The distribution of marrow granulopoietic progenitors among patients with preleukemia

The number of marrow granulopoietic progenitors (CFU-C) was measured in patients with no malignant disease, acute myeloid leukemia at presentation (AML) and preleukemia. The marrow CFU-C number was not diagnostic of hematologic status for the individual patient, although colony formation was always present in patients without malignancy. However, taken as a group, the distribution of CFU-C results was symmetrical for non-malignant disorders, and strikingly different in both AML and preleukemia. We suggest that the difference in CFU-C distribution may be explained by the presence of clonal hemopoiesis in hematological malignancies.     

Dilatation of pial arterial vessels in hypercapnia and in acute hypertension

Pial arterial vessels were inspected in hypercapnia (PaCO₂ 97±9 (S.E.) mmHg) and in acute hypertension induced by 5 μg kg^-1 noradrenaline i.v. (mean arterial pressure 210±5 mmHg) by means of a cranial window. The diameter of arterial vessels with a resting diameter of 10 to 150 μm was measured either from photographs or by aid of an image splitting eyepiece. Arterioles with a resting diameter ?30 μm exhibited the highest degree of dilatation both in hypercapnia and acute hypertension. The mean dilatation was higher in hypertension than in hypercapnia in vessels of all sizes, the difference being statistically significant in arterioles up to 50 μm resting diameter.     

Intra-abdominal complications of cystic fibrosis

In recent years patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) have experienced longterm survival and have demonstrated a number of intra-abdominal complications. This report evaluates the intra-abdominal complications seen in 69 of 189 children with cystic fibrosis from 1972 to 1983. Forty-one patients were boys and twenty-eight girls. Complications occurred in 36 neonates, with meconium ileus (MI) noted in 33 and giant cystic meconium peritonitis (GCMP) in 3. Meconium ileus equivalent occurred in seven older children presenting with bowel obstruction. In addition, rectal prolapse occurred in 12, inguinal hernia in 10, intussusception in 3, cholelithiasis in 3, GE reflux in 4, stress ulcer in 1 and appendicitis in 1. Three infants with GCMP survived resection and enterostomy. Infants with MI were divided into simple (15) or complicated (18) cases. Nonoperative therapy using gastrografin enema was successful in three of eight with simple MI. Operative enterotomy and irrigation was successful in three cases while resection and enterostomy was done in nine. MI was complicated by atresia, volvulus and/or perforation in 18 cases requiring resection and anastomosis or enterostomy. Survival for MI was 86% compared to 36% in 25 MI patients treated in the previous two decades. Meconium ileus equivalent was successfully managed using gastrografin enema in five of seven children. Only 3 of 12 children with rectal prolapse required repair. Two cases of intussusception were reduced while one required resection. Three of 10 children had hernia recurrence due to chronic pulmonary problems.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Body weight and water ingestion estimates for women in two communities in the Philippines: the importance of collecting site-specific data

In this paper, we report data on exposure factors relevant to assessing health risks of contaminant exposures to women of childbearing age (age 15-49) in two communities in the Philippines. We collected exposure factor data through an interview survey of 182 women conducted between January and May 2002 and we present distributions of self-reported body weight and water ingestion rates. A simple comparison of our results to those from large studies of US women suggests that these small subpopulations may both weigh less and consume more water than might be expected based on the extensive national US data, and it suggests that exposure analysts focused on a particular geographic area should consider the value of obtaining site-specific data to characterize exposure and risk. The lack of a comparable large study of water ingestion rates and body weights of Filipino women makes it difficult to determine whether the communities studied are typical of the population of the Philippines or represent unique subgroups. We suggest that Philippine health authorities consider the possibility of including questions about water ingestion rates in future national health or nutrition surveys.     

Perception of drinking water temperature and effects for humans after exercise

Subjects rated the perceived temperature and hedonic values of four samples of drinking water (5 degrees, 16 degrees, 22 degrees, 38 degrees C) after exercise and on a control day. Ad lib drinking of any of the four samples was permitted for 20 minutes after exercise and intake was measured. Subjects completed questionnaires pertaining to their subjective states. Sensory thermal neutral water was found to be close to 22 degrees C which was also judged to be affectively neutral. Subjects rated 16 degrees C water higher on the hedonic scale after exercise than they did on a control day, despite the fact that no change in the perception of this temperature was observed. Responses to the symptoms questionnaire showed a marked effect of exercise on the perception of thirst, sweating, body warmth and dryness in the mouth. Sensations of stomach fullness could not account for the incomplete rehydration of most subjects in the time allotted. It was suggested that a rapid reduction in symptoms which initiate drinking was responsible for drinking termination. The role of water temperature in the reduction of thirst symptoms was discussed.     

Suppression of water intake by immune complex formation in the hypothalamus : Implications for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Immune complex formation in the perifornical region of the hypothalamus resulted in depressed water consumption in rats, but did not consistently alter body temperature. The antibody with an unrelated antigen did not affect water consumption or body temperature. These results support the notion that immune complex reactions with the central nervous system can alter behavior.     

Separation of water and ambient temperature effects on polydipsia

The separate contributions to schedule-induced polydipsia in rats of water temperature and ambient temperature were examined by varying each while the other was held constant. Water intake varied directly with water temperature between 5° and 30°C, and decreased at 35°C and 40°C relative to 30°C. Ambient temperature did not influence water intake when water temperature was held constant. These observations favor an orolingual locus for the effect of temperature on water intake, and rule out the participation of skin temperature receptors.     

Effect of furosemide (Lasix) on acute severe experimental cerebral edema

Summary The effect of furosemide (Lasix) therapy on a standardized experimental cerebral edema, induced in rats by applying a cooling stamp to the right side of the skull over the right coronal suture by means of a stereotactic instrument, was examined. The hemispherically separated water and electrolyte contents of the brain were analyzed after 24h. Following furosemide therapy, the behavior of these edema parameters was compared statistically with dexamethasone, glycerol and albumin.An increase of the water and sodium content, and a decrease of potassium was observed 24h after the trauma, especially in the right hemisphere. Furosemide did not improve either the water content or the electrolyte balance. By contrast, the administration of dexamethasone, glycerol and albumin was followed by a significant improvement of the edema.In experiments with cats, the course of the edema and the effect of furosemide on the cold brain injury of the right hemisphere were observed by measuring the intracranial pressure (ICP) values, and by continuous monitoring of the EEG. The ventricular CSF pressure and epidural pressures were also recorded. The electrical brain activity was continuously compared with the course of the ICP by means of computer analysis. In addition, the blood osmolality and diuresis were monitored.The ICP increased rapidly after the trauma, establishing considerable pressure gradients, and the EEG power intensities decreased markedly on the right side. Histologically, there was an extended edema of the white matter of both hemispheres. The ICP was not lowered by single injections or high dose infusions of furosemide, and the EEG power intensities also did not improve. Infusions of large volumes of furosemide even resulted in an increase of ICP, but infusion of 40% sorbitol effected a rapid decrease of ICP and EEG recovery over the left hemisphere. Sorbitol infusion also caused a marked rise in the blood osmolality, whereas furosemide had no such effect.The results raise considerable doubts as to the propriety of the exclusive use of furosemide for cases of acute cerebral edema with raised ICP. The diuretic effect is insufficient to establish an osmotic gradient, and its general dehydrating effect does not acutely influence the ICP. The absence of effect on the experimental tissue edema would not appear to commend furosemide as basic therapy for cases of traumatic cerebral edema.

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Zusammenfassung Die Wirkung von Furosemid (Lasix^®) auf ein ausgeprägtes, standardisiertes experimentelles Hirnödem wurde geprüft. Bei Ratten erzeugten wir ein reproduzierbares Ödem durch Aufsetzen eines Kältestempels konstanter Temperatur rechts parietal mittels eines stereotaktischen Zielgerätes. Die Hirnwasser- und Elektrolytgehalte wurden nach 24h hemisphärengetrennt bestimmt. Das Verhalten dieser Ödemparameter nach Furosemidtherapie wurde statistisch mit den Werten von unbehandelten sowie mit Dexamethason, Glyzerin und Albumin therapierten Tieren verglichen.24h nach dem Trauma beobachteten wir eine in der rechten Hemisphäre betonte Zunahme des Wasser- und Natriumgehaltes sowie eine Kaliumabnahme. Furosemid verbesserte weder die Wassergehalts- noch die Elektrolytwerte; demgegenüber zeigten Dexamethason, Glyzerin und Albumin eine signifikante Ödembesserung.Beim Kälte-Hirnödem der rechten Hemisphäre der Katze verfolgten wir danach Verlauf von Ödem und Wirkung von Furosemid durch Messung von intrakraniellen Druckwerten (ICP) und fortlaufende EEG-Ableitung. Neben dem Ventrikeldruck wurden die Epiduraldrucke gemessen; die elektrische Hirnaktivität wurde durch Computerauswertung (FFT) kontinuierlich mit dem ICP-Verlauf verglichen. Serumosmolalität und Diurese der Katzen registrierten wir zusätzlich.Nach dem Trauma steigt der ICP rasch mit erheblichen Druckgradienten, die EEG-Power-Intensität nimmt mit zunehmenden ICP rechts betont ab. Histologisch besteht ein ausgedehntes Marködem beider Hemisphären. Der ICP wird weder durch Einzelinjektion noch durch hochdosierte Infusion von Furosemid gesenkt. Infusion von Furosemid in einem größeren Verdünnungsvolumen führte sogar zu einem ICP-Anstieg. Ebenso wurde die EEG-Power-Intensität durch Furosemid nicht gebessert. Das zum Vergleich infundierte 40%ige Sorbit führte dagegen zu einer raschen ICP-Senkung und EEG-Erholung über der linken Hemisphäre. Gleichzeitig erhöhte Sorbit im Gegensatz zu Furosemid deutlich die Serumosmolalität.Nach den Ergebnissen bestehen erhebliche Bedenken gegen eine alleinige Anwendung von Furosemid bei akutem Hirnödem mit deutlicher ICP-Steigerung. Die diuretische Wirkung reicht zum Aufbau eines hirndrucksenkenden osmotischen Gradienten nicht aus, die allgemein dehydrierende Wirkung allein beeinflußt den ICP nicht rasch. Der fehlende Effekt auf die Gewebsparameter spricht auch nicht für Furosemid als Basistherapie im traumatischen Ödem.