Inhibition of feline collateral vessel development following experimental thrombolic occlusion

We compared development of feline hindlimb collateral circulation after acute occlusion of the terminal aorta by ligation, thrombus formation, and formation of a "closed" aortic loop containing thromboplastin. Collateral circulation development was assessed by aortograms, scintillation scans, neurological signs following occlusion, measurement of hindlimb muscle blood flow, and forelimb and hindlimb temperature. In cats in which aortic occlusion was the result of ligation or thromboplastin in the aortic loop, paralysis was not evident. Aortograms and scintillation scans indicated hindlimb blood flow. Both muscle temperature and blood flow data indicated that the return of blood flow was rapid. The 5th lumbar artery appears to be the origin of the collateral vessels. The mid-zone component is a dorsal and ventral vertebral route and an epaxial muscle route. The reentry components are the 6th or 7th lumbar arteries. The collateral vessels arise from preexisting collateral vessels. Of those cats in which aortic occlusion was the result of a thrombus, all exhibited paralysis. Aortograms, scintillation scans, muscle temperature, and hindlimb blood flow data indicated reduced hindlimb blood flow. The results suggest that the thrombus has an inhibitory effect on the development of collateral circulation.     

An evaluation of procedures used in staging carcinoma of the cervix

A review of 227 cases of invasive carcinoma of the cervix was undertaken to determine the efficacy of procedures using in the staging of this disease. All patients had a pretreatment chest radiography and intravenous pyelogram. 96.5% had pretreatment cystoscopy, 98.6% had pretreatment proctoscopy, and 92% had a pretreatment barium enema. These patients were retrospectively staged on the findings of physical examination only. Each additional procedure was then evaluated by comparison with the initial staging. Cystoscopy and chest film findings each would have changed the clinical stage in fewer than 1% of cases, barium enema in 1.4%, and proctoscopy in 2.2%. No patient had a positive barium enema without a positive proctoscopy, while two patients had positive proctoscopies with negative barium enemas. The overall yield of positive findings by pretreatment intravenous pyelography was 7.3%. Lymphangiography, although inconsistently done, yielded positive findings in all stages. Chest radiographs, intravenous pyelography, proctoscopy, and lymphangiography are recommended as part of the pretreatment workup of patients with carcinoma of the cervix. Routine barium enema is no longer recommended, and cystoscopy is only recommended in patients with clinical stage IIB disease or greater.     

Calcareous deposits formed on IUDs in human exposures

Characteristics of the calcareous deposits on several hundred IUDs of various designs and materials following in vivo exposures were examined, and an in vitro method of study was devised. There were 650 copper-wound IUDs and 18 plastic IUDs. The copper-wound IUDs had been in the uteri for 6-27 months; the plastic IUDs for 3 months to over 8 years. Microscopic examinations, X-ray diffraction, weight changes, and chemical analyses were used. X-ray diffraction showed that calcite (CaCO3) was the major crystalline constituent of the calcareous deposits. A large fraction of the deposited material was organic. Surfaces in contact with the uterine wall were essentially free of depos its. Microscopic inspection of copper-wound IUDs revealed the amount of deposit. Length of exposure increased the amount of deposit, but there were marked variations in amount. Accumulation of deposits was mostly at the fundal end. More marked local erosion of copper was noted where there was little or no carbonate deposit. Deposits occurred in patches on Lippes loops and Margulies spirals. The in vitro carbonate deposits did not reproduce the rates or morphology of the in vivo deposits. Variations in uterine carbonate formation are attributed to differences in uterine chemistry of individuals.     

Intersubject variation of warfarin binding to protein in serum of normal subjects

The protein binding of warfarin was determined in the serum of 18 normal adult subjects (8 males and 10 females). A statistically significant negative correlation between free fraction of warfarin and albumin concentration was found. The free fraction of warfarin in the serum of women was significantly larger than that in the serum of men, apparently due to the lower albumin concentration in the serum of women.     

The effect of high sugar intake on the esterification of dihydroxyacetone phosphate by rat liver microsomes

Rat liver microsomes were used as an enzyme source to study dietary-induced changes in the rate of dihydroxyacetone phosphate esterification. Rats were fed (1) 75% glucose or fructose diets for various time intervals, or (2) fed a fractose diet for six days and then a chow diet. Both the glucose and fructose diets produced a 2--3-fold increase in total and neutral glycerolipid formation from dihydroxyacetone phosphate measured in the presence of ATP, palmitate, CoA, and NADH. The increased rate of dihydroxyacetone phosphate esterification and a simultaneous rise in serum triglyceride level in rats fed fructose was rapidly reversed when chow was substituted for the fructose. The results indicate that an increased rate of dihyroxyacetone phosphate esterification may contribute to the acceleration of endogenous glycerolipid biosynthesis noted under these dietary conditions.     

NMR Study of Adsorbate Self-Diffusion in Porous Glasses

The NMR pulsed field gradient technique was used to study molecular transport in porous glasses. The adsorbent materials were produced by leaching phase-separated sodium-boron-silica glasses of different composition, then heat-treating. The pore diameters of the glass samples produced were within the interval 0.8 to 50 nm. Water, methanol, dodecane, and do-decene were used as adsorbates. The coefficients of adsorbate self-diffusion were found to decrease with decreasing pore diameter. In comparison with the neat liquids, a reduction in the adsorbate mobility (up to two orders of magnitude) was observed. For the larger pores, that decrease may be attributed to the tortuosity of the adsorbent, whereas the low diffusivities in the porous glasses with small pores are a consequence of the stabilizing effect of the rigid adsorbent framework.     

Caring for a family member with a traumatic brain injury

The responses to a questionnaire on subjective burden are reported for 52 primary caregivers of a group of persons with traumatic brain injuries sustained an average of 6 years previously. The aim of the study was to examine satisfaction with social support, perception of coping skills, and appraisal of symptoms as predictors of strain in the carers. A range of responses, both positive and negative, to the work of caring for a relative with a head injury was reported. A high prevalence rate of emotional and behavioural changes in the persons with head injuries was found and the amount of distress caused by these symptoms was found to be predictive of burden. The other factor important in predicting burden was the carers' ratings of their satisfaction with their ability to cope with the work of caregiving. Social support, injury severity, and the demographic characteristics of the persons with head injury and their carers were not significant predictors. Depression in the carers was also investigated and the variable most predictive of elevated depression scores was coping satisfaction. These findings reinforce the importance of strengthening carers coping resources in rehabilitation work with head injured persons and their families.