BECLOMETHASONE DIPROPIONATE AEROSOL TREATMENT OF HAY FEVER

In a controlled, double-blind study 20 children and adults, suffering from summer hay fever, were treated intranasally with a daily dose of 200 μg, 300 μg or 400 μg beclomethasone dipropionate (Beconase®, Becotide Nasal®) or with placebo for 2 weeks during the hay fever season. No beneficial effect of the placebo treatment was observed. In patients treated with 200 μg and 300 μg beclomethasone dipropionate a day there was a moderate decrease in nasal symptom scores and in use of antihistamine tablets. As the results indicated 400 μg a day to have the most pronounced effect on nasal symptoms, this dosage is recommended for children as well as adults suffering from summer hay fever.     

OXIDATION OF GLUCOSE and D-B-OH-BUTYRATE BY THE EARLY HUMAN FETAL BRAIN

Abstract. Adam, P. A. J., Räihä, N., Rahiala, E.-L. and Kekomäki, M. (Departments of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University at Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio USA, and the University of Helsinki at the Children's Hospital, Helsinki, Finland). Oxidation of glucose and D-B-OH-butyrate by the early human fetal brain. Acta Paediatr Scand, 64:17, 1975.–The isolated brains of 12 previable human fetuses obtained at 12 to 21 weeks' gestation, were perfused through the interval carotid artery with glucose (3 mM) and/or DL-B-OH-butyrate (DL-BOHB), 4.5 mM, plus tracer quantities of either glucose-6-¹⁴C (G6¹⁴C) or β-OH-butyrate-3-¹⁴C (BOHB3¹⁴C). Oxidative metabolism was demonstrated by serial collection of gaseous ¹⁴CO₂ from the closed perfusion system, and from the recirculating medium. Glucose and BOHB were utilized at physiological rates as indicated (mean ±SEM): G6¹⁴C at 0.10±0.01 μmoles/min g brain (n=7) or 17.5±1.9 μmoles/ min kg fetus; and BOHB3¹⁴C at 0.16±0.05 μmoles/min g (n=5) or 27.3±7.4 μmoles/ min kg. Based on fetal weight, glucose metabolism by brain apparently accounted for about 1/3 of basal glucose utilization in the fetus. On a molar basis BOHB3¹⁴C was taken up at 1.47 times the rate of G6¹⁴C. Both BOHB3¹⁴C and G6 ¹⁴C were converted to ¹⁴C0₂. The rate of BOHB3¹⁴C conversion to ¹⁴CO₂ was equal to its rate of consumption, and exceeded the conversion of glucose to CO₂ because 45% of the G6¹⁴C was incorporated into lactate-¹⁴C. Accordingly, both substrates support oxidative metabolism by brain; and BOHB is a major potential alternate fuel which can replace glucose early in human development.     

On the Interaction between Protein and Glucose in Human Blood

An interchange between albumin-bound hexose and free glucose in human plasma has been demonstrated. If there is a protein-bound hexose in the red cells, it may interfere with the distribution of glucose between the cells and plasma.     

Immunofluorescence Studies in Scabies

Direct and indirect immunofluorescence investigations performed for 11 patients with scabies. All patients had punch biopsies taken from (1) a lesion containing Sarcoptes scabiei, (2) an inflammatory papule which did not contain a mite, and (3) normal skin. In four patients IgE deposits were found in the vessel walls of the upper dermis both in biopsies containing mits and biopsies of inflammatory papules with no mites. No IgE deposits were found in biopsies of normal skin from the same patients. Two patients had IgM and/or C3 deposits along the basal membrane in biopsies containing mites and one of them also had C3 in this area in the biopsy from a papule with no mite, as well as normal skin.     

Baroreceptor stimulation alters cortical activity

The arterial baroreceptors constitute an essential sensory link for the short-term regulation of blood pressure and may also influence higher cortical function. The present study was undertaken to evaluate previous reports of such a cortical influence under conditions of psychologically controlled, mechanical baroreceplor stimulation. This control was achieved by use of PRES (phase-related external suction), a modified neck suction technique. PRES applies short suction bursts that have a different impact on baroreceptors depending on their timing within the cardiac cycle and has the advantage that subjects cannot easily discriminate between conditions of stimulation and inhibition. Electroencephalograms were recorded from 22 subjects during PRES manipulations. A surface-negative shift of about 10 μV developed during the cuff manipulations. Over frontal-central regions, this shift was smaller during baroreceptor stimulation than during inhibition. These data provide support for the proposal that baroreceptor activation influences cortical activity.     

CARDIAC FUNCTION AFTER ALCOHOL INGESTION IN PATIENTS WITH ISCHEMIC HEART DISEASE AND CARDIOMYOPATHY: A CONTROLLED STUDY

Thirty male patients with ischemic heart disease and cardiomyopathyentered a controlled study of the acute effects of alcohol oncardiac function evaluated by right heart catheterization. Twentypatients, nine with angina pectoris and 11 with congestive heartfailure, were studied during alcohol intoxication, and ten patients,five with angina pectoris and five with heart failure, servedas a control group. The mean serum ethanol concentration inthe alcohol group was 93 mg/100 ml (S.D. 17). The systemic arterialblood pressure was reduced by 6% in the alcohol group, P<0.05compared with the control group. No significant changes occurredin the central venous pressure, the pulmonary artery pressure,the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, or in cardiac output,stroke volume and total peripheral resistance. Alcohol intakein moderate doses has no measurable effect on pulmonary bloodpressures or cardiac output in patients with ischemic heartdisease and cardiomyopathy. Such an effect may, however, bemasked by a reduction of afterload.