Renal function and oxygen consumption during bacteraemia and endotoxaemia in rats

BACKGROUND: The hypothesis that renal failure during septic shock may occur as a result of hypoxia-related cell dysfunction was investigated in two rat models of distributive shock. METHODS: Pentobarbitone-anaesthetized rats received either a bolus (1 ml) of living Escherichia coli bacteria (hospital-acquired strain, 1 x 10(9) CFU/ml; BA-group, n = 7), or a 1-h infusion of endotoxin (E. coli O127.B8: 8 mg/kg; ET-group, n = 7), or saline to serve as time matched controls (C-group, n = 7). RESULTS: Urine flow in the BA- and ET-group reached a nadir at 1 h, but thereafter increased and reached values higher than control at 3 h. At this time point, renal oxygen delivery had decreased, in the BA-group mainly due to a fall in arterial oxygen content and in the ET-group to a fall in renal plasma flow (clearance of 131I-hippurate). However, renal oxygen extraction had significantly increased, by 31% in the BA and by 59% in the ET group, while renal oxygen consumption remained the same. Net tubular sodium reabsorption had decreased by 55% in the BA and by 25% in the ET group, due to a fall in glomerular filtration rate (clearance of creatinine). Hence, an excess oxygen consumption was found which was caused neither by an increased renal glucose release nor by the presence of an increased number of leukocytes stuck in the glomeruli. Renal tubular cells showed normal morphology. An indication that proximal tubular function in the BA and ET group remained largely intact were normal ATP levels, absence of urinary glucose, and a normal fractional excretion of sodium. However, since urine flow had increased in shocked rats at 3 h, water appeared selectively lost. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that in rat models of septic shock renal failure is not caused by cortical hypoxia or a shortage of cellular energy supply.     

Pathogenetic effector function of CD4-positive T helper 1 cells in hepatitis B virus transgenic mice

The pathogenetic effector functions of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-specific CD4+, Th1 cells were analyzed in two inbred lineages of HBV transgenic mice, one of which overexpresses the HBV large envelope protein rendering the hepatocytes hypersensitive to the cytopathic effects of IFN-gamma, and another that expresses all of the HBV proteins and replicates the virus in the liver. Transfer of HBV envelope-specific Th1 cells resulted in recognition of viral Ag expressed by hepatic nonparenchymal cells, cytokine release, and a transient necroinflammatory liver disease in both lineages. The liver disease was very severe in the IFN-gamma-sensitive lineage, and it was less severe in the lineage that replicates the HBV genome; nonetheless, in this lineage the Th1 cytokines produced by these cells suppressed viral replication in the liver. These results demonstrate that CD4+ T cells with a Th1 functional phenotype can perform pathogenetic and antiviral effector functions in vivo. This suggests that CD4+ T cells can contribute directly to disease pathogenesis and inhibit viral replication during HBV infection.     

Effect of methylglyoxal on human leukaemia 60 cell growth: modification of DNA G1 growth arrest and induction of apoptosis

Results of laboratory experiments demonstrating that ants are capable of assessing the number of objects within the limits of several tens and transmit this information to other individuals are described. It has been demonstrated that ants may use these capacities for transmitting information regarding the coordinates of an object.     

Speech characteristics associated with the Furlow palatoplasty as compared with other surgical techniques

Reported here are the results of a retrospective study of the speech outcome for 63 cleft subjects who had Furlow repairs compared with 20 subjects who had other procedures. The two groups of children were similar in cleft type, sex, and race. The same two surgeons repaired the palates in both groups, and the same two speech pathologists with high reliability examined the children at least 5 years postoperatively using the Pittsburgh Weighted Values for Speech Symptoms Associated with VPI (velopharyngeal incompetence). Subjects who had had Furlow repairs were superior on measures of hypernasality, articulation, and total speech scores; and fewer pharyngeal flaps were required by Furlow subjects. These findings suggest the need for randomized, double-blind investigations comparing outcome of the Furlow procedure with the intravelar veloplasty, the V-Y pushback, and other specified procedures.     

Morphometric changes in the prepubertal female rat thyroid gland following acute exposure to 2,2'',4,4''-tetrachlorobiphenyl and Aroclor 1242

Rabbit polyclonal antibodies were raised against the C-terminal fragment (amino acid residues 318-451) of human gamma-tubulin. These antibodies were used to stain cultured cells of various tissues (epithelium, nervous tissue, fibroblasts) from different animals (human, monkey, pig, rat, kangaroo rat, mouse, hamster, chicken, triton). The antibodies specifically stained centrioles in the interphase and mitotic cells of mammals, but not birds (chicken) or amphibians (newt). In the interphase cells, centrioles were stained as a pair of dots (or as a double dot) in 96-97% of the cells. The distances between the maternal and filial centrioles varied in different cultures. Procentrioles were stained in certain cells, but with less intensity than mature centrioles. In mitotic cells, the antibodies revealed two spots corresponding to two mitotic poles. The spots in mitosis were significantly larger than the interphase dots, but the staining was more faint. In spontaneous tripolar mitoses, only two poles were stained. Thus, it was shown that, on the one hand, gamma-tubulin is associated with centrioles irrespective of whether or not they serve as the microtubule organizing centres and, on the other hand, gamma-tubulin might not be an essential component of the microtubule organizing centres.     

Antiradical activity and membranotropic action of cardio- and vasotropic compounds of varying chemical nature]

Antiradical activity and ability to interaction with phosphatidylcholine bilayer of the physiological active compounds (PhAC), concerning the classes of phenylalkilamines (dobutamine, verapamil), dihydro pyridines (BAY-K-4688, nifedipine), analogues of crown ether (carbicyle, diol) was studied. By means of the method of microcalorimetry and spectrophotometry it was shown the complexing ability PhAC with the phospholipid bilayer of the model membrane. It was stated the simbasity in the changes of the thermal effect of the compounds with the negative inotropic activity during its reaction with phosphatidylcholine bilayer and antiradical activity. That show on the presence of antiradical component in the mechanism that compounds' action.     

CNS sequelae in Langerhans cell histiocytosis: progressive spinocerebellar degeneration as a late manifestation of the disease

Central nervous system involvement in Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), formerly known as histiocytosis X, is manifested mainly by diabetes insipidus reflecting local infiltration of Langerhans cells into the posterior pituitary or hypothalamus. We describe two patients with progressive spinocerebellar degeneration appearing 4 and 6 years after the initial diagnosis of LCH. No correlation was found between the clinical course of the disease or its treatment and the neurological impairment. An extensive search for metabolic, toxic, neoplastic, and hereditary etiologies for progressive cerebellar degeneration was negative.