On the mechanisms of adenosine induced pulmonary vasoconstriction in rats

The effect of adenosine on pulmonary vessels was studied in isolated perfused rat lungs. Drugs were administered intra-arterially in a fixed volume of 0.1 ml Krebs solution as bolus injections. Adenosine responses were obtained before and 10 min after drug injections. When applied in logarithmically increasing doses (1-100 micrograms/ml), adenosine caused dose-dependent increases in pulmonary perfusion pressure (e.g. pulmonary vasoconstriction) which were readily reversible. Challenging adenosine with quinidine, dihydroergocristine and cyproheptadine (2 micrograms/ml each) did not significantly alter adenosine responses. Pretreatment of lungs with 0.5 mM theophylline, 10 micrograms/ml indomethacin, 30 micrograms/ml tebokan (a PAF antagonist) or 1 microgram/ml methylene blue for 10 min, however, antagonized the vasoconstrictor effect of the drug significantly. From these experiments, it was concluded that the mechanisms underlying the pulmonary vasoconstrictor action of adenosine are complex, and that both types of purinoceptors, prostaglandins, PAF and other vascular endothelial hormones might be involved.     

Thermochemical investigation of binary liquid mixtures in glass-forming oxide systems

Methods and equipment successfully employed in high- temperature calorimetry to measure partial and integral enthalpies of mixing in liquid oxide systems are reviewed with special attention given to the drop-mixing method. This technique has been used to measure enthalpies of mixing in binary liq-uid mixtures composed of network forming oxides (e.g. SiO₂) and network modifying oxides (e.g. Na₂O). Results for the systems Na₂O-SiO₂ and Na₂O- B₂O₃ are presented graphically. Entropies of mixing were estimated by combining enthalpies with available data on Gibbs energies of mixing. Prominent thermochemical features of glass-forming oxide melts are pointed out. The observed thermodynamic behavior is discussed in relation to its structural basis.     

Menstrual cycle and age: influence on parenchymal contrast medium enhancement in MR imaging of the breast

PURPOSE: To quantify how frequently mesenteric adenitis clinically mimics appendicitis and to determine its appearance at computed tomography (CT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of 651 consecutive patients with an admission diagnosis of appendicitis were reviewed to determine how often mesenteric adenitis was the discharge diagnosis. The CT scans of a separate group of 18 patients with a discharge diagnosis of mesenteric adenitis were reviewed. These patients were part of a group of 100 consecutive patients prospectively evaluated with CT of the appendix for clinically suspected appendicitis. RESULTS: Fifty of 651 patients (7.7%) with an admission diagnosis of appendicitis had a discharge diagnosis of mesenteric adenitis. Mesenteric adenitis constituted 50 of the 252 (19.8%) discharge diagnoses other than appendicitis. All 18 CT scans of mesenteric adenitis showed three or more nodes that measured at least 5 mm in shortest axis clustered in the right lower quadrant, with a normal appendix identified. Eight patients had associated ileal or ileocecal wall thickening. CONCLUSION: Mesenteric adenitis is an important clinical mimic of appendicitis. It appears at CT as clustered, enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes with a normal appendix, and there may be associated ileitis or ileocolitis noted.     

On the oxygen deficiency of high-T c Y1Ba2Cu3O7-µ ceramics

The role of oxygen deficiency in Y₁Ba₂Cu₃O_{7 ? μ} ceramics has been investigated by differential thermal analysis (DTA), differential thermogravimetry (DTG), linear thermal expansion (LTE), and by soft x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (SXFS). The interdependence of the measured parameters and some of the stability criteria are discussed.     

Radio-oncologic therapeutic strategy in curative treatment of non-small-cell bronchial carcinoma

Radiotherapy is an important modality in the postoperative and primary treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. Treatment results are rather unsatisfactory and have not basically changed in the past 15-20 years. In the nearer past, new treatment strategies were developed, which may contribute to a substantial improvement of the poor prognosis. On one hand, novel fractionation schedules using hyperfractionated accelerated radiation show promising results by improving local control. On the other hand, the main interest of many groups is focussed on a combined modality treatment using radiotherapy plus neoadjuvant or concurrent chemotherapy and surgery. There are numerous reports in the literature which document an advantage in survival of combined modalities over radiotherapy alone with improvements concerning local control as well as distant spread. The bases of the encouraging results is the use of a simultaneous or sequential combination of cisplatin-containing chemotherapy and high dose radiation. The following article reviews the relevant data from the literature with main emphasis on radiochemotherapy regimens.