Platelet-activating factor detected in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids from an asthmatic patient

It recently has been recognized that platelet-activating factor (PAF) may be a mediator of asthma exacerbation. We had the opportunity to analyze bronchoalveolar lavage fluids from an asthmatic infant, which were characterized by neutrophil infiltration. The patient's lungs were washed on three occasions with saline during asthmatic attacks. PAF was found in each case on the basis of its ability to cause the immediate aggregation of washed rabbit platelets. The PAF detected was equivalent to 1–1.4 pmol of 1-O-hexadecyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, three quarters of which were recovered in cell-associated form. By contrast, we did not detect PAF in bronchoalveolar exudates from patients with larungeal stenosis or with respiratory distress syndrome. LysoPAF, the direct precursor as well as initial metabolite of PAF, was also analyzed after being converted to PAF by acetylation. There was a wide variation in the amount of lysoPAF present in individual patients, suggesting that lysoPAF levels cannot be taken as an indicator for the presence of PAF. Based on a paper presented at the Third International Conference on Platelet-Activating Factor and Structurally Related Alkyl Ether Lipids, Tokyo, Japan, May 1989.     

Measurement of diffusion coefficient of water and ethanol in aqueous maltodextrin solution

Capillary cell and absorption-desorption methods were used to measure the diffusion coefficients of water and ethanol in aqueous maltodextrin solution over a wide range of water content. The diffusion coefficients showed a surprisingly large dependence on water content, particularly at low water content, as reported by other workers. Free volume theory was applied to correlate the diffusion coefficients. It was found that this theory was adequate to explain their large dependence on water content. Furthermore, experimental results on ethanol retention in drying an aqueous maltodextrin droplet could be predicted well, using the present experimental results for the diffusion coefficients of water and ethanol.     

Cyanamide-induced granulocytopenia

BACKGROUND: The appropriate management of patients who are older than 80 years of age and who present with an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) remains controversial. While it appears that elective repair can be performed safely, appropriate management of these patients in the emergency situation is unclear. The purpose of the present study was to examine the results obtained in treating this elderly group in the elective and emergency setting, by operation and conservative techniques at St George Hospital, Kogarah. METHODS: Between January 1987 and December 1994 85 patients older than 80 years of age were treated for AAA. These patients were divided into four groups: I, elective presentation/no surgery; II, elective presentation/elective surgical repair; III, emergency presentation/surgical repair; and IV, emergency presentation/conservative treatment. We examined age, sex, size of AAA, mode of presentation, type of treatment, length of survival and cause of death. RESULTS: The mean age of the total group (n = 85) of patients was 84 years (range: 80-94). The mean AAA diameter for this group was 5.6 cm (95% CI: 5.2-6 cm). The diameters for group I (n = 40), II (n = 22), III (n = 16) and IV (n = 7) were 4.9 cm (4.4-5.5, 95% CI), 5.7 (4.9-6.5 CI), 7.0 (6.1-7.7 CI) and 6.2 (5.2-7.2 CI), respectively. The median survival for groups I, II, III and IV was 18, 38.5, 0.25 and 0 months, respectively. Group II had a longer survival than any other group (P = 0.015), and group IV had a shorter survival than the total group (P = 0.001). However, the length of survival was no different for III versus IV (P = 0.146). Deaths in each group were due to the following reasons. I: cardiopulmonary events (14), rupture (3), malignancy/sepsis (3); II: cardiopulmonary events (3), rupture (thoracic aneurysm) (2), malignancy (I); III: rupture (10), malignancy (I); and (IV): rupture (6), malignancy (1). CONCLUSIONS: Elective surgical repair offers the best management option for AAA in patients older than 80 years of age. Death may still occur from progression of aneurysmal disease at other sites. An aggressive surgical approach to the management of haemodynamically unstable patients in this age group is of questionable benefit.     

Distribution of the phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity in the lamellar body and lysosomal fractions of lung tissue

Phosphatidate phosphohydrolase (PAPase) activity was measured in lamellar bodies purified from porcine lung tissue. After repeated freeze-thawing, only a negligible amount of PAPase activity was released into the soluble fractions, whereas there was release of 2 lysosomal marker enzyme activities, glucosaminidase and β-galactosidase into the soluble fraction. In addition, a lysosomal-enriched fraction was prepared from adult rat lung tissue by prior treatment of the rats with Triton WR 1339. Treatment with Triton WR 1339 resulted in the significant shift of the activities of the lysosomal marker enzymes, glucosaminidase and β-galactosidase, to less dense subcellular fractions. The highest specific activity of PAPase was found in a subcellular fraction which had a density that was intermediate between that of the mitochondrial and microsomal fractions and the distribution of PAPase activity was not affected by the prior treatment of the rats with Triton WR 1339.     

Correlation between myocardial blood flow and fasting glucose metabolism in ischemic heart disease. Quantitative assessment by nitrogen-13 ammonia and fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography

In Poland cutaneous form of anthrax is occurring sporadically. Most of these cases were recognized in the eastern part of the country adjacent to the eastern border (Lomza region and others). The latest literature on epidemiology, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of anthrax is reviewed in order to spread modern views on anthrax and to implement changes in the diagnostic methods of anthrax in Poland.     

Kainic acid induction of heme oxygenase in vivo and in vitro

Heme oxygenase, catalyses oxidation of the heme molecule in concert with NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase and then specifically cleaves heme into biliverdin, carbon monoxide, and iron. Biliverdin and its product, bilirubin, are known to be strong antioxidants. Kainic acid is a potent neurotoxin, and induces selective neuronal loss in the rat hippocampus. Kainic acid acts on the kainate receptors, and kainic acid neurotoxicity may be in part mediated by oxidative stress. In this study, we examined whether or not heme oxygenase was activated in kainic acid-induced neurotoxicity. After intracerebroventricular injection of kainic acid, the heme oxygenase-1 protein level was strongly enhanced, although the constitutive heme oxygenase (heme oxygenase-2) protein level was not changed. One day after treatment, the protein level of heme oxygenase-1 reached a maximum and then gradually decreased over a period of three to seven days. In the rat hippocampus, cells expressing heme oxygenase-1 in vivo were predominately microglia and only a few astrocytes. In addition, heme oxygenase-1 immunoreactivity was predominantly co-localized with major histocompatibility complex class II-, and partly co-localized with class I-immunoreactive microglia. In cultured glial cells in vitro, heme oxygenase- protein was expressed in the microglia even with the vehicle treatment, and was strongly induced in astrocytes by kainic acid treatment. These results suggest that ameboid microglia, which express both heme oxygenase-1 and major histocompatibility complex antigens, may play a key role in a delayed episode of kainic acid-induced microglial activation and neurodegeneration.     

Systemic hypertension as a risk factor for complications with an aortic mechanical valve

We sought to determine the effect of preoperative systemic hypertension on prosthesis related complications or postoperative aortic dissection after valve replacement in patients with aortic regurgitation. The patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of systemic hypertension: Group I, with hypertension (n = 35), and Group II, without hypertension (n = 37). The survival rate and event free rate were examined for 72 patients who were alive 30 days after valve replacement with a St. Jude Medical valve for aortic regurgitation. The cumulative 10 year survival rate of Group I (65% +/- 12%) was lower than that of Group II (79% +/- 15%). The 10 year event free rate of all prosthesis related complications was 62% +/- 13% in Group I, and 96% +/- 3% in Group II (p < 0.05). The 10 year event free rate for ascending aortic dissection was 73% +/- 12% in Group I and 100% in Group II (p < 0.05). The linearized event rate of all prosthesis related complication was 3.8% per patient-year in Group I and 0.5% per patient-year in Group II. In conclusion, systemic hypertension was a risk factor for prosthesis related complications and for complicated aortic lesions after aortic valve replacement. Careful postoperative management for hypertension is necessary in patients with systemic hypertension after aortic valve replacement. Tissue valves may be recommended in patients with aortic valve disease and severe hypertension.     

Alteration of drinking pattern after the entrance of university

Three hundred fifty-nine freshmen and freshwomen of Tokai University and Tamagawa University were examined for alcohol habituelle using questionnaires on life style and club activity as well as the established questionnaires of the Adolescent Alcohol Involvement scale (AAIS). The scores of AAIS of the male and female students were 30.6 and 27.7, respectively. About 10% of the subjects were revealed to be alcohol misusers. In both sexes, the drinking patterns remarkably changed after the entrance of university. Even in females, the drinking pattern markedly changed. The grade of club activity is one of factors influencing the drinking pattern of students. Especially big changes were observed in the students of cultural clubs.