral vasospasm: angiographic and clinical. Care must be exercised to be certain that it is clear which entity is being addressed. The diagnosis of the clinical syndrome is one of exclusion and can rarely be made with absolute certainty. The pathogenesis of cerebral vasospasm is poorly understood. Most current theories focus on the release of factors from the subarachnoid clot. More attention must be given to the role of endothelial damage and alterations in the blood-arterial wall barrier. The application of modern techniques for studying vascular smooth muscle which have been developed as a result of research in the areas of hypertension and atherosclerosis must be applied to the problem of cerebral vasospasm. A stress test to select patients with angiographic arterial narrowing who have adequate cerebral vascular reserve to undergo surgery should be developed. The optimal treatment of vasospasm awaits development of agents for blocking or inactivating spasmogenic substances or blocking arterial smooth muscle contraction. Rheological or hemodynamic manipulations to prevent or reverse ischemic consequences of vasospasm are relatively effective, but complicated and hazardous, and should be viewed principally as interim measures awaiting development of more specific therapies for the arterial narrowing.
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3895591
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Intracisternal injection of blood in the rat produces an angiographically demonstrable biphasic vasospasm. Lesioning at the level of the mesencephalon of the ascending catecholamine pathways from locus coeruleus in the pons and the A1 and A2 nuclei in the medulla oblongata prior to cisternal blood injection prevents the development of both acute and late spasm. Selective lesioning in the medulla oblongata of ascending fibres from A1 and A2 also prevents development of spasm, indicating that these nuclei, which project to the hypothalamus-pituitary, are essential for the spasm syndrome. It is suggested that a substance vasospasm is produced by a substance liberated either by the hypothalamus or by the pituitary is involved in the occurrence of spasm.
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3895592
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Twelve patients, eleven with a carotid obstruction and one with an occlusion of the middle cerebral artery, were studied before and after a successful unilateral extra-intracranial arterial by-pass, (EIAB) using PET and the 15-0 steady-state technique to measure regional cerebral blood flow (CBF), oxygen extraction fraction and oxygen metabolic rate (CMRO2). In the whole group of patients, both CBF and CMRO2 increased significantly on both cerebral hemispheres after EIAB, returning toward control levels defined in age-matched subjects. Mean oxygen extraction fraction, on the other hand, was not affected. Individually, three different effects of EIAB emerged: 1) Alleviation of a state of long standing unilateral "misery-perfusion", as reported earlier; 2) parallel increase of CBF and CMRO2 bilaterally, which appeared due to improvement of a hemodynamic depression of metabolism, the precise mechanism of which remains obscure; 3) Complex, unexpected changes in the CBF-CMRO2 couple again resulting in increases in CMRO2. This metabolic improvement afforded by EIAB in our patients has not been reported before; it suggests that long-standing hemodynamic failure may induce a metabolic depression that is still potentially reversible by surgical revascularization.
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3895590
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An overview of the possible factors that might contribute to the development of cerebral vasospasm is presented, with particular emphasis on the possibility that spasm arises from a malfunction of the regulatory or contractile processes in smooth muscle cells. This possibility is emphasized because the evidence for cellular damage and the delayed occurrence of vasospasm are suggestive of pathological alteration. Data regarding the development of spasm in vivo has been reviewed and, to the extent possible, correlated with in vitro studies of cerebrovascular smooth muscle contractility. Short-term in vitro studies of normal cerebral arteries may be of little relevance to the prolonged and severe cerebral vasoconstriction that occurs only after a delay of several days from the initial insult.
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3895609
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Fuchs' heterochromic iridocyclitis is a rare but significant cause of visual impairment. This form of uveitis is misdiagnosed more than any other in the entire field of uveitis. This is particularly true among brown-eyed individuals in whom gross heterochromia may not be diagnosed for many years. The clinical presentation of Fuchs' heterochromic iridocyclitis may include a number of generally unrecognised variants among which are Koeppe nodules, transient synechia formations, and blood-filled cysts. Recently the relationship of heterochromic iridocyclitis to posterior inflammatory lesions, such as those of toxoplasmosis, has been explored. Although the disease was once thought to be a degenerative or trophic disorder, current investigations reveal that it is a true inflammation of immunologic origin. The disorder may be related to a depression of suppressor T-cell activity. The aetiology of the disease is still obscure, but in some cases an association with simple heterochromia has been found among families in whom multiple members are affected by either simple heterochromia or Fuchs' heterochromic iridocyclitis. Corticosteroid treatment of Fuchs' heterochromic iridocyclitis is not effective and should be reserved for those patients in whom inflammatory products obstruct the visual axis. Most patients should be treated by observation alone. Cataract and glaucoma are the most important complications. Treatment of the glaucoma is particularly difficult and often unsuccessful.
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3895594
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Common and internal carotids have been studied by noninvasive method (echo-Doppler) in 30 normotensive patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). Vascular lesions were detected in 14 patients (46%), who presented one or more lesions of different degree (between 1-15% and 16-49%). In one case, only one carotid had stenosis greater than 50%. Severity and number of stenosis were related to age and levels of hypercholesterolemia. FH patients with carotid lesions showed a significantly higher LDL-cholesterol (p less than 0.01) and plasma apolipoprotein B (p less than 0.001) concentrations and a significantly lower HDL-cholesterol (p less than 0.05) and plasma apolipoprotein A (p less than 0.001) levels as compared to those with normal echo-Doppler findings. These data indicate that investigation of arterial districts other than coronaries are useful in quantitative evaluation of atherosclerotic involvement.
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3895610
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The factors which are important in the production of corneal allograft rejection together with a discussion of possible ways of prevention are presented. A brief survey of experimental and clinical studies in the field is given.
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3895595
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The feeding of large amounts of fish or fish oils to healthy volunteers has been shown to reduce plasma triglycerides and platelet aggregation, and prolong the skin bleeding time. To determine whether a commercially available marine oil (MaxEpa) would have similar effect in stroke patients, we performed a double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 11 patients (7 men, 4 women) with completed stroke (7) or transient ischemic attacks (TIA's) (4). Ten 1 ml opaque capsules containing either MaxEpa or olive oil were given daily for 6 weeks, and then the patients were crossed-over. Aspirin was avoided during the trial. The data were analyzed by paired-sample t-tests. A significant reduction was found in serum triglycerides, but total serum cholesterol and HDL cholesterol were unaffected. The bleeding time was modestly prolonged after 3 weeks of treatment, but the differences between MaxEpa and olive oil treatments were not significant at 6 weeks. Aside from an increase in collagen-stimulated malondialdehyde formation no other statistically significant changes in hemostatic factors were observed. We conclude that the ingestion of up to 10 MaxEpa capsules daily for 6 weeks has little influence on such established risk factors as cholesterol concentration and platelet function in patients with stroke or TIA's.
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3895615
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The immunological mechanism of lung allograft rejection was studied in inbred rats, in order to explain the rapid progress of the rejection response against RT1-incompatible lung grafts. Histological appearances of the graft and of the recipient's spleen were studied, migration patterns of graft and recipient lymphocytes were assessed, and titers of circulating alloantibodies were determined. Histologically, we discriminated four phases of the rejection response in lung grafts: sequentially the latent, vascular, alveolar, and destruction phases. Early in the vascular phase, recipient lymphocytes primarily infiltrated the bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) of the graft, causing a local immune response. Concurrent with these local rejection phenomena in the graft, a strong systemic immune response developed in the recipient's spleen, presumably induced by the great number of lymphocytes that migrated from the graft's BALT into the recipient's lymphoid tissues. We conclude that BALT facilitates a fast and intensive interaction between lung graft and recipient that is likely to accelerate the induction of the rejection response both locally in the graft and systemically in the recipient's lymphoid organs.
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3895616
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Rejection of RT1-incompatible lung grafts has been found in the study reported in our accompanying article to result in four consecutive morphological rejection phases: the latent, the vascular, the alveolar, and the destruction phase. The most prominent signs of rejection, however, occur early in the vascular phase in the bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) of these grafts. In this study we investigated whether these four phases and the early rejection signs in BALT are universal phenomena of lung allograft rejection. Therefore, various donor-recipient combinations of inbred rat strains, incompatible for the MHC or for minor loci, were compared with respect to histological rejection phenomena--both in the lung graft and in the recipient's spleen--and alloantibody formation. The four rejection phases appeared sequentially in grafts of all combinations. Duration of the phases depended on the degree of histoincompatibility of the graft. Again, BALT was involved early in the rejection process. During the vascular phase a strong immune response developed in the spleen, and in the alveolar phase antibodies circulated in the blood. We conclude that these morphological rejection phases are universal phenomena of the rejection process against lung allografts in rats. Corresponding phenomena have been described for other species, even in immunosuppressed recipients. Based on these data, a new concept of the universal rejection process of lung allografts is postulated.
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3895618
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Bronchial anastomotic healing was evaluated in 22 long-term-surviving canine lung allotransplant recipients treated with cyclosporine as the major immunosuppressive agent. Mean survival in these dogs was over 155 days, and 4 animals survived 1-3 years. Bronchial anastomotic complications were limited to 5 cases of minimal (less than 15%) bronchostenosis. The bronchial anastomoses became somewhat edematous and friable during rejection episodes, but no clinically serious sequelae--such as hemorrhage, peribronchial abscess, or bronchial dehiscence--were observed. Gross and microscopic evaluation of the recipient and donor segments of the anastomoses revealed excellent healing, with only scattered areas of inflammatory cells. The decreased frequency and severity of rejection episodes in animals treated with cyclosporine permits early revascularization of the bronchus to take place and reduces the need for other immunosuppressive agents that may interfere with bronchial healing. Cyclosporine is an effective immunosuppressive agent for canine lung allotransplantation and allows normal bronchial anastomotic healing to occur.
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3895617
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Congenital deficiency of the enzyme adenosine deaminase (ADA) results in severe combined immunodeficiency. 2'deoxycoformycin (2'dcf) is a tightly binding inhibitor of ADA, and the drug makes it possible to mimic a state of ADA deficiency. In this study we tested the immunosuppressive effect of 2'dcf in a rat skin transplantation model. Rats treated with continuous infusion of 2'dcf at doses of 0.3 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg and 0.7 mg/kg body wt/day showed significant prolongation of graft survival. 2'dcf given by bolus injections did not prolong graft survival. In rats treated with continuous infusion of 2'dcf at a dose of 0.7 mg/kg body wt/day mean graft survival time (MST) after withdrawal of treatment was equal to MST in untreated animals, suggesting that during 2'dcf treatment allograft rejection was completely suppressed. In vitro, lymphocytes isolated from animals treated with continuous infusion of 2'dcf showed marked suppression of mitogen response. The 2'dcf preferentially effects lymphocytes, but neutrophils seem resistant to the effect of the drug. The lymphocytotoxic effect of the drug is extreme; during therapy splenic weight decreased by almost 50% and the differential lymphocyte count in blood decreased from 85% to 17%. Immunofluorescence studies showed that, within the spleen, the amount of T cells and B cells decreased markedly. Both T cell subsets were affected--OX8+ cells (suppressor/cytotoxic T cells) and W3/25+ (helper T cells). However OX8+ cells were more resistant to the drug than W3/25+ cells. Skin-grafted rats treated with 2'dcf showed a strong decrease in the W3/25: OX8 ratio. In contrast, untreated rats showed a slight increase in the ratio after skin transplantation. It is concluded that 2'dcf is a strong immunosuppressive drug in rats if given by continuous infusion.
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3895620
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Experiments have been carried out to investigate whether the continued survival of rat kidney allografts induced by two different methods-namely, immunological enhancement or a limited course of drug treatment with cyclosporine or cyclophosphamide, is maintained by similar mechanisms. (AS X AUG)F1 or AUG strain kidneys were transplanted to AS recipients that were treated for 14 days with cyclosporine or cyclophosphamide. The limited course of drug treatments induced indefinitely prolonged, or very extended, allograft survival. Long-surviving F1 kidney grafts were retransplanted into naive AS recipients, and by functioning for more than 100 days proved, like enhanced grafts, to be less immunogenic than normal (AS X AUG)F1 kidneys. Very prolonged survival of homozygous, incompatible AUG kidneys was only observed after the cyclosporine drug regimen-and when these grafts were retransplanted to naive second AS recipients, acute or chronic rejection ensued. However, the rejection was prevented if spleen cells from the first AS recipient were adoptively transferred to the second AS recipient at the time of retransplantation. It was concluded that suppressor cells must be present in the transferred spleen cell populations. The experiments show that, as in the case of immunological enhancement, very prolonged allograft survival brought about by a short course of immunosuppressive drug treatment is accompanied by reduction in graft immunogenicity, and by the induction of suppressor cells.
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3895619
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We have previously shown that pretransplant treatment with palladium-109 hematoporphyrin (Pd-H) and two small doses of antilymphocyte globulin (ALG) leads to donor-specific permanent acceptance of cardiac allografts in weakly histoincompatible rat combinations and significant prolongation of hearts in the ACI-to-Lewis strains. Pd-H also concentrates in nonlymphoid organs to a significant degree that is undesirable, so we have examined, in the present study, the efficacy of Pd-109 attached to lymphocytes in producing selective lymphoid irradiation and compared it with the immunosuppressive effect of Pd-H. Adoptive transfer of syngeneic lymphocytes labeled with palladium-109 (Pd-L) led to significant concentration of radioactivity in the peripheral lymphoid organs relative to the bone marrow (BM), intestine, thymus, and endocrine organs. The concentration of radioactivity in the spleen relative to BM and intestinal mucosa was 23:1 and 58:1, respectively. The immunosuppressive efficacy of a suboptimal dose of 3 mCi (one-third of the dose used in our earlier reports with Pd-H) administered via Pd-L (6 X 10(9) cells) at 4 days combined with 5 mg ALG at 2 days and 1 day prior to transplantation was compared in its effect on cardiac allografts with a similar dose of Pd-H (3 mCi) combined with ALG. The mean survival time (MST) of 6.5 +/- 0.4 days in untreated recipients was moderately prolonged to 14.6 +/- 3.0 days by Pd-H and ALG, and was not significantly different from an MST of 14.1 +/- 0.3 days achieved with 2 doses of ALG alone. Pretransplant treatment of Lewis rats with Pd-L and ALG produced a significant prolongation of ACI heart allografts to 30.5 +/- 3.1 days (P less than 0.001). These results suggest that Pd-L is more effective in prolonging rat cardiac allografts than a similar dose of Pd-H, and thus it may be a new method of selective lymphoid irradiation prior to transplantation.
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3895621
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C4 polymorphism was investigated in 13 orthotopic liver transplantations. It could be shown that recipient C4 phenotype disappears after transplantation and is replaced by donor phenotype on days 10-19 posttransplantation. This indicates that C4 is mainly produced in the liver. The delayed appearance of donor C4 phenotype compared with other complement components produced in the liver cannot be explained by different rates of synthesis or serum protein levels. The limited number of patients investigated in this study does not permit assessment of the role of C4, C3, Bf, and HLA-A, B, and DR in orthotopic liver transplantation.
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3895622
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Forty-eight patients with hematologic malignancies treated by allogeneic marrow transplantation developed acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), grades II-IV, despite prophylaxis with methotrexate. They were treated with a combination of antithymocyte globulin (ATG) and cyclosporine (CsA), with or without the addition of methylprednisolone (MP). Thirty patients had received HLA-identical and 18 HLA-nonidentical transplants. Median onset of GVHD was day 13 (range 8-60) for patients with HLA-nonidentical grafts and day 18 (range 7-48) for patients given HLA-identical grafts (P = 0.01). Forty-five patients could be evaluated for response on day 7 of therapy. Among these, 13 of 27 given ATG/CSP and 6 of 18 given ATG/CSP/MP improved. Among 33 patients evaluable on day 14 of therapy 13 of 19 given ATG/CSP and 5 of 14 given ATG/CSP/MP showed improvement of GVHD. Patients given HLA-nonidentical grafts responded somewhat (although not significantly) less frequently than patients given HLA-identical grafts. Chronic GVHD developed in 16 of 18 evaluable patients given ATG/CSP and in 5 of 6 given ATG/CSP/MP. Viral, bacterial, and fungal infections were the major cause of death in both groups. Interstitial pneumonitis was more frequent among patients given ATG/CSP/MP. Survival beyond 6 months was 67% among patients treated with ATG/CSP and 25% with ATG/CSP/MP. These data indicate that a regimen of ATG/CSP is of value in the treatment of acute GVHD. The addition of MP was not beneficial and resulted in decreased survival--presumably because of excessive immunosuppression and associated complications.
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3895623
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We have previously described a monoclonal antibody (CAMAL-1) that reacts in an indirect immunoperoxidase slide test at high frequency with cells of patients with acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL), both at presentation and in remission (1). This article reports on a 12-month blind study carried out on peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) of patients who had received bone marrow transplants for acute leukemias. PBL of patients attending the Royal Marsden Hospital were sent as cytospins to the University of British Columbia for staining and screening. Results of this study showed the following: of the 15 patients who remained in remission during the period of the study, 13 showed no abnormal increase in reactivity with CAMAL-1 (2 patients did show increased levels of reactivity over time); of the four patients relapsing but surviving within this period with ANLL, all showed elevated numbers of cells reactive with CAMAL-1 as long as 3 months prior to relapse (the two relapsing patients who had acute undifferentiated leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia did not show elevations of CAMAL-1-reactive cells); of the 14 patients dying during this time of causes other than leukemia, none had elevated levels of CAMAL-1-reactive cells--and, of 4 patients dying in relapse, all had extremely elevated levels of CAMAL-1-reactive cells as long as 4 months prior to relapse. The implications of these observations are discussed.
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3895624
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The effect of food on the absorption of cyclosporine was evaluated in 18 recipients of cadaveric renal transplants. Cyclosporine was administered orally with a standard hospital breakfast on one study day and without breakfast on the alternate study day. The oral absorption rate as measured by the observed time to peak concentration was not significantly altered by food. The administration of cyclosporine with food resulted in a significant increase in the peak (1465 ng/ml versus 1120 ng/ml) and trough (267 ng/ml versus 228 ng/ml) blood concentrations as well as the area under the blood concentration versus time curve (11430 ng . hr/ml versus 7881 ng . hr/ml). The mean increase in area under the blood concentration versus time curve was 60.6%. The exact mechanism by which food increases the absorption of cyclosporine is not known. Regardless of the mechanism involved, if adequate immunosuppression is achieved with lower doses of cyclosporine taken with food, significant cost savings could be realized.
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3895626
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The cellular requirements for renal allograft rejection have been reassessed in a rat adoptive transfer model, preceding studies having shown that transplanted kidneys may be rejected in the absence of cytotoxic T cells or specific antibody. Unilaterally nephrectomized, sublethally irradiated (780 rads) LEW recipients of renal allografts from irradiated WF donors, were selectively reconstituted with spleen cells from sensitized syngeneic donors and subjected to delayed nephrectomy of the residual native kidney 3 days posttransplantation. In some experiments the reconstituting inocula were depleted of SIg+ cells (anti-Ig column) or additionally depleted of cytotoxic T cells and their precursors reactive with monoclonal OX8 (rosette depletion). Depleting the reconstituting inocula of SIg+ cells as well as cells reactive with monoclonal OX8 failed (n = 4) to alter the tempo of rejection, as demonstrated by a mean serum creatinine +/- SD on day 8 of 5.4 +/- 3.8 vs. 6.4 +/- 4.2 in recipients (n = 8) reconstituted with unfractionated inocula. These data support a link between DTH and graft rejection, so additional studies were performed to characterize rat lymphotoxin (LT), one of the potential mediators of DTH-induced tissue injury, and to demonstrate the presence of LT in rejecting rat renal allografts. Rat LT, generated in vitro by stimulating spleen cells from specifically sensitized rats with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (100 micrograms m/ml), was shown on gel filtration to have an MW of approximately 50,000. In-vitro-generated rat LT was shown to be heat stable (70 degrees C for 15 min) and soluble in 40% (NH4)2SO4. Rat LT eluted as a single peak on DEAE anion exchange chromatography (0-0.15 M, NaCl osmotic gradient), supporting the existence of but a single molecular form. LT was isolated from rejecting renal allografts on day 6 after renal transplant but undetected (less than 1 unit) in residual native kidneys. This study, therefore, provides substantial support for a link between DTH and renal allograft rejection. Lymphotoxin, one of the potential mediators of tissue injury in this model system, has been partially characterized and demonstrated to be present in rejecting rat renal allografts.
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3895627
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When C3H/HeN (C3H) mice were primed with viable AKR/J (AKR) spleen cells and treated with cyclophosphamide (CP) two days later, a profound tolerance to AKR skin grafts was induced. This tolerance was induced also in other combinations disparate only at minor histocompatibility (H) antigens (AKR-C3H and BALB/c[BALB]-DBA/2[DBA]). In C3H mice made tolerant to AKR, delayed foot-pad reaction (DFR), cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTL), and cytotoxic antibodies (CTAb) against AKR spleen cells were abrogated completely. Tolerance to AKR mice was also observed in C3H mice primed with viable AKR and C57BL/6 (B6) spleen cells and treated with CP, but tolerance to B6 was not induced because a cell population responsible for DFR and CTL against B6 H-2 antigens remained after tolerance induction. These results suggest that there is a lymphocyte population responsible for DFR and CTL against antigens allogeneic at both major and minor H that is less proliferative than the population responsible for DFR and CTL against minor H antigens.
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3895625
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A total of 144 evaluations of cell surface markers and cellular immune functions were carried out in 57 patients undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for acute leukemia in remission and relapse and for aplastic anemia. The periods tested were pretransplant, and 1-3, 4-6, 7-12 and more than 12 months posttransplant. The determination consisted of lymphocyte counts; lymphocyte surface marking using OKT3, OKT4, and OKT8 antibodies; and determination of adherent cells, lysozymes and antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against chicken red blood cells, human red blood cells, and CEM cells. Natural killer cells were determined against K562 target cells. Lymphoblastic responses were tested after stimulation with pokeweed mitogen (PWM), concanavalin-A (Con-A), and phytohemagglutinin (PHA). We found that the progression in the leukemic state (first remission, second remission, and relapse), prior to transplantation was paralleled by a decrease in T4 lymphocytes (976/microliter +/- 462; 411/microliter +/- 222; 372/microliter +/- 419; P = .04). There was a lack of helper cells and an inverted T4:T8 ratio beyond one year posttransplant independent of graft-versus-host disease status. Lymphocyte functions persisted to be depressed for more than one year. We found a direct correlation of T4 helper cells and an inverse correlation of T8 suppressor cells with lymphoblastic responses to mitogens. It is hoped that the longitudinal evaluations of immune functions after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, and the characterization of the immune defects seen may lead to better immunorestorative treatments.
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3895628
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BN male trunk skin grafts, the Langerhans cells (LC) of which have been replaced with major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-incompatible Lewis female cells, survive longer on BN female rats than BN male trunk skin grafts bearing BN female LC. Evidence is presented that the privilege afforded these grafts is a consequence of MHC restriction. Thus, supplanting the native LC population of BN male trunk skin grafts with MHC-compatible Lewis.1N female cells has no affect on their survival on BN female rats. Evidence is also presented that H-Y-incompatible isografts deficient in MHC-compatible LC induce tolerance of H-Y.
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3895634
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Only one of six patients in whom a clinical diagnosis of rejection was confirmed by both biopsy and FNA benefited from a switch from cyclosporine to azathioprine. Nine patients, in whom nephrotoxicity and rejection could not be separated and in whom the biopsy was positive but the FNA negative, improved when converted to cyclosporine. This improvement was, however, followed by subsequent rejection episodes in four of these patients. This study suggests caution in changing from CsA therapy in patients with unstable function.
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3895647
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Two acalculous renal transplant patients, of more than 1,000 performed at this center, suffered early infarction and perforation of the gallbladder following operation. This rare complication may be related to both postoperative stress and the immunocompromising drugs given to renal transplant patients.
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3895671
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Drugs may produce acute renal failure by prerenal, intrarenal and obstructive (postrenal) mechanisms. Prerenal processes usually develop from an imbalance of the normal counterbalancing vasoconstrictor and vasodilatory substances regulating RBF, resulting in a predominant vasoconstrictive state. Intrarenal processes develop from toxic renal tubule epithelial cell injury. The pathogenesis of renal cell injury is a complex interplay among derangements in subcellular membrane functions and mediators of injurious processes. Plasma and subcellular membrane injury and resulting membrane dysfunction appear most important. Cyclosporine has the ability to interact with renal tubular cell membranes in a relatively specific manner and at low concentrations. Despite this interaction, the acute declines in renal excretory function produced by cyclosporine is due predominantly to functional declines in RBF rather than structural derangements in renal tubular cell integrity. Cyclosporine-induced acute renal failure, thus, appears to be due predominantly to prerenal, rather than intrarenal, processes in the experimental animal. Cyclosporine does, however, possess a limited toxic potential to injure renal cortical cells, so that a chronic tubulointerstitial nephropathy may develop with long-term use of this immunosuppressive agent.
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3895673
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Table 1 summarizes the findings in these three models of nephrotoxic acute renal failure. As can be noted, leakage of filtrate across damaged tubular epithelium is a factor in each instance. Some degree of tubular obstruction is probably present in each model but is of major importance only with severe tubular injury. Hemodynamic alterations and a change in the ultrafiltration coefficient may also play a role in the renal functional impairment. It is not presently possible to quantitatively determine the significance of each of these abnormalities in a given experimental model.
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3895676
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Rules required for fixation of tissues are considered aimed for a further localization of chemical elements in these tissue by means of local X-ray microanalysis. In addition, difficulties involved in fixation of diffusible elements, such as potassium or sodium, are mentioned. Physical bases of preparation of hydrated tissues for X-ray analysis are discussed.
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3895682
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A comparison of 5 different methods of extraction of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) from mycobacterial cells was carried out using Mycobacterium bovis, BCG as a model. ATP was measured using the luciferin-luciferase bioluminescence reaction. Boiling buffer extraction was the best method. The amount of ATP extracted correlated with the number of colony forming units over a wide range of count. Although great sensitivity in terms of number of bacilli detectable was not achieved the method was rapid and appears suitable for drug sensitivity testing of tubercle bacilli.
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3895683
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The immunohistochemical reactivity of the monoclonal antimelanoma antibody MEL-1 was evaluated on frozen sections of 9 malignant melanomas, 5 nevi, 1 squamous cell carcinoma, 1 basal cell carcinoma, 2 benign dermal fibrous histiocytomas, 1 infiltrating ductal and 2 infiltrating lobular carcinomas of the breast, 1 primary squamous cell carcinoma and 1 adenocarcinoma of the lung, 1 lung metastasis of gastric adenocarcinoma, 1 adenocarcinoma of the large bowel, 1 lymph node, 1 case of malignant histiocytosis and one of lymph nodal immunoblastic lymphoma, and 1 biopsy of oral cavity mucosa. In primary and metastatic malignant melanoma, junctional nevi, and the upper half of compound and dermal nevi, the staining was intense. Also, benign dermal fibrous histiocytoma and the case of lymph nodal malignant histiocytosis showed an intense reactivity, whereas the immunostaining positivity of the squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, the lung adenocarcinoma, the squamous cutaneous and mucosal epithelium, and the sweat and sebaceous glands was slight. In ductal and lobular infiltrating carcinoma of the breast only focal areas or isolated tumor cells were positive. The lack of reactivity of deep dermal melanocytes of compound and dermal nevi may be correlated with a different antigenic phenotype of the melanocytes. After discussion of the technical problems, the application of MEL-1 was suggested, for diagnostic purpose, to identify lymph nodal metastases in cases of primary self regressed malignant melanoma and to detect lymph nodal metastatic microfoci of malignant melanoma.
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3895685
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Aminoglutethimide, a drug known to block adrenal steroidogenesis and peripheral aromatization of androgens to estrogens, has been found effective in the treatment of breast cancer. The drug has been used in our Institute to treat 71 consecutive metastatic breast cancer patients. Of 67 patients evaluable for response, 9 (13.4%) have achieved a partial response, 30 (44.7%) stable disease, and 28 (41.7%) progression of disease. Four patients were taken off the therapy because of drug-related toxicity.
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3895684
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The photodynamic therapy of tumors is based on a photosensitization reaction that produces oxygen-derived cytotoxic species. The availability of oxygen is therefore a necessary condition to obtain the desired effect. However, most tumors develop regions that have outgrown their vascular supply, and therefore present severe hypoxia. In many hypoxic, yet viable areas, oxygen partial pressures almost two orders of magnitude lower that in normal tissues have been measured by other authors. It is here suggested that hypoxic cells are resistant to the therapy and hence are a source of postirradiation recurrence of the tumors. Methods are reviewed and discussed that can be used to: (a) improve the tumor oxygenation status prior to, or during irradiation; (b) destroy hypoxic cells; and, (c) allow the reoxygenation of the tumor by using fractionated irradiation protocols which increase tumor photosensitivity. Hyperthermia, a therapy to which hypoxic cells are particularly sensitive, is discussed. Cellular and vascular parameters that should be considered when discussing the synergism between hyperthermia and photodynamic therapy are listed. The new research field of hypoxia mapping by nondestructive, noninvasive, imaging techniques is briefly discussed.
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3895675
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The paper presents cytogenetic data available in literature concerning results of the study of malignant somatic cells at chromosomal and genetic levels in the pretumour period and in advanced tumours.
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3895689
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Acidic proteinase from the trout spawn is 640 fold purified (yield 22%). Purification includes autolysis, acid treatment, ammonium sulphate fractionation, G-100 Sephadex gel-filtration, ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. Molecular mass of the enzyme under study is 70 kDa according to the data of gel-filtration. Acidic proteinase displays its greatest activity towards hemoglobin (pH 4.0, 37 degrees C) and is inhibited completely by EDTA, by 50%--by Pb2+ and soya inhibitor of trypsin and 2.8 times activated by Zn2+. Enzyme activity is not affected by dithiotreitol, iodine acetate, phenylmethylsulphonylfluoride parachloromercurybenzoate, Hg2+, Na+, Co2+, Ca2+.
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3895690
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Process of postsynthetic modifications of proteins in norm are considered. Two basic groups of modification processes are singled out: 1) processes which promote appearance of derivatives for 20 basic amino acids, i.e. change in the primary structure; 2) processes which are not associated with appearance of new amino acids but are responsible mainly for the changes in the polypeptide chain conformation and size. Modification processes of amino acid variations by means of methylation, acetylation, acylation, phosphorylation, ADP-ribosylation, glycosylation, amidation, hydroxylation and metal addition are described as referred to the first group. Proteolysis reactions are characterized in detail. Their significance for formation of biologically active peptides is considered. A notion "one gene--one protein" is thought to be incompetent because formation of a number of proteins necessitates participation of tens and hundreds of genes, coding enzymes of postsynthetic modification.
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3895705
|
Being called to the operating room to repair a surgically damaged ureter is an opportunity and challenge that requires on-the-spot decisions based on our training and experience and can result in restoring urinary tract continuity and avoiding secondary operations. A variety of functional reparative techniques are available; however, after consideration of each case in the context in which it arises, the best solution can usually be selected.
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3895706
|
Although knowledge of the details of heart, lung, liver, or pancreas dissections is not critical for urologists doing only renal procurement, understanding the principles of multiple organ procurement is important if quality kidneys are to be obtained. The needs of the various recipients must be kept in mind, especially those of heart, lung, and liver recipients, because those organs must function properly every time. Although it may be necessary in an occasional case, especially in small pediatric donors, to remove a heart or liver but not the kidneys, it is not acceptable practice to sacrifice kidneys routinely from multiple organ donors. Low wastage rates of kidneys from multiple organ donors are well documented. Rates of initial nonfunction (ATN) in patients receiving kidneys from multiple organ donors have been about 10 per cent, comparable to the initial nonfunction rates of kidneys from kidney-only donors. Renal procurement operations from cadaver donors will be done frequently in association with procurement of other vital organs. The continued availability of kidneys for transplantation should not be altered by the use of such donors as long as cooperation and careful surgical techniques are employed.
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3895707
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Using unfixed mouse bladder tumor cells (MBT) as target cells and a modified avidin-biotin-complex (ABC) method made it possible to detect a humoral immune response in C3H mice with growing MBT tumors. The rise of the serum levels is significant (p less than 0.005) when compared to control animals and correlates with the tumor size. Mice with recurrences after surgical removal of the primary tumor had significantly (p less than 0.05) higher serum values than animals without recurrence. Purulent or granulomatous inflammatory changes, muscle necrosis, growth of a lymphoma or an ovarian carcinoma did not significantly change the results (p less than 0.05). Injection of myeloma cells from a different strain of mice caused a minimal, but significant increase in the values when compared to controls (p less than 0.0001). However, the slope of the curve differed significantly (p less than 0.05) from that in mice with MBT tumors. Irradiated MBT cells or Corynebacterium parvum used as immunomodulators significantly increased the serum values (p less than 0.001). In the presence of a growing MBT tumor, however, the immunomodulation did not substantially falsify the results. The serum values were related to the corresponding tumor sizes.
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3895709
|
Radiation injury to the kidney, first reported almost eighty years ago, may vary from subclinical changes in renal blood flow or enzyme activity to clinically significant hypertension and/or renal failure. A child with radiation-induced hyperreninemic hypertension was cured by nephrectomy. The microscopic, subclinical, and clinical changes of irradiation injury are reviewed. The etiology of radiation-induced hypertension, methods of radioprotection, and early detection of radiation renal damage are discussed.
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3895708
|
Multiple cystic disease occurring in the diseased kidneys of patients with end-stage renal insufficiency is called uremic acquired cystic disease of the kidney. In male patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis the incidence of ACDK is markedly high. ACDK is known to be accompanied by tumor, bleeding, calculus, abscess, etc., and the complication of cancer of the kidney is a special problem. In patients undergoing hemodialysis, occurrence of ACDK, tumor, and kidney cancer are observed respectively at the rate of 47.1, 4.8, and 1.5 per cent. When hemodialysis patients show gross hematuria, flank pain, rapid decrease in hematocrit, and sustained fever, ACDK or its complications should be investigated. Since the risk accompanied by kidney cancer is high in spite of a lack of symptoms, regular screening by ultrasonic examination or CT scan is needed. Renal transplantation is also recommended because of the regression of ACDK after successful renal transplantation. In the future, it appears that ACDK should be considered one disease entity and added to the categories of renal cystic diseases. In addition, ACDK can be studied as a model for clarification of the mechanism of cyst and tumor occurrence.
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3895710
|
Growth of Escherichia coli 06 was compared in concentrated overnight urine and dilute daytime urine. In concentrated urine, 90 per cent of the initial inoculum died during the lag phase and surviving bacteria had a long lag period before they started to grow. Once growth began, these bacteria required fifty-five hours to reach their maximum growth yield. In dilute urine, 75 per cent of the same bacteria survived the lag phase; once growth began, they reached maximum growth yield in only thirteen hours. These observations suggest that concentrated overnight urine serves as a natural defense mechanism against urinary tract infections.
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3895711
|
The ability to diagnose genitourinary abnormalities in the fetus frequently poses management dilemmas for the urologist. Our experience with 13 cases of abnormal fetal ultrasonography examinations thought to be genitourinary in nature underscores difficulties posed by this new technology. In 3 cases the prenatal diagnosis was eventually found to be incorrect. In 1 case, vesicoureteric reflux gave the appearance of hydronephrosis that resolved after birth. In 3 cases in which intervention was deemed necessary, the eventual outcome was unaffected. Prenatal ultrasound is most useful when detecting occult hydronephrosis that would have gone unnoticed in the routine newborn physical examination. However, our patients received no benefit from fetal intervention.
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3895712
|
Necrotic and granulomatous gastritis is described in Lake Tanganyika cichlids. Clostridium hastiforme and flagellated protozoa were both associated with the reaction but the significance of either is unknown. Nevertheless, treatment of surviving fish with ampicillin was carried out and mortalities ceased. The possible involvement of an unsuitable diet as a predisposing factor is discussed.
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3895714
|
A correlation between the use of antibiotics and drug resistance was found among Escherichia coli strains isolated from modern battery poultry at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. All 1248 E coli strains from university poultry and 2196 strains from a commercial poultry farm in Ibadan were resistant to tetracycline, streptomycin and sulphonamide, the minimal inhibitory concentrations of these drugs being found to be several times those of the control E coli NCTC 10418. In contrast, all 2284 strains isolated from free-range town and village poultry were sensitive to these drugs. In the tropical developing countries with poor environmental sanitation and low personal hygiene, this situation has public health implications.
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3895717
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Diagnoses of pregnancy were made on 110 Hereford cross Friesian and 69 blue grey (white shorthorn cross Galloway) cows between 92 and 202 days after last service using a real-time ultrasonic scanning instrument with a 3.5 MHz rectal transducer. Of the 174 cows which subsequently calved, one was wrongly diagnosed as non-pregnant. Of the five cows which did not subsequently calve two were diagnosed as pregnant and may in fact have been pregnant at the time of scanning. The overall level of accuracy of pregnancy diagnosis was 98.3 per cent. In further trials with 16 Hereford cross Friesian and 16 blue grey cows scanned at regular intervals between 20 and 140 days of gestation, pregnancy was diagnosed with confidence from 30 days, and relationships were established whereby gestational age could be estimated from measurements of certain uterine and fetal dimensions. Crown-rump length provided the most precise estimate of gestational age (residual sd +/- 4.5 days) and uterine diameter the least (+/- 12.6 days) with head length and the diameters of trunk, head and nose being intermediate (+/- 6.9 to 8.7 days).
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3895719
|
Farm livestock show no measurable effects from being exposed to ionizing radiation unless the level is greatly in excess of the natural background radiation. Possible sources of ionizing radiation which might affect livestock or contribute to radioactivity in the food chain to humans are reactor accidents, fuel reprocessing plant accidents and thermonuclear explosions. Most data on ionizing radiation effects on livestock are from whole body gamma doses near the LD 50/60 level. However, grazing livestock would be subjected to added beta exposure from ingested and skin retained radioactive particles. Results of attempts to simulate exposure of the Hereford cattle at Alamogardo, NM show that cattle are more sensitive to ingested fallout radiation than other species. Poultry LD 50/60 for gamma exposure is about twice the level for mammals, and swine appear to have the most efficient repair system being able to withstand the most chronic gamma exposure. Productivity of most livestock surviving an LD 50/60 exposure is temporarily reduced and longterm effects are small. Livestock are good screeners against undesirables in our diet and with the exception of radiosotopes of iodine in milk, very little fission product radioactivity would be expected to be transferred through the food chain in livestock products for humans. Feeding of stored feed or moving livestock to uncontaminated pastures would be the best protective action to follow.
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3895721
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Sera from 21 cattle (10 bovine ocular squamous cell carcinoma (BOSCC) bearing and 11 controls) were tested for antibody reactivity against various cultured cells (BOSCC, normal skin and tumours other than BOSCC), by an indirect immunofluorescence technique. Most of the BOSCC sera reacted with autologous and allogeneic BOSCC cells and did not show any significant reactivity with normal skin cells (autologous or allogeneic). These sera when further tested on 7 different allogeneic or xenogeneic tumour cell types (other than BOSCC), showed significant reactivity only with cultured equine sarcoid and cutaneous papilloma cells. Three of the BOSCC sera did not react with autologous BOSCC cells but reacted indiscriminately with all other allogeneic BOSCC, normal cells and other tumour cells. Most of the control sera did not show any significant reactivity against BOSCC cells except sera from one cow bearing ocular papilloma and 2 healthy normals that were in contact with BOSCC bearing animals. This study suggests that BOSCC cells possess tumour associated antigens that are common to most (if not all) BOSCC cells.
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3895722
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The specificities of three monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were investigated using microcytotoxicity, fluorescence microscopy and laser flow cytometry (LFC) techniques. By microcytotoxicity, bovine thymocytes (n = 4) were estimated to be 85% B26A+, 4% TH21A+, and 1% H4+. Nylon wool enriched peripheral blood T lymphocytes (n = 3) were 90% B26A+, 10% TH21A+ and 10% H4+. Adherent B cell enriched fractions (n = 3) were 10% B26A+, 90% TH21A+ and 90% H4+. The two fluorochrome method was used to simultaneously identify lymphocytes that were sIg+ and MAb+. In these experiments, 92% of all sIg+ cells were H4+. An identical result was obtained for TH21A. 85% of all sIg- cells were B26A+. Using LFC, the mean percentages of sIg+, H4+ and TH21A+ PBL (n = 5) were not significantly different. B26A recognized a significantly greater population of cells, equivalent to the expected percentage of T lymphocytes. LFC also revealed two relatively discrete sizes of B26A+ PBL. The larger population overlapped the size range in which sIg+, H4+, TH21A+ PBL were found. The more numerous smaller B26A+ PBL were in a size range in which few sIg+, H4+ and TH21A+ PBL were found. In a study of MAb reactions with PBL of 185 cows, it was shown that in 92% of the animals H4 and TH21A were positively correlated (r = +.93), when H4 and TH21A were negatively correlated with B26A (r = -.94 and r = -.92, respectively). These correlation coefficients indicate a converse relationship between B26A and both H4 and TH21A. The remaining 8% of the animals were heterogeneous in their expression of the H4 and TH21A markers but not the B26A marker. These results provide strong evidence that: 1) B26A is a pan-T lymphocyte MAb in cattle, 2) a small but significant degree of heterogeneity exists in the expression of the epitopes recognized by H4 and TH21A. However, both MAbs recognize all B lymphocytes of most individuals, and 3) using a variety of immunological methods these three MAbs can now reliably be used to assay bovine T and B lymphocytes.
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3895723
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We have described full details of the preparation of slices from the visual cortex of cats. Then, we presented the results concerning the effects of the deprivation of glucose from the circulating medium on neuronal activities in the slices and the electrophysiological criteria for identifying glial cells in the sliced brain tissues. The results indicated that transsynaptic responses were reversibly blocked within 10-20 min, while nonsynaptic responses continued for more than 60 min in the glucose-free medium. We showed that glial cells could be identified according to the criteria proposed in in vivo experiments.
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3895724
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In order to obtain insights into the mechanisms by which the cells in primary visual cortex generate their receptive field properties, we have investigated the intrinsic cortical circuitry by intracellular recording and dye injection. The dye injection technique in combination with 3-dimensional computer graphic reconstructions from serial sections allows us to visualize the full dendritic and axonal arbors of cells. We have also studied cells that are postsynaptic to the injected cells by serial EM reconstruction of the postsynaptic dendrites. Taken together, this methodology has extended our knowledge of interlaminar and horizontal cortical connections, and we present hypotheses on the relationship between these connections and specific receptive field features.
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3895734
|
A simplified micromodification of the leukocyte adherence inhibition (LAI) test using both leukocytes and lymphocytes from peripheral blood of cancer patients is discussed. Data on oncoimmunologic specificity and cellular mechanisms underlying the proposed procedure as well as the results of a comparative study of LAI factor-producing T-cell and immunoregulatory (Tmu and T gamma) lymphocyte subpopulations in breast cancer patients are presented. The LAI-test micromodification may be adjunct in breast cancer diagnosis. It may be employed for monitoring T-cell specific immunity in cancer patients and further study of LAI factor-producing T-cells as a component of the structure of T-cell subpopulations.
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3895741
|
The paper presents additional information to the bibliographic check up in the two papers of Asst. Prof. Dimitrov, published in the periodical "Vŭtreshni bolesti" in 1982 as regards the history of Balkan endemic nephropathy, being of importance for the early history of the disease. Some of the data not accurately cited in the two papers of Asst. Prof. Dimitrov are corrected. Critical notes are also presented about the erroneous interpretation of some of the early written scientific facts.
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3895740
|
The antigenic properties of insulin and the effect of additional factors on them, HL-A-phenotype including were studied under different conditions in 3 groups of diabetic patients (I--71 patients treated with insulin, II--48 diabetic patients--never treated with insulin and III--51 diabetics, treated at least 6 months with conventional insulin and later treated with monocomponent insulin "Actrapid"). In some other experiments, making use of 7 groups guinea pigs, the antigenicity of different trade insulin preparations was tested. The antibody titre was assessed by the insulin-binding serum capacity, incubated with 131I-insulin. The authors established a significant dependence of antibody titre on insulin during insulin treatment and insignificant--with the age of the patients, duration of insulin treatment and HL-A phenotype. The last correlation with HLA-phenotype B 15 was highly significant. A reduction of antibody titre was established after changing from conventional to highly-purified monocomponent insulin preparation and anew elevation of titre with the resumed treatment with non-purified insulin forms according to special ways. All insulin preparations, that the separate groups of guinea pigs were injected, led to significant increase of antibody titre in the experimental animals. The better purified of them, however, as "insulin Comb" and Bulgarian "neutral porcine insulin"--Pharmachim, are less antigenic. A treatment with highly purified preparations is recommended for the diabetic patients with HLA-phenotype B 15.
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3895743
|
A hypothesis is proposed admitting the participation of apometallothioneines (AMT) as a common link in the etiopathogenesis of hypertonic disease (HD) and some diseases with polygene heredity. The preconditions of the hypothesis are discussed (role of genetic disposition, external factors as salt, stress, tobacco smoking, alcohol, microelements--V and Cd and glucocorticoids in the origination of arterial hypertension). AMT homeostasis is discussed as well as the possible connection with the metabolism of Zn and Cu and Cu in organism. The chelating capacity of AMT makes it a potential regulatory protein, associated with the activity of Zn- and Cu-dependent enzymes and metalloenzymes. The mosaicism of pathology is explained with the genetic polymorphism of those enzymes (D beta H, MAO, etc), regardless of the common etiopathogenetic link. Some schemes are presented illustrating the hypothesis. The tendencies of the future studies are outlined in searching of direct proofs of the hypothesis.
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3895745
|
An easy and rapid staphylococcal coagulation test is described for detection of bacteria, covered with antibodies in urine of patients with chronic pyelonephritis as an additional index of the etiological role of the isolated microorganisms and localization of the pathological process. Inactivated and stabilized protein A containing strain S. aureus Cowan's (SSM 2352) was used. The coagulation test is negative in infectious processes of the lower segments of urinary system and bacterial contamination of urine.
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3895744
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The authors compare the incidence of the changes established by X-ray, radioisotope-nephrographic and ultrasound studies on 115 patients with chronic pyelonephritis. Most frequent and most characteristic are the changes with venous urography. Though not specific, the changes in the isotope-nephrogram and ultrasound contribute to the establishment of functional and structural disturbances in chronic pyelonephritis. They have no contraindications for application, hence they are of high value in the presence of chronic renal insufficiency, where venous urographic is not effective. The ultrasound study has indisputable advantages in establishing the X-ray negative calculi, renal cysts and a functioning kidney.
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3895746
|
The ability of quinidine retard of restoring sinus rhythm and further maintenance after successful regulation were checked in 42 patients with flutter and fibrillation in an open clinical trial. Quinidine retard restores the sinus rhythm in less patients (60.0%) than quinidine sulphate (81,8%). At the same time, it maintains sinus rhythm in 91,4 per cent of the cases in anti-recurrence treatment. That makes quinidine retard adequate for long-term administration.
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3895747
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Blood glucose, serum level of IRI, NEFA, total and HDL-cholesterol during oral loading with 100 g glucose were studied in 42 patients (37 females and 5 males), at an average age of 46,3, with various forms of hyperthyroidism. Diabetes mellitus was established in 3 patients, and in 10--reduced glucose tolerance. The basal insulinemia is increased in the patients with normal glucose tolerance (mean value 36,34 microU/ml), as compared with those with reduced tolerance (22,94 microU/ml). It manifested a moderate increase but slowed down reduction during the test. The insulin-glucose ratio, an indirect index for tissue insulin resistance, is four-fold increased as compared with the healthy. The total cholesterol and NEFA in the patients with normal and reduced glucose tolerance were with similar levels but during the test NEFA were more pronouncedly reduced in case of normal tolerance. The level of HDL-cholesterol in patients with reduced tolerance is lower (means +/- S = 0,77 +/- 0,42 mmol/l), though insignificantly, as compared with that of normal tolerance (1,03 +/- 0,4 mmol/l). The changes in triglycerides are but opposite: higher (2,21 +/- 0,67 mmol/l) with reduced and lower (1,74 +/- 1,46 mmol/l) in normal glucose tolerance. The differences in HDL-cholesterol and in triglycerides grow in the course of the test. The role of the altered lipid indices is discussed, particularly in reduced glucose tolerance, in the genesis of cardiac complications in hyperthyroidism.
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3895752
|
The side effects associated with the use of Metrizamide, Iopamidol and Iotrol in two double blind studies on lumbar myelography were determined. The cause of headache is explained on the one hand as the result of the distribution of the contrast substance in the CSF space (early headache) and on the other hand due to the CSF leak through the puncture lesion. Iotrol seems to be the safest contrast substance for intrathecal use, however it should be used in the smallest possible amount to reduce even further contrast-related effects in myelography.
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3895753
|
In a two-year-study, the primary feces of all children with gastroenteritis or acute abdominal symptoms were checked for the presence of Campylobacter jejuni (C. j.) even when there was no diarrhea. C. j. could be isolated 19 times from among 974 fecal samples. The most frequent admission diagnosis after gastroenteritis was the suspicion of appendicitis. In the forefront of the clinical picture was abdominal pain, which radiated into the right lower abdomen especially in children of school age, and which was frequently not accompanied by diarrhea. Apart from a leucocytosis with left shift, the laboratory results obtained revealed no parameters which could be utilized for early diagnosis of C. j. infection. 16 out of 19 isolated strains were sensitive to erythromycin. It is still uncertain whether the clinical picture under discussion can indeed be mitigated by administration of erythromycin, and for this reason controlled prospective studies would be desirable.
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3895756
|
One has to distinguish masculine sex behavior and estrogens alone or in combination with gestagens evoke feminine sex behavior. The central integrator for the induction of sex behavior is located in diencephalic nuclei. If sex hormones are lacking, the sex drive is fading off, except in women. Sex hormones are also responsible for the determination of those neutral centres controlling male or female sex behavior later in life in most species. Based on animal datas and on retrospective inquiries of homosexuals or mothers of homosexuals, a hypothesis for the etiology of homo-, bi- and hyposexuality has been developed by Dorner. Absence or deficiency of androgens in the critical phase of "brain differentiation" leads to male homo-, bi- or hyposexuality, respectively. If androgens become active in the critical phase of female differentiation, then the result will be female homo-, bi- or hyposexuality, respectively. This hypothesis will be critical evaluated.
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3895751
|
An edited summary of an Interdepartmental Conference arranged by the Department of Medicine of the UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles. The Director of Conferences is William M. Pardridge, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine. Current findings indicate that autoimmune myasthenia gravis is an acquired immune complex disorder of neuromuscular transmission in voluntary striated muscle. There is a break in immunologic tolerance leading to blocking and degradation of acetylcholine receptors, together with widening of the synaptic cleft associated with partial destruction, simplification and shortening of the postjunctional membrane. Thymic hyperplasia and thymoma may be present. A decremental response to nerve-muscle stimulation, blocking and jitter on single-fiber electromyography and circulating antibodies to acetylcholine receptor are detectable in most patients with generalized weakness. Although the cause of this abnormal immunologic mechanism remains to be discovered, anticholinesterases, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, plasmapheresis or thymectomy (individually or in combination) provide control and better prognosis in most patients.
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3895758
|
Alcohol is a noxious substance with considerable effects on men's potency and fertility. In case of acute intoxication as well as in case of long-term effects of ethanol there is a significant decrease of testosterone and a consecutive increase of gonadotrophin LH resulting in primary hypogonadism. Moreover, chronic alcoholism leads to organic damages of the testes and the liver. Consequently the clinical symptoms and laboratory data show complex changes. Aside from the decrease of testosterone there is an increase of oestrogens (chiefly of estrone); thus increased oestrogenial effects are found in connection with changes regarding synthesis, metabolism, conversion, as well as intravascular and intracellular (receptors) binding proteins. These patients often show gynaecomastia.
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3895759
|
If "early cells of the germ line" or stem cells of a man or other male mammals are irreversibly damaged by noxious agents, such as ionizing rays, cytostatic drugs or others, you will find Sertoli-cells-only-syndrome. In contrast, the loss of differentiating spermatogonia, spermatocytes, or spermatids is a temporal phenomenon, as long as the systems of the somatic cells in the testis are intact. Irreversible damage of these cell systems, however - e.g. Leydig cell system and vascular system which are both situated in the extratubular compartment, the boundary tissue, or the Sertoli cells - results in permanent infertility just as in case of irreversible damage of cells of the "early germ line" or stem cells. On the other hand, a temporary damage of the somatic cell systems in the testis brought about by irritations of the extra- or intratesticular control systems may be neutralized by cure of the impairment. Mutations of the genetic matter caused by exogenous agents in the cells of the germ line are of limited importance to the fertility of the individual but have considerable significance for the genetic state of the population as a whole. Genetic damage of "early cells of the germ line" or stem cells is of higher consequence than negative alteration of the genome in cells belonging to the differentiating part of the germ line. On the other hand, the sensitivity of the genome is especially pronounced in spermatocytes and spermatids, the most advanced cells of the male germ line. The sensitivity of the cell (CS) and the sensitivity of the genome (GMS) frequently do not coincide.
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3895761
|
Twelve patients with angiographically proven coronary artery disease and stable, exercise-induced angina pectoris were treated in a randomized sequence with placebo (PL) and bepridil tablets in maintenance doses of 200 mg, 400 mg and 600 mg per day for one week each, according to a double blind-protocol with intra-individual cross-over. The four treatment phases were separated by 2-week wash-out periods (placebo). On day 7 of each treatment phase and at the end of each wash-out period heart rate and blood pressure were measured 2 and 5 hours after drug intake and exercise stress testing was performed. The mean plasma concentrations at the end of the 1-week treatment periods 2 hours after drug intake were: 375 +/- 202 ng/ml (200 mg/day), 844 +/- 273 ng/ml (400 ng/day) and 1378 +/- 538 ng/ml (600 mg/day). Systolic blood pressure was not influenced by either bepridil dose. Diastolic blood pressure was slightly reduced (-6%) after 600 mg bepridil/day (p less than 0.05). While heart rate at rest in the upright position tended to lower values with regard to bepridil dosages, it was significantly lowered at the end of stress testing (2 hours/5 hours):400 mg: -7% (p less than 0.05)/-15% (p less than 0.05); 600 mg: -11% (p less than 0.001)/-10% (p less than 0.05). Myocardial ischemia (sum of ST-segment depressions) was improved in a dose-dependent manner (2 hours/5 hours):200 mg: -21% (p less than 0.05)/-31% (n.s.); 400 mg: -27% (n.s.)/-31% (p less than 0.01); 600 mg: -56% (p les than 0.001)/-55% (p less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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3895765
|
The percentage of parasitisation and index of adherence of Trypanosoma cruzi has been studied when host HeLa cells or metacyclic forms were pretreated with neuraminidase or with poly-L-lysine. The percentage of parasitisation was significatively reduced (P less than or equal to 0.001) when cells were pretreated with poly-L-lysine while pretreatment with neuraminidase caused no apparent effects. On the other hand, the adherence of the metacyclic forms pretreated with poly-L-lysine or neuraminidase was significantly higher than that of the control group.
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3895754
|
This article describes demographic and economic factors that impinge on the health care of elderly women. Policies that control access to and utilization of health and long term care services are discussed. Some of the shortcomings of past policies are noted and current social reform efforts aimed at greater policy equity for elder women are reviewed.
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3895766
|
Cultures of Trichomonas vaginalis were found to be contaminated with Mycoplasma fermentans. By means of electron microscopy the interaction between the prokaryotic organisms and the trichomonads was examined. Cells of M. fermentans were observed in the medium; some of them were attached to the surface of the trichomonads and others were observed in membrane-bounded vacuoles of trichomonads. They were also present in the ground substance of the cytoplasm. The mycoplasmas divided by binary fission like other prokaryotes. The most obvious change occurring in the infected trichomonad cells was an increase in number of vacuoles containing mycoplasmas.
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3895755
|
Recent respite care research is reviewed, advantages and disadvantages of respite- and home-based care are presented, and some recommendations are introduced. It may be more cost-effective to invest in caregivers' physical, financial, and emotional well-being than to provide the care required when caregivers become "patients." Practical and policy issues are raised regarding the desirability of investment in respite care.
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3895767
|
The interactions between Plasmodium berghei sporozoites and Kupffer cells in rat liver were studied by transmission electron microscopy. Between 10 and 45 min after inoculation, sporozoites were found in the process of entering Kupffer cells and inside phagolysosomes. The sporozoites entered the Kupffer cells by phagocytosis as determined by the presence of pseudopods and local accumulations of aggregated microfilaments and the resulting exclusion of other organelles in the phagocyte cytoplasm beneath the attached parasite. Sporozoites were taken up either with their anterior end first, or backwards. Scanning electron microscopy of in vitro sporozoite Kupffer cell interaction confirmed these observations. It was concluded that sporozoites are taken up in a normal phagocytic way by the Kupffer cells, regardless of their initial place of contact or position. Thirty min after inoculation sporozoites found in phagolysosomes were still morphologically intact but after 45 min we could encounter completely digested sporozoites.
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3895773
|
The Virchow-Collection contains 6 urinary calculi. They were found at a post-mortem examination performed by the Berlin physician Lesser in 1729 on a 34-year old man. Lesser's original description has recently been rediscovered and is published in the article.
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3895775
|
In a controlled clinical trial of 60 patients who underwent low anterior resection we found no influence of anal continence due to suture technique. Continence depends on the level and healing of anastomosis. Below a level of 6 cm from the anocutaneous line we more frequently found a reduction of functional reservoir in the 'neorectum', especially in cases with suture line leakage at anastomosis. Usually, the weakness of continence due to reduced functional reservoir was a temporary situation which lasted not longer than 6 months, if anastomosis healed without insufficiency.
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3895774
|
The aetiology of Morbus Ahlbäck (spontaneous osteonecrosis of the femoral condyles of the knee joint) is still unknown. Sudden onset of pain characterises the beginning of complaints. Only scintimetry results in early diagnosis. Larger osteonecroses are to be treated surgically, for example by osteotomy. In extensive osteonecroses we prefer alloarthroplastic replacement (mostly unicondylar).
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3895776
|
In Shimane Prefecture, Japan, 175 Yersinia enterocolitica isolates from 6,479 stools and 347 appendixes of patients were separated into biotype 3B (VP-, sorbose-, inositol-) serotype O3 phage type II (22 isolates); biotype 4 (84 isolates), biotype 4 (ornithine-) (16 isolates) and biotype 4 (maltose-) (9 isolates) of serotype O3 phage type VIII, biotype 2 serotype O9 (1 isolate) and biotype 1 (43 isolates). This may be the first documentation of isolation of Y. enterocolitica biotype 3B serotype O3 phage type II from patients. Twenty-three Yersinia pseudotuberculosis isolates from stools of 23 patients were grouped into serotypes IB (13 isolates), III (2 isolates) and IVB (8 isolates). Clinical manifestations were more numerous in Y. pseudotuberculosis infections than Y. enterocolitica O3 infections. Y. enterocolitica O3 was more frequently isolated between summer and autumn but Y. pseudotuberculosis and Y. enterocolitica biotype 1 were isolated between winter and spring. Secondary infection with Yersinia among close family members was frequent. Y. enterocolitica O3 and Y. pseudotuberculosis infected persons excreted 10(4) to 10(9) viable cells per g stool during 27 and 19 days, but Y. enterocolitica biotype 1 strains were detected only when using enrichment techniques. Serological responses were not observed in under 2 year old persons infected with Y. enterocolitica O3.
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3895764
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The effect of L-norleucine, an isomer of leucine, on protein metabolism in vivo was studied in suckling rats. Rats were injected subcutaneously with various doses of L-norleucine (0.5 and 5.0 mumol/g body wt.) every 12 h from 3 to 15 days post partum. Protein concentration, amino acid concentrations, and incorporation of [3H]tyrosine into protein were analyzed in liver, muscles of thigh and small intestine. Amino acid concentrations and insulin levels in serum were also measured. At 5 days of age, norleucine induced an increase in protein concentration of skeletal muscle with an increased incorporation of [3H]tyrosine into protein indicating an accelerated protein synthesis. Changes in protein metabolism were paralleled by alterations in the amino acid pattern of this tissue. When protein concentration and protein synthesis were increased in skeletal muscle, protein concentration of small intestine was decreased, accompanied by elevated levels of amino acids in tissue. Protein synthesis of small intestine was not altered by the norleucine treatment. The results suggest a close interrelationship between skeletal muscle and small intestine with respect to protein turnover. The effects of norleucine were less pronounced at 10 and 15 days of age, which indicates a metabolic adaptation to the treatment. Alterations in amino acid concentrations of tissue due to changes in protein metabolism were not uniform but tissue-specific. Current concepts for explaining the effects of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) on protein turnover in skeletal muscle are based on the assumption that the BCAA or leucine alone might become rate-limiting for protein synthesis in muscle under catabolic conditions. The amino acid analogue norleucine, however, cannot replace any of the BCAA in protein. Additionally, norleucine affected protein metabolism in highly anabolic organisms. Therefore, the present thoughts on this issue appear to be incomplete.
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3895779
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In 12 patients a placenta previa was diagnosed sonographically between 17th and 24th gestational week. A prophylactic cerclage was done in all of them between 18th and 24th week. In no case a placenta previa could be proved by ultrasonic controls. Because of the so called migration of the placenta prophylactic measurements are indicated only after the 30th gestational week. A persistent pathological insertion has to be taken into account only at this moment.
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3895777
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In February and March 1984, Cryptococcus neoformans was detected in the manure and ambient air of a volery in the Berlin Zoo in which a Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus) was kept. Both times, 5 colony-forming units of Cr. neoformans could be isolated on the differential medium, Guizotia abyssinica creatinine agar, from 40 1 of air aspirated by the Reuter Centrifugal Sampler (RCS). The absence of a concurrent growth of moulds was found to be of special importance for the optimal isolation of Cr. neoformans on the above mentioned agar for purposes of epidemiological research into airborne dissemination of the fungus. The advantages and disadvantages of 0.1% biphenyl to inhibit concurring growth of moulds are discussed. The control of habitats and foci of Cr. neoformans in zoos and similar establishments is considered a necessity, to prevent inhalatory exposure of susceptible, e.g. immuno-compromised persons.
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3895778
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The authors have investigated the possibilities of obtaining chorionic villi from legal pregnancy termination patients between the 7th and 11th week and the method of direct chromosome preparation from the villi as well. According to their investigations under continuous "real time" ultrasound guidance and with the immediate microscopic checking of the obtained material it is possible to receive chorionic villi of necessary quantity in nearly 100% of the cases, and after 2 or 3 hours the evaluation in a great deal of mitosis of good quality can be carried out. The method may revolutionize the prenatal (fetal) diagnosis, but its routine application may not be proposed until the rate of fetal risk is exactly known.
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3895780
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Dependence of birth weight from placental maturity could be demonstrated by sonographic judgement of placental structure during pregnancy in 784 pregnant women. Early was children in with low birth weight generally seen placental maturity. In children with birth weight over 3500 grs first findings of placental maturity were in 81.8% after 35 weeks gestation. There may be possible correlations between placental maturity and risk factors typical for low placental perfusion with the consequence of fetal growth retardation as hypertension, hypotension, stress and smoking.
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3895763
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[14C]penicillin binding experiments and membrane analysis were carried out with cell envelope preparations from Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis. After incubation with [14C]penicillin G labeled free lipoprotein could be identified. The analysis of the isolated lipoprotein by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicates that there is only one protein with an apparent molecular weight of 7000. The amino acid composition of isolated labeled free lipoprotein from E. coli was identical to the lipoprotein already found in E. coli. It is a point of interest that the amino acid composition of the isolated labeled free lipoprotein from P. mirabilis D 52 differs from that found in other mutants of this strain. The free form of lipoprotein from P. mirabilis D 52 is composed of 61 amino acids and has glycine, phenylalanine and proline as specific components.
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3895781
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Monoamniotic twins and true knots of the umbilical cord have a rare occurrence, their coincidence, however, is frequent by more than a half of the observations. There is a case report. The complication could be recognized by cardiotocographic control of the fetuses and both viable children had been delivered by a well-timed cesarean section. It is demanded a premature diagnosis of the twin pregnancy by ultrasonographics B-mode with evidence of the membranes, greatest care to surveillance of out-patient and hospitalized pregnant women, cardiotocographic control of the twins sub partu and generous indication for cesarean section.
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3895783
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The thanatophoric dwarfism is a relatively rare disease. The course of a pregnancy with this in every case lethal syndrome is demonstrated in one case. The possible ultrasonographic suspected diagnosis is discussed. If the diagnosis is certain termination of pregnancy is indicated.
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3895770
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The effect of insulin and its seven synthetic derivatives on spontaneous bioelectrical activity of the cerebral cortex of rabbits was described in the paper. The influence of these substances on consolidation of long-term memory of white rats was shown at normal state and during experimental neurosis. Insulin was supposed to influence the higher nervous activity not only through glucose metabolism but also by means of increase of permeability of biological membranes for amino acids.
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3895782
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The intention of this case report in its dramatic was to illustrate the importance of an intensive prenatal diagnosis in order succeed by an early treatment. During routine prenatal care a fetal intrauterine persistent severe tachycardia resistant to therapy was developed in the 32nd gestational week by chance. Further intensive ultrasonic diagnostics, trial of drug cardioversion, untimely caesarean section immediately following the first signs of fetal cardiac insufficiency, presence of a specialist in pediatric cardiology and instant therapy made it avoid the otherwise lethal event.
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3895788
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The pattern of generalized seizures was studied in 75 patients with the primary, mixed and secondary forms of generalized epilepsy. The majority of the patients (n-52) presented with generalized seizures with a complex development of generalized and partial motor disturbances throughout the entire paroxysm. The disturbances were divided into 3 variants. Referred to the first variant are convulsive manifestations in the structure of grand mal epilepsy when, in the presence of bilateral convulsions, they were predominant in the facial muscles on one side or muscles of the anterior or posterior aspect of the body. If generalized seizures were more predominant on one side, such motor disorders were attributed to the 2nd variant. The 3rd variant of generalized epileptic seizures was characterized by asymmetric convulsions.
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3895790
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On clinical examination of 50 patients with bladder cancer the authors performed intravesical ultrasonography. By this method they never failed to detect the tumours. The stage of the pathological material obtained by operation or at autopsy was compared with that obtained by the intravesical ultrasonography. In 88% of the cases the two classifications gave identical results. By ultrasonography the pathologic stage was overestimated in 4, and underestimated in 2 cases. Intravesical ultrasonography can be combined with cystoscopy. It is a fast procedure and an ideal supplement to cystoscopy. The combination of the two methods permits the localization of intravesical tumours as well as the estimation of invasion and of the degree of infiltration.
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3895793
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Effects of Verapamil, 120 mg t.i.d. in twenty-one hypertensive patients were assessed at rest and during dynamic exercise. The selection criterion was a diastolic blood pressure (DBP) found, at least 3 times, between 95 and 115 mmHg, not responding to placebo therapy. After 30 days of treatment with Verapamil, the resting systolic blood pressure (SBP) and DBP respectively decreased from 151.8 to 137.5 mmHg (p less than 0.001) and from 103.2 to 89.8 mmHg (p less than 0.001). The blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) responses to dynamic exercise were also significantly blunted and the BP profile on effort was normalized in about half of the cases. Finally, the automatic recording of BP by a non invasive device showed a fall in the mean blood pressure (MBP) from 100.6 to 90.8 mmHg (p less than 0.001). The best results were obtained in patients with lower pretreatment plasma renin activity index and higher DBP or MBP automatically measured. The degree of response was not significantly related to age nor to plasma homovanillic acid level, which, however, significantly rose in all patients following therapy. This increase in sympathetic tone suggests a vasodilatory effect of Verapamil. The tolerance was good in all patients but four, whose electrocardiogram showed some alteration of atrio-ventricular conduction.
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3895792
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The evolution of blood pressure, heart rate, epinephrine, norepinephrine, angiotensin II and plasma renin activity has been studied in 10 patients with essential arterial hypertension before and during a two months period of treatment with guanfacine, a new centrally acting hypotensive drug. Guanfacine was proven effective in lowering both systolic and diastolic supine and standing blood pressure. A decrease in supine and standing norepinephrine plasma concentrations and plasma renin activity was observed. No change was seen in epinephrine or angiotensin II. The fall in supine blood pressure observed during the treatment period was positively correlated with the change in norepinephrine.
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3895800
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Altered concentrations of metabolic hormones have been suggested as important mediators of energy partitioning during early lactation. This study was initiated to determine the effects of propionate (1.0 mmol/kg body weight) infusion on plasma concentrations of glucagon, insulin, growth hormone, propionate and glucose at 14 days ante-partum (AP) and days 5 and 30 postpartum (PP). No differences were seen in propionate concentrations between sampling days. Glucose concentrations were elevated following propionate infusion in pregnant cows but were not elevated in the PP cows. Insulin responses to propionate infusion did not differ between days while the glucagon response was blunted at day 5 PP. Basal glucagon concentrations were elevated between days 5 and 30 PP, insulin concentrations were unchanged between days, while the molar insulin/glucagon ratio was decreased during early lactation. Basal growth hormone (GH) concentrations were elevated between day 14 AP and day 30 PP. GH responsiveness to declining propionate concentrations was greatest at day 5 PP. These data further suggest a role for glucagon as well as GH in nutrient partitioning during early lactation.
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3895797
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The cytologic findings in a case of primary malignant lymphoma of the uterine cervix initially suggested the presence of a malignant neoplasm. By the use of immunologic methods, the lymphoma cells were shown to possess the nature of B lymphocytes. The need for cytochemical study to make a definitive diagnosis of this rare condition is emphasized. The cytologic findings are compared with those of cytologically similar conditions in the cervix: reticulum-cell sarcoma, chloroma and endometrial stromal sarcoma.
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3895799
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One daily dose of 0.05 mg ethinyl oestradiol was administered to 5 patients with Turner's syndrome (mean age +/- SEM = 16.4 +/- 0.7 years) for 10 days. The effects of acute stimulation with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LRH) (0.1 mg iv) on biologically active and immunoreactive LH were analysed before therapy and at the end of oestrogen treatment. Bioactive LH (BIO-LH) was measured by a sensitive and specific in vitro bioassay based upon testosterone production by mechanically dispersed mouse Leydig cell preparations. Immunoreactive LH (RIA-LH) was evaluated by a double antibody RIA method. Prior to oestrogen treatment, LRH induced a prompt rise in BIO-LH and RIA-LH levels, which reached peak values at 30 and 45 min, respectively. After oestrogen treatment, a delayed response (with peak values at 120 min) was observed for both BIO-LH and RIA-LH. Before oestrogen treatment, the mean bioactivity to immunoreactivity (B/I) ratio of LRH-stimulated LH showed a significant decrease from basal values (P less than 0.05). In contrast, after ethinyl oestradiol administration the mean LH B/I ratio increased significantly from basal values in response to LRH (P less than 0.05). The mean relative maximum response (delta %) for BIO-LH was significantly higher (P less than 0.05) in oestrogen-treated than in untreated patients, whereas the mean BIO-LH delta area was significantly lower in the former group (P less than 0.01). Similarly, oestrogens decreased significantly the mean RIA-LH delta area (P less than 0.05), whereas they did not affect significantly the mean RIA-LH delta %. The results further emphasize that oestrogens may change the quality of circulating LH.
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3895801
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Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and insulin in combination have previously been shown to initiate S-phase in primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes. We here describe the detailed time course and dose-dependency of the effects of EGF and insulin on DNA synthesis in cultured hepatocytes. The DNA synthesis was assessed either biochemically or autoradiographically with a fairly good correlation between the two methods. DNA synthesis started 24-30 h after plating of the cells and peaked at approximately 70 h. Up to 70% of the cells entered DNA synthesis during this period. EGF and insulin acted synergistically on the DNA synthesis. Dexamethasone raised the DNA synthesis slightly, maximal effect occurred at concentrations above 2.5 nM and this agent was routinely used in the experiments with EGF and insulin. In the presence of 0.4 microM insulin from the time of plating, EGF dose-dependently increased the DNA synthesis with maximal effect at 5-15 nM. When added in combination with 1.7 nM EGF, insulin enhanced the DNA synthesis over the concentration range from 0.1 to 3 nM. These studies show that primary cultures of hepatocytes are useful in assessing the quantitative aspects of the interactions between the growth stimulating effects of hormones.
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3895798
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A case of primary angiosarcoma arising from the pulmonary artery of the left upper lobe is documented. Clinically, the tumor presented as an asymptomatic solitary lung mass. Exfoliated tumor cells in bronchial washing material occurred singly, in irregular clusters and in sheets with focal glandlike arrangement. They showed ill-defined, pale cytoplasm and fairly regular round-to-oval nuclei with irregular chromatin patterns.
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3895808
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The study describes a reproducible model of complete brain ischemia in rats. Rats with different plasma glucose concentrations were exposed to 10 min of complete cerebral ischemia achieved by compression of neck vessels by a pneumatic cuff. All 30 rats, except one, in which pre-ischemic plasma glucose level were lower than 22 mM (range 1.6-22) survived 10 min complete ischemia and made a similar recovery. Ten rats with pre-ischemic plasma glucose levels above 22 mM (range 22-47.2) died from seizures in the post-ischemic period. Post-ischemic treatment of seizures and hyperglycemia in the hyperglycemic rats significantly improved recovery. In conclusion, pre-ischemic hyperglycemia above 22 mM impairs recovery after complete ischemia by inducing seizures, post-ischemic hyperglycemia and lactic acidosis.
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3895803
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The recent progress were focused on: the identification of the general immunological mechanism of the hansenian neuritis, demonstrated by endoneural biopsies; the different pathology of the two categories of neuritis; the pathophysiologic derangements, inducing hypoxia or anoxia in the truncular involved segment. The adjuvant role of the canals is important; the clinical differences of the two categories of neuritis and the cases we shall treat by emergency; the importance of antireactionnal treatment and of the notation by tests for the study of the results. The goals are the hemodynamic decompression, useful in the first stage of ENL neuritis, the mechanical decompression of neural fasciculus and the urgent exeresis of necroses or evacuation of febrile abscess. Three technics a re studied: Extraneural and epineural decompression fascicular endoneural necrosis, neurolysis and complex neurolysis for evaluated ENL neuritis and for endoneural necrosis. The different indication according to the two categories: medico-surgical treatment for ENL neuritis, and according the precocity and the delay of the antireactional treatment, and also the absolute emergency of the necrosis and febrile abscess. The results of the treatment of 258 cases of recent neuritis are presented.
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3895811
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A case of unilateral ureteral obstruction in extensive endometriosis in a 21-year-old patient is reported. The present patient received danazol therapy following conservative surgery, and restoration of the renal function was achieved 5 months after initiation of the danazol administration.
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3895810
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In double-blind, crossover studies, piroxicam was compared with naproxen sodium and with placebo. The different parameters studied were pain intensity, patient's opinion of the drugs tested, complementary pharmacological treatment, ability to work, overall effect, treatment preference, and side effects. It was concluded that piroxicam was comparable to naproxen sodium and that piroxicam was significantly better than placebo, as regards these parameters. It was also concluded that piroxicam has an effect equivalent to that of naproxen sodium, an accepted treatment for dysmenorrhea.
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3895813
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This report describes a 40-year-old woman with primary ovarian pregnancy which was mistaken clinically and grossly for germ cell tumor of the ovary, since it was associated with a high level of serum alpha-fetoprotein (278 ng/ml) and with excretion of urinary hCG (1 000 IU/l). The ovarian mass measured 10 X 10 X 11 cm, and weighed 215 g. Total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy were performed. The bisected specimen revealed a centrally located macerated fetus with a crown - rump length of 3.5 cm.
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3895802
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The idea of the existence of subpolar tuberculoid cases is supported on the spectral conception of Ridley and Jopling who included the subpolar lepromatous patients between LL and BL cases. According with Languillon, we have studied 40 tuberculoid cases to find out clinical, bacteriological, immunological and histopathological parameters of subpolar T cases. The subpolar T cases do exist, they are unstable cases which can slide through the immunological spectrum towards the L pole. These cases are characterized by numerous, symmetrical, dysesthetic tuberculoid lesions with an important neural involvement. Bacilli can be found in a small number in the smears of nasal mucosae in some cases. Mitsuda reaction is always positive and histopathologically the granulomas, lymphocytes and epithelioid cells are in less number without the epidermotropism which is very often seen in polar T cases.
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