Endopeptidase 24.11 inhibition does not modify uterotonic effects of endothelins in rat uterus

We investigated effects of the endopeptidase 24.11 inhibitor, SCH 39370, on uterotonic effects of endothelins (ETs) and sarafotoxin S6b. Responses of uteri from non-pregnant rats were inhibited by the ETA receptor antagonist, BQ123 (1 microM) but not the ETB receptor antagonist, BQ 788 (1 microM). ET-1, sarafotoxin S6b and ET-2 were more potent than ET-3 in tissues from non-pregnant and pregnant rats. SCH 39370 (10 microM) did not affect uterotonic responses to these peptides in either group, but inhibited those of big ET-1 in non-pregnant rat tissues, indicating inhibition of conversion of big ET-1 to ET-1. These data indicate that endopeptidase 24.11 does not inactivate the endothelin peptides in the rat uterus.     

Malaria chemosuppression in pregnancy. V. Placenta malarial changes among three different prophylaxis groups

The effect of malaria chemoprophylaxis during pregnancy on placenta malarial changes (PMCs) was investigated in 170 tissue sections. Women of 63 sections received daily proguanil (PROG), 61 once weekly chloroquine (CQ) and 46 the two drug combination (CQ+PROG). All were residents of a malaria hyperendemic area in Muheza District, Tanzania. Supervised prophylaxis started early in pregnancy till delivery. Parasitaemias and clinical episodes were detected early and radically treated. Overall, PMCs were mostly infrequent and light viz: fibrinous deposits (98%), fibrinoid necrosis (60%), leucocytic infiltrations (59%), macrophage containing pigment (16%), and malaria parasites (8%). The type, prevalence, and severity of the PMCs in the three prophylaxis groups were comparable. This was despite the fact that PROG and CQ+PROG were prophylactically more efficacious than CQ and despite the expectation that the prevalence and severity of the PMCs would be high in the CQ group. Prompt diagnosis and effective treatment of parasitaemias in this group contributed to the low prevalence and less severity. It is concluded that effective malaria chemoprophylaxis or prompt diagnosis and effective treatment of malaria parasitaemias have significant impact on the prevalence of PMCs. Due to various operational constraints in most developing countries, chemoprophylaxis remains the only feasible broad option for malaria control in pregnancy.     

Fluorophotometry and the rate of aqueous flow in man. I. Instrumentation and normal values

A new objective fluorophotometer, based on a previous model but with changes in electronic circuitry, was designed and built. The fluorometric method was applied to 38 normal eyes to obtain the aqueous outflow rate and fluorescein decay constant. Aqueous outflow rate has a direct correlation with the anterior chamber depth and an inverse correlation with age. The aqueous flow rate is higher in whites than in blacks, but in our sample, mean pressure was lower in whites. Acetazolamide decreases the aqueous flow rate and the fluorescein constant; the mean decrease in 10 eyes of 5 patients was approximately 38% and 22%, respectively. Fluorophotometry gives a higher value for the aqueous outflow rate than that calculated by tonography.