Dose-effect relationship between cadmium andβ 2-microglobulin in the urine of inhabitants of cadmium-polluted areas (Japan)

The urinaryΒ ₂-microglobulin (MG) of 236 inhabitants of three cadmium-polluted areas was studied in relation to urinary cadmium, an index of cadmium exposure. The urinary MG was elevated with urinary cadmium and with age, except in the Fuchu district, where the urinary MG remained remarkably high regardless of the urinary cadmium and age. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the district factor was the most potent for elevating the urinary MG, and the age factor was the second most potent. Urinary cadmium was found to be a relatively small factor for elevating the urinary MG.     

Chemical analysis of the inorganic component of human salivary duct calculi

The inorganic component of salivary calculi consists mainly of Ca, P, O and traces of many other elements. After dry ashing at a temperature of 530 °C for 3 h, the inorganic component of 10 salivary calculi amounted to between 61 and 86 per cent of the initial weight. The mean Ca content was 30.9 per cent, Mg 0.26 per cent Na 0.82 per cent and P 15.8 per cent. A mean molar Ca:P ratio of 1.57 was found. This low Ca:P ratio may be partially explained by the apatite in calculi being frequently admixed with whitlockite.     

A rapid method for purification of human granulocytes using percoll. A comparison with dextran sedimentation

A simple one-step method for purification of human granulocytes, based on the use of a discontinuous gradient of Percoll, is described. The cell yield is 55% and the purity of the granulocyte fraction is 97%. The cells' ability to exclude trypan blue and phagocytic function are not altered during the purification process. We conclude that centrifugation in Percoll is superior to conventional dextran sedimentation; it is also less time-consuming.     

Effects of melperone and thiothixene on prolactin levels in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma of psychotic women

Summary Levels of prolactin (PRL) were determined by radioimmunoassay in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma from psychotic women before and during treatment with melperone 100 mg×3 (n=29) or thiothixene 10 mg×3 (n=34). Small amounts of PRL were found in the CSF of most patients before treatment. The level of PRL in CSF was about 20% of that in the plasma. Both drugs elevated PRL levels in CSF and plasma significantly. Thiothixene was more potent and also more long acting than melperone in this regard. For neither drug was there any marked tolerance to the effects within a 4 week period. The highest PRL level in CSF, 26 ng/ml, was found in a thiothixene treated patient.Positive correlations were found between the contents of PRL in CSF and plasma before treatment. During thiothixene treatment there were also significant positive correlations between PRL levels in CSF and plasma. During melperone treatment this correlation was probably significant only after treatment for 4 weeks. Neither drug affected the levels of total protein in CSF. The results indicate that with the doses used thiothixene causes a more marked and long lasting blockade of central dopamine receptors controlling prolactin release. The study also demonstrated the versatility of using prolactin analyses of CSF and plasma as tools for quantitation of biochemical effects of neuroleptic drugs on the human central nervous system.     

An electrodermal measure of arousal in opiate addicts to drug-related stimuli

Frequency per minute of spontaneous skin resistance responses (SSRRs), an inferred measure of arousal, was compared for three groups of subjects when exposed to drug-related and neutral stimuli. The three groups were a recently detoxified opiate addict group, a group maintained on methadone, and a non-addict control group. Stimuli consisted of slides, objects, and video-tapes, all showing either items used in drug-preparation for self-injection, or neutral items. Results showed clear evidence of an increase in rate of response to drug-related cues in the detoxified drug-free group as compared to the other two groups. No differences were found in response to the neutral stimuli. It is concluded that the present finding of increased arousal to drug-related cues in recently detoxified patients may be an important component of withdrawal, which in turn is regarded as a conditioned autonomic response leading to instrumental behavior of readdiction.     

The development of severe proliferative vitreoretinopathy after retinal detachment surgery

A prospective clinical study was conducted to determine wether preoperative proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), grade B, was a significant risk factor in the development of severe PVR after surgery for retinal detachment repair. Two series of consecutive retinal detachments associated with horseshoe retinal tears were compared. The first series included 40 eyes of 40 patients with preoperative PVR, grade O - A. The second series included 30 eyes of 27 patients with preoperative PVR, grade B. All eyes were operated on with conventional microsurgical techniques. At the first operation, no vitrectomies were carried out in any eyes. The incidence of postoperative PVR, grades C and D, was 20% (6/30 eyes) after a single operation in the series of eyes with preoperative PVR, grade B as compared to 0% in the series of eyes with preoperative PVR, grade O - A. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P = 0.01). It was also found that the incidence of postoperative proliferative PVR was significantly higher in eyes with preoperative vitreous hemorrhage (30.7%) as compared to eyes with no preoperative vitreous hemorrhage (0%;P = 0.02). Incomplete posterior vitreous detachment without collapse of the vitreous gel occurred significantly more frequently in eyes with preoperative proliferative vitreoretinopathy, grade B (68.4%, than in eyes with preoperative proliferative vitreoretinopathy, grade O - A(27.5%;P = 0.02).     

Clinical evaluation of a new continuous intraarterial blood gas monitoring system in the intensive care setting

The present study was designed to evaluate a new continuous intraarterial blood gas monitoring system under routine clinical intensive care conditions. Nine mechanically ventilated adult patients were enrolled in this study. A multiparameter intravascular sensor was inserted into the radial or dorsalis pedis artery through a 20-gauge cannula in each patient. The accuracy of the sensor for pH, Pco₂, and Po₂ values was evaluated by comparing the data simultaneously obtained from the monitoring system and from conventional blood gas analysis. Measurements were performed for 3 days for each sensor. A total of 62 blood samples were obtained for comparison. The ranges of measured variables were: pH 7.185–7.602, Pco₂, 28.8–68.5 mmHg, and Po₂ 45.2–542.4 mmHg. The overall bias ±precision values were 0.002±0.018 for pH units, 0.53±2.04mmHg for Pco₂, and −1.62±20.00 mmHg for Po₂. In clinically important ranges of Po₂, less than 200 mmHg in particular, the bias and precision values were −2.25±6.48 mmHg in the range of less than 100mmHg, and 0.98±14.38 mmHg in the range of 100–200 mmHg. Variations of sensor accuracy as a function of elapsed time were within the clinically acceptable range throughout the study period. These findings suggest that this new device is sufficiently useful for routine clinical settings.     

Lower-extremity venous stasis during laparoscopic cholecystectomy as assessed using color Doppler ultrasound

Lower-extremity venous stasis during laparoscopic cholecystectomy was evaluated in 16 patients by monitoring the blood velocity in the femoral vein and the femoral vein size (cross-sectional area) using color Doppler ultrasonography. The blood velocity in the femoral vein decreased significantly after the start of 10-mmHg abdominal insufflation in the supine position. When the patients were placed in a reverse Trendelenburg position during 10-mmHg insufflation, blood velocity in the femoral vein further decreased. However, velocity returned to the baseline after deflation. The cross-sectional area of the femoral vein was significantly elevated after the start of 10 mm Hg insufflation in the supine position. When patients were placed in the reverse Trendelenburg position during 10-mmHg insufflation, this parameter was further elevated, but returned to the baseline soon after deflation.These results indicate that femoral vein stasis during laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be minimized by reducing the pressure of abdominal insufflation and avoiding elevation of the patient's head as much as possible.     

The ultrastructure of intramuscular nerves in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Summary Muscle biopsies of 11 patients suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) were examined and the i.m. nerves found in seven of them were examined by electron microscopy. In atrophied muscles there was a marked decrease of myelinated fibers. The ultrastructure of the remaining myelinated axons showed changes in the neurofilaments, mitochondria, and vesicles. There was a decrease in the number of unmyelinated fibers as well as the myelinated fibers. Occasionally, there was an increase of unmyelinated fibers containing small fine axons. There were corpora amylacea in unmyelinated axons and banded structures in the extraccllular area of the Schwann cells of the unmyelinated fibers. Some of these findings were considered as the ultrastructural features of degeneration and regeneration in i.m. nerves of motoneurons in ALS.Supported in part by a Research Grant for Intractable Diseases from the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan     

Dopaminergic cell differentiation in the developing chick retina

The distribution and morphology of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the chick retina was studied in the course of development. Fluorescent DA cells were first detected on the 13th day of incubation. They were always found in positions two or three cell rows externally from the junction between the inner plexiform layer (IPL) and inner nuclear layer (INL). On the 14th day, DA cells were found in the innermost row of the INL. Subsequently their processes extended not only bilaterally along the IPL-INL junction but also vertically into the IPL. As a result, three fiber layers were formed as laminae 1, 3 and 5 in the IPL. In the newly-hatched chick retina, a number of growth cone-like fluorescent structures with fine spikes were seen at the IPL-INL junction, indicating that DA fibers were still growing and elongating at least at hatching. On the 4th postnatal day, the ramification of dendritic processes was very prominent and they often showed a spiral configuration.