Endothelin-1 enhances thymocyte proliferation in monolaterally adrenalectomized rats with contralateral adrenocortical regeneration

BACKGROUND: Transmyocardial laser revascularization has been used to treat patients with end-stage coronary artery disease that is not amenable to standard revascularization. Although there is evidence of angina relief and quality of life enhancement, there is little information concerning improvement in myocardial contractility. The purpose of this study was to determine whether transmyocardial laser revascularization improves myocardial function in chronically ischemic myocardium. METHODS: In a model of chronic ischemia by Ameroid occlusion of the circumflex artery, domestic pigs (n = 8) were treated with transmyocardial laser revascularization. Before laser treatment, segmental contraction was assessed at rest and with dobutamine stress echocardiography. Myocardium subtended by the occlusion was compared with that remote from the occlusion. Six weeks after transmyocardial laser revascularization, the animals were restudied at rest and with stress, and then sacrificed. Sham-treated control animals (n = 4) underwent the same procedures but were not treated with transmyocardial laser revascularization. Control animals did not demonstrate significant recovery of function. RESULTS: Transmyocardial laser revascularization improved resting function in chronically ischemic myocardium by 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Transmyocardial laser revascularization significantly improves the function of chronically ischemic myocardium. These data may help explain the mechanisms by which transmyocardial laser revascularization is clinically effective.     

Metabolic activity and clinical efficacy of animal and human hepatocytes in bioartificial support systems for acute liver failure

Cetirizine dihydrocloride, a widely administered antiallergic drug with the amine piperazine in its molecule, was studied as to its ability to cause micronucleus formation in human lymphocyte cultures treated in vitro. Peripheral lymphocytes from four different donors were cultured and treated with different concentrations of the compound. Cetirizine dihydrocloride was shown to induce enhanced micronucleus frequency in a dose-dependent manner, although lymphocytes from the different donors showed different susceptibilities to the compound. The content of induced micronuclei was investigated in one of the four donors by two independent assays, CREST (the application of antikinetochore antibodies) and FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization) on cytochalasin B-formed binucleated cells. It was shown that the induced micronuclei resulted from breakage events as well as chromosome loss, thus characterizing cetirizine dihydrocloride as both clastogen and aneugen. Since our results were derived only from in vitro experiments, we believe that an extensive in vivo study is necessary before drawing conclusions as to the effects of cetirizine dihydrochloride in patients.     

The hospital nurse's role in managed care

This article describes the staff nurse's role in managed care and can be used by nurse managers in the education process. An obstetric case study demonstrates the potential of increasing patient-care quality while reducing health care cost.     

Intestinal and peritoneal bleeding: detection with an intravascular contrast agent and fast three-dimensional MR imaging--preliminary experience from an experimental study

We investigated transcobalamin II (TC) isoelectrofocusing (IEF) phenotype and codon 259 polymorphism, in Caco-2 and HT-29 cells and in blood drawn from 39 healthy Caucasians. Caco-2 cells expressed a single TC variant (259-Arg), while HT-29 cells expressed TC with either Arg or Pro at codon 259 and exhibited two isoproteins in IEF with urea, but only one in IEF without urea. Among the Caucasians, 7 subjects expressed the TC 259-Arg variant, 10 the 259-Pro variant, and 22 were heterozygous. The TC 259-Pro isoprotein issued from HT-29 cells and heterozygous caucasian sera, was, respectively, 2. 4-fold and 1.6-fold higher than the TC 259-Arg isoprotein. Apo-TC and vitamin B12 serum concentrations in 259-Pro homozygotes were, respectively, 1.7 and 1.4-fold higher than those in 259-Arg homozygotes (p<0.005 and p=0.05). In conclusion, the 259-Arg/Pro polymorphism yields two TC variants only titratable in denaturing conditions and affects the blood level of both Apo-TC and vitamin B12.     

The prevalence and 3-year incidence of dementia in older Black and White community residents

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and 3-year incidence of dementia in Blacks and Whites age 65 and older in a five-county Piedmont area of North Carolina. DESIGN: Stratified random sample of members of the Duke Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (EPESE) (baseline n = 4,136; 55% Black; weighted n = 28,000). Prevalence study members were differentially selected on the basis of score on the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire at the second in-person Duke EPESE wave. Incidence study members included all persons with obvious cognitive decline over a 3-year period, and a 10% sample of the remainder. MEASUREMENTS: Self- and informant report on health history, functional status, and memory. Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD) Neuropsychology Battery administered to all subjects, and CERAD Clinical Battery to those with impaired memory. Clinical consensus to determine presence and type of dementia. RESULTS: Prevalence of dementia for persons > or =68 years old was 0.070 (95% confidence interval = 0.021-0.119) for Blacks and 0.072 (0.022-0.122) for Whites. Rates for Black men (0.078, 0.001-0.155) exceeded those for Black women (0.066, 0.003-0.129), but gender rates for Whites were reversed (men: 0.044, 0.000-0.103), (women: 0.087, 0.015-0.160). Neither race nor gender differences were significant. Prevalence of dementia increased through age 84 and tapered off thereafter. Three-year incidence of dementia was 0.058 (0.026-0.090) for Blacks and 0.062 (0.027-0.097) for Whites. Neither race nor gender differences were significant. Incidence increased through age 84, but moderated thereafter for all but Black men. The proportional representation of different types of dementia varied little by race. CONCLUSION: Prevalence, 3-year incidence, and types of dementia are comparable in Black and White elderly in the Piedmont area of North Carolina.     

Abdomino-anal resection of the colon in cancer of its lower ampullar section invading into the anus]

The special comprehensive multidisciplinary programme for tuberculosis control was used as a basis for planning. The developed special comprehensive interdepartmental programme for tuberculosis control in the region is aimed at involving all services and departments in whom tuberculosis control should be a national, official, professional duty. A multidisciplinary approach to organizing and making antituberculous measures is especially required as antituberculous institutions have the shortest funds now. The programme has approved by the regional administration.     

Leptin: its pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution

OBJECTIVE: The pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of leptin in rats was investigated. DESIGN: A catheter was inserted in the right jugular vein of rats on the day prior to experiment. The next day, blood was sampled and then a tracer dose of radioiodinated hormone was administered via the catheter. Thereafter, small (200 microl) samples of blood were taken at regular intervals. Two experiments were conducted over different sampling times. TCA precipitated radioactivity was counted in samples of plasma and tissues. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated after fitting a bi-exponential equation describing a two-pool model of plasma leptin distribution. Selected time-point plasma samples were fractioned using size exclusion chromatography and the leptin distribution determined. RESULTS: The two pool model described the pharmacokinetics of leptin in two forms: an initial fast decaying pool (t(1/2) = 3.4 min) and a slower decaying pool (t(1/2) = 71 min) with an overall clearance rate of 6.16 ml/min/kg. Size exclusion chromatography showed a persistent peak (all time-points tested) of 125I-leptin corresponding to the plasma albumin peak. The size of the free 125I-leptin peak became diminished or absent in later time-point plasma samples. Tissue distribution of leptin at 60 min and 180 min time-points showed that the small intestine contained the highest concentration of leptin, almost four times the level found in kidneys, liver, stomach and lungs. 125I-leptin was least abundant in skin, muscle, heart, caecum and brain. CONCLUSION: The pharmacokinetics of leptin are affected by three important factors: 1) its ability to bind to a plasma carrier molecule which increases its half-life; 2) its association with abundant peripheral tissue binding sites which creates an additional pool of leptin and 3) the rate of synthesis of leptin which may be less important than originally believed as the prolonged half-life and the additional pool of tissue binding sites are important factors in determining its plasma concentration.