Acute heavy alcohol intake increases silent myocardial ischaemia in patients with stable angina pectoris

PURPOSE: The purpose was to determine tumor neovascularisation via colour-coded Doppler (duplex) sonography and the "power mode", both visually and quantitatively, by means of videodensitometry. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 6 VX2 tumours of 4 to 11 mm size were implanted in 4 rabbits at various sites. The colour-coded duplex sonography and the new sonographic power technique were tested before and after having injected a new contrast medium (SH U 616A). RESULTS: If no contrast medium was injected, tumour neovascularisation was identified in only 50% of the cases. Injection of contrast medium increased signal intensity three to fourfold with all examined tumors. Combined use of the sonographic method by the power technique with injection of contrast medium is outstandingly suitable for tumor vessel imaging even of small tumors, as these initial results seem to show. CONCLUSION: If these results are corroborated by further studies, contrast-medium supported sonographic technique may possibly become established as an alternative method to other imaging procedures.     

Characterization of methylumbilliferone (mendiaxon r)-induced choleresis in the isolated perfused rat liver

The influence of the choleretic drug methylumbilliferone on bile formation in the isolated perfused rat liver is characterized. The compound induces rapidly an elevation of bile flow, bile acid secretion and soium excretion. The increased production of bile is of canalicular origin. The choleretic effect was defined as "bile acid like" choleresis due to excretion of the drug into the bile. It is discussed that the excretion of methylumbilliferone can influence the transport of bile in form of a positive cooperation on transport mechanism.     

Diazepam-ketamine anaesthesia for open heart surgery a "micro-mini" drip administration technique

Two hundred open-heart cases were anaesthetized with a diazepam-ketamine combination. The results were excellent. A "Micro-Mini" drip technique insured low, even, but adequate dose levels of ketamine and less drug was used. Induction and maintenance are simple and smooth. Effects on the cardiovascular system and respiratory system are minimal. The margin of safety is wide and 100% oxygen can be used whenever needed.     

Evoked response and kinesthetic measures of augmenting/reducing in schizophrenics: replications and extensions

The results of a 15 months' intensive study on seven flocks of indigenous goats in the Southern Darfur region of the Sudan are discussed in this paper. Birth rates in the region approached 2-1 kids per doe per year. A high total offtake of 28 per cent and a weighted average death rate of about 16-5 per cent were insufficient to offset this high birth rate and flock numbers are increased. Mortality in kids was unrelated to number of births. Weighted average rate of gain for all surviving kids was 87 g per day to 3 months and 67 g per day to 6 months of age. The growth rates of twin and single were similar, but triplet kids grew at a slower rate. For each kilogramme liveweight of breeding females, goats produced 1-5 and 8 times the weight of meat produced by sheep and cattle respectively under the same management and environmental conditions.     

Diazepam-ketamine anaesthesia for open heart surgery "micro-mini" drip administration technique

Two hundred open heart cases anaesthetized with a combination of diazepam-ketamine using "Micro-Mini" drip administration technique were presented. The results were eminently desirable, and in the opinion of the authors are a notable improvement over other methods for all types of cardiovascular surgery including most advanced heart diseases. The advantages of this anaesthetic method for cardiovascular surgery are as follows: 1. Effects on cardiovascular system are minimal.--2. Respiratory depression is negligible.--3. There is no increase in salivation or muscle tone.--4. Induction and maintenance of anaesthesia are simple and smooth.--5. Anaesthesia can be maintained, using a high concentration of oxygen alone, by a slight increase in rate of ketamine administration whenever necessary.--6. Post-anaesthetic psychotomimetic effects are negligible.--7. Nearly 100% of patients have excellent amnesia.--8. It has a wide margin of safety.--9. This technique has proved highly acceptable to patients and surgeons. We feel ketamine should be used in small dosages continuously administered with either "Micro-Mini" drip infusion or infusion pump. Ketamine given in this fashion should be regarded as an analgesic.     

Cell-mediated immunity and blocking factor in ovarian carcinoma

Lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity (cell-mediated immunity) to ovarian carcinoma cells and serum blocking factor were measured in 37 patients. Short-term cultures of tumor cells and a low ratio of effector to target cells were used throughout the study, minimizing nonspecific cytotoxicity. Sixteen patients were followed for long periods of time, and correlation with the course of the disease and with therapy could be obtained. Although the level of cell-mediated immunity did not always correspond to the clinical status of the patient, the presence of blocking factor was associated with clinical relapse in 14 of 16 patients. Chemotherapy with single alkylating agents or combinations of drugs caused no significant or permanent depression of cell-mediated immunity as measured in this way. In addition, blocking factor disappeared in 2 patients during remission. It appears that the chemotherapy for ovarian carcinoma may not be significantly immunosuppressive against established levels of cell-mediated immunity and may in certain instances have effects potentially beneficial to the host as evaluated by lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity and blocking factor studies.     

Transureteroureterostomy for urinary diversion in children

We report here a model of submaximal spinal cord injury, employing direct thoracic cord compression in ferrets. This yields consistent and reproducible long term consequences on local cellular structure and on locomotive function. We show also that both the anatomical and functional losses can be measured objectively using simple techniques, and that useful long-tract mediated locomotion is preserved after severe axonal losses at the site of injury.     

Cortisol in physiological concentrations acts within minutes to modify effects of prolactin and growth hormone on prostaglandin secretion: importance of effect in modulating cellular responses to calcium and cyclic nucleotides

We propose that intracellular prostaglandins (PGs) are essential for the final expression of the effects of second messengers in most cells. We suggest that the amounts of PGs required are very small (in the picomolar range) and are much lower than those used in most current PG studies. We suggest that while therapeutic levels of inhibitors of PG synthetase may be adequate to block the overflow of PGs from cells, they are in most cases unlikely to reduce intracellular PGs sufficiently to test the role of such PGs. We propose that there is a basal level of PG synthesis unaffected by hormones but that above this level PG synthesis is regulated by the interplay between physiological levels of cortisol, prolactin, growth hormone and thyroid hormones. For the most part prolactin seems to stimulate PG synthesis and cortisol to inhibit it: cortisol has, however, no inhibitory effect on basal PG synthesis. In reducing prolactin-stimulated PG synthesis cortisol is 1000-2000 times more potent than indomethacin on a molar basis. We suggest that the regulation of intracellular PG levels is the mechanism of the so-called "permissive" actions of these hormones. These concepts could prove important in the understanding of many aspects of physiology and pathophysiology including diurnal and seasonal changes in hormone responsiveness. They are also relevant to the use of established drugs and the design of new ones.