Biochemical changes associated with acute phosphorus poisoning (in humans)

1. Thirty patients with acute phosphorus poisoning (APP) were chosen from the poison control centre, Cairo (PCCC), Ain Shams University, and classified into three groups according to the amount of ingested inorganic phosphorus (Pi). 2. Group I recorded high mortality rate (90%) with liver failure as a main cause of death. This group also showed hepatorenal failure, hypoglycemia and severe effect on the heart function. 3. Groups II and III recorded no mortality, but their patients showed an effect on the liver, which was severe in group II and mild in group III.     

Single-acquisition chemical-shift imaging of a binary system with use of stimulated echoes

A method for separating binary chemical-shift components with a single image data acquisition by means of stimulated echoes is demonstrated. With a strategy analogous to the modified Dixon method, three stimulated echoes were acquired to form three complex images. In each of the images, the complex pixel intensities were imparted, by design of the pulse sequence, with a phase factor carrying chemical-shift or field inhomogeneity information. With these three images, true fat/water separation can be obtained in biologic tissues. Studies at high field strength (4.7 T) on a toluene phantom, a pseudo-binary chemical-shift system, were used to evaluate the applicability of the method. Its clinical feasibility was demonstrated on a healthy human subject in a 0.6-T whole-body imaging system.     

Persistent Erection (Priapism) for Months with Concomitant Infertility in Rats due to Protein-Energy-Malnutrition

Monatelange Erektion (Priapismus) mit konsekutiver Infertitität bei Ratten als Folge von Protein-Energie-Mangelernährung
Wachsende, männüche Sprague Dawley Ratten wurden 22 Wochen lang mit einer halbsynthetischen, 9% Rohprotein enthaltenden Diät gefüttert, wobei Kasein (Kontrollgruppe; I) oder Weizenbrotkruste (Gruppe II) die alleinigen Proteinquellen darstellten. Das Kontrollfutter in reduzierter Menge, in Anlehnung an den Futterverzehr der Krusten-Ratten, wurde einem dritten Kollektiv verfüttert (pair-fed-Gruppe; III). Nach 6 Versuchswochen zeigten sich in den Gruppen II und III erste pathomorphologische Genitalveränderungen, die sich in einer monatelangen Erektion manifestierten. Bei 97% der Krusten-Ratten, 67% der isoenergetisch gefütterten Kasein-Ratten, jedoch bei keinem Kontrolltier entwickelte sich am Ende des Beobachtungszeitraums eine Dauererektion. Nach der 15. Versuchswoche erzielten die pair-fed-Ratten 17%, die Krusten-Ratten nur 5% des Gewichtszuwachses der Kasein-Kontrollgruppe. Im Reproduktionstest mit gesunden weibl. SD-Ratten erwies sich nur 1 von 6 Krusten-Ratten als zeugungsfähig, nach anschließender 5wöchiger ad lib. Kasein-Wiederauffütterung konnte eine 83% Fertilität beobachtet werden. Der Pathomechanismus der nutritiv induzierten Dauererektion wird auf die ausgeprägte marastische Stoffwechsellage zurückgeführt, bedarf jedoch weiterer Aufklärung.     

Neutral steroid metabolites in patients with uraemia and after renal transplantation: a quantitative and qualitative study in body fluids

Steroid metabolites enriched from urine, haemofiltrate, and CAPD-dialysate (Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis) were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and quantified by capillary gas chromatography. The study included twenty healthy controls, twenty-six non-dialysed uraemics, thirty-nine patients on regular dialysis treatment, and twenty-two allograft recipients. Compared to the 24 h urinary excretion rates of controls the excretion rates of androsterone and etiocholanolone were in the lower normal range up to significantly decreased in the body fluids of all patients, and those of the corticoid metabolites were also significantly decreased. 11-Oxygenated androstanolones in urine from non-dialysed uraemics correlated significantly decreased. 11-oxygenated androstano-levels and were significantly increased, but normal in haemofiltrate and CAPD-dialysate, while in urine of allograft recipients the values were significantly lower.     

Degradation of progesterone by aspergilli-side chain cleaving enzymes

The transformation properties of different aspergilli were tested. Our strains possess the capacity of degrading of progesterone side chain. Δ⁴-androstene-3,17-dione, testosterone, and testololactone were detected in all cases but produced in different yields. Two strains, namely, Aspergillus niger 214 and A. flavus 181 proved to be the most active transformers. The transformation abilities of these two strains are profoundly affected by composition of the fermentation medium employed. The media containing ill-defined compounds, e.g. peptone or yeast extract favour the production of enzymes catalyzing the degradation of the progesterone side chain. Various enzymic transformations of progesterone with these two strains were studied by allowing the fermentation to proceed at different time intervals. It was possible to illustrate schemes for such transformation reactions.     

A Comparison of 2 Methods for Monitoring Gonadotrophin Therapy

One hundred and seventy nine (179) ovarian cycles from 52 patients treated with human menopausal gonadotrophins were retrospectively analysed. Eighty one (81) cycles were monitored by serial measurements of plasma oestradiol concentrations and 98 cycles were monitored by realtime ultrasound scanning of ovarian follicles. The results suggest that realtime ultrasonography, used alone, is a safe and effective method for monitoring gonadotrophin therapy.     

Hyperlipidemia, hypercoagulability, and accelerated thrombosis: studies in congenitally hyperlipidemic rats and in rats and monkeys with induced hyperlipidemia

Inbred Carworth Farms Nelson (CFN) congenitally hyperlipidemic rats had significantly shorter coagulation and prothrombin times and higher levels of coagulation factors, II, V, VII, VIII, and X than did controls. Conversely, congenitally hypolipidemic rats of the same strain had significantly longer coagulation and prothrombin times and lower levels of factors II, V, VII, X and XII and of blood platelets than did controls. A loop-shaped polyethylene cannula was inserted into the aorta to assess the potential for thrombosis. The hyperlipidemic group obstructed this significantly faster and the hypolipidemic group slower than did the controls. Normal CFN rats made hypertensive by unilateral renal artery clip developed hypertension together with significantly elevated serum cholesterol and factor VII and X levels. Rhesus monkeys with diet-induced hyperlipidemia showed shorter prothrombin times and higher factor X levels than did controls on normal diet. By selective breeding, two groups of squirrel monkeys were obtained. Both groups had similar serum cholesterol levels on a normal diet but one group (hyperresponders) showed higher serum cholesterol levels on a cholesterol-containing diet than did the other (hyporesponder) group. Both groups showed significantly elevated levels of factors II, V, VII, IX and X on a cholesterol-containing diet. There was good correlation between the levels of many coagulation factors and serum cholesterol in both rats and monkeys. If thrombosis is important in the genesis of atherosclerosis, these findings could indicate that elevation of plasma lipids may play a role, via the coagulation pathway, in the production of human vascular disease.     

Pulmonary hypertension due to micro-thromboembolism from splenic and portal veins after portacaval anastomosis

This is a presentation of a unique case of pulmonary hypertension in a 15-year-old girl, due to micro-thromboembolism from splenoportal veins through a portacaval anastomosis.