In vivo and in vitro assessment of barium sulphate suspensions

In vitro methods of testing the efficiency of barium sulphate suspensions in delineating mucosal detail using canine cadaveric stomachs have been described in the literature. In this study a comparison is made between in vitro and in vivo tests in the stomach and small intestine of dogs, using several brands of barium sulphate. The results indicate that there is considerable variation in the behavior of these suspensions between the in vitro and in vivo tests particularly in the stomach. It is our view that in vitro tests of this sort are of little value for assessing the relative advantages and disadvantages of these suspensions in demonstrating mucosal detail.     

Echocaediographic determination of the etiology of severe mitral regurgitation

The effects of 3 lipidosis-inducing drugs on the incorporation and turnover of palmitic acid-1-14C in lung phospholipids was studied. In rats treated with 1 dose of chlorphentermine or RMI 10.393, the incorporation of palmitate-1-14C into most lung phospholipid fractions was moderately decreased, but markedly lowered after 1 dose of Ro 4-4318. Eight doses of chlorphentermine and RMI 10.393 strongly inhibited the incorporation of palmitate-1-14C into lung phospholipids, whereas with 8 doses of Ro 4-4318 the incorporation was highly increased. Thirty hours after the last of 3 injections of the labeled palmitic acid the turnover of most lung phospholipids was considerably lower in chlorphentermine- and RMI 10.393-treated rats than in controls. Ro 4-4318, however, induced a highly increased turnover of most phospholipids. After 54 h, this effect had practically disappeared. Our studies showed that phospholipid storage after treatment with chlorphentermine and RMI 10.393 is mainly due to decreased degradation of phospholipids, whereas increased synthesis accounts for the effect of Ro 4-4318.     

Reverse temporary connections upon stimulation of symmetrical portions of the tongue

Unilateral conditioned and indifferent acoustic stimuli were presented to dogs during the achievement of the unconditioned reflex to the stimulation of the contralateral side of the tongue. Formation of a backward temporary connection was observed with its typical features of a short manifestation of the effector reaction and of its rapid disappearance. A more stable backward connection was formed to previous positive conditioned stimuli, and a less stable one, to previously indifferent ones. It has been found that the elaboration of the backward connection as of a direct one, is attended with the formation of an excitation focus which contributes to a protracted manifestation of backward connections against the background of a contralateral excitation focus. The backward temporary connection, unlike the direct one, rapidly passes into a latent state in which it persists for a long time.     

Preparation, isolation, analysis, and characterization of 3-benzo[a]pyrenyl-beta-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid: a metabolite of 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene with potentially high carcinogenic activity

The aglycone, 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene, was metabolized to 3-benzo[a]pyrenyl-beta-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid in the presence of uridine 5'-diphosphoglucuronic acid and rabbit liver microsomes. The course of the biosynthetic reaction was followed by fluorimetry and reverse-phase, paired-ion high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Also, the HPLC system was used to analyze for glucuronide and 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene during the isolation procedure. The existence of a glucuronide of 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene was determined by radiotracer and enzymic techniques, utilizing the HPLC system. Field desorption and direct inlet mass spectral techniques were used to characterize the 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene glucuronide.     

Anterior pituitary and adrenal cortical hormones accelerate or inhibit tadpole hindlimb growth and development depending on stage of spontaneous development or thyroxine concentration in induced metamorphosis

The effect of prolactin, growth hormone, and various adrenal corticoids on hindlimb growth, development, and differentiation was studied in Rana pipiens larvae. Experiments were performed at different stages of spontaneous development and during metamorphosis induced in premetamorphic tadpoles by various concentrations of exogenous T4. Prolactin at 10 micrograms/day inhibited the limb at spontaneous premetamorphosis, had no effect at prometamorphosis or when administered with 3.8 nM T4, and synergized with T4 at 63 nM T4 and above. Growth hormone (10 or 20 micrograms/day) promoted limb growth and development during premetamorphosis but had no effect on spontaneous or induced metamorphosis thereafter, nor did it stimulate limb epidermal differentiation. The adrenal corticoids inhibited limb growth and epidermal cell proliferation during pre- and prometamorphosis but had no effect on limb morphogenesis or differentiation. The depressive effect of corticoids during spontaneous metamorphosis is at least partly through thyroid inhibition since hydrocortisone significantly reduced follicle cell height, lumen diameter, and cell proliferation in the thyroid. During induced metamorphosis, steroids (0.29 microM), especially corticosterone and aldosterone, antagonized the effect of 0.38 to 1.2 nM T4 on the limb. All steroids except deoxycorticosterone synergized with 3.8 nM T4, and at 31 nM T4, approximating the climax level with permeability factors taken into account, all corticoids synergized with T4 to promote limb growth and development. Aldosterone antagonized T4 at a higher T4 level than the other corticoids. The effect of all steroids except corticosterone was also corticoid dose-dependent. The results show the importance of the T4 concentrations in interactions of T4 with other hormones and suggest a scheme for hormonal control of limb growth and morphogenesis during metamorphosis. During premetamorphosis growth hormone synergizes with low endogenous T4 to promote initial limb growth and development while prolactin opposes this action. During prometamorphosis, as growth hormone and prolactin become ineffective corticosteroids begin to synergize with the rising level of endogenous T4. At climax, prolactin also augments the action of T4 to bring about rapid hindlimb growth.     

Properties of the catalytic center of a secretory 28kDa protein (1-cys peroxiredoxin) from rat olfactory epithelium

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty with the Inoue balloon is conventionally performed with double vascular access: arterial and venous. However, in patients with a good echogenic window it may be performed with venous access only and the procedure monitored by 2D-echocardiography and colour flow mapping. This should result in early ambulation and hospital discharge with reduced arterial complications. AIMS: To compare retrospectively the immediate results of percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty with the Inoue balloon in two groups of patients: Group I: venous access only (no arterial access, n = 102) and Group II: conventional double vascular access (arterial and venous access, n = 275). METHODS AND RESULTS: The baseline characteristics of the two groups were comparable for age, sex, clinical, echocardiographic, radiological and haemodynamic variables. The mitral valve area (Group I: 1.1 +/- 0.3 to 1.85 +/- 0.5 cm2 vs Group II: 1.05 +/- 0.2 to 1.85 +/- 0.5 cm2, P = ns) and transmitral gradient (Group I: 11 +/- 4 to 4.7 +/- 2 mmHg vs Group II: 12 +/- 4 to 4.8 +/- 2 mmHg, P = ns) before and after mitral valvuloplasty were not statistically different. A good immediate result, defined as mitral valve area > 1.5 cm2 and mean mitral gradient < 5 mmHg with mitral regurgitation < or = 2+ at the end of the procedure, was observed in 77% of the cases in the venous-only group and 79% in the double access group (P = ns). The incidence of severe mitral regurgitation (Grade III or IV) was not statistically significant. Procedural duration (71 +/- 24 min vs 109 +/- 26 min, P < 0.01), fluoroscopic time (12.5 +/- 5.5 min vs 18.5 +/- 6 min, P < 0.01) and hospital stay (2.8 +/- 1.5 days vs 4.8 +/- 2.6 days, P < 0.001) were significantly shorter in the venous-only group than in the conventional Inoue series. CONCLUSION: Single venous access balloon mitral valvuloplasty is as equally safe and effective as double vascular access. The additional advantages of single venous access are shorter procedural duration, fluoroscopic time and hospital stay. We recommend that it be performed by an experienced operator (minimum of 100 trans-septal punctures) in patients without major thoracic deformity and a good echogenic window.