Comparison of L-thyroxine and a saturated solution of potassium iodide in preventing damage to the thyroid following iodine-131-labeled antibody injection

Following injection of radioiodinated antibodies in diagnostic amounts, there is variable uptake of radioiodine by the thyroid. Unless preventive steps are taken, radiation damage to the gland may occur. We have evaluated the role of L-thyroxine and a saturated solution of potassium iodide (SSKI) in preventing radiation damage to the thyroid glands of Sprague-Dawley adult male rats by measuring DNA strand breakage by the nucleoid sedimentation gradient method. Pretreatment with SSKI reduced DNA damage and also reduced 131I accumulation in the thyroid. Pretreatment with L-thyroxine also reduced DNA damage without significantly reducing 131I accumulation in the thyroid. The possible mechanisms of action of L-thyroxine and SSKI in preventing radiation damage to the thyroid are addressed.     

In vitro evaluation of Ro 13-9904.

The in vitro activity of a new investigational cephalosporin, Ro 13-9904, was compared with those of four cephalosporins (cephalothin, cefamandole, cefoxitin, and moxalactam), five semisynthetic penicillins (mezlocillin, piperacillin, carbenicillin, ticarcillin, and azlocillin), and the aminoglycoside tobramycin. Ro 13-9904 inhibited 75% of all isolates of Enterobacteriaceae at a concentration of 6.25 micrograms/ml, including Enterobacter spp., Serratia marcescens, and indole-positive Proteus spp. Ro 13-9904 was only minimally active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and enterococci. There was no significant change (greater than or equal to 2 dilutions) in drug activity when tested in various pH and media. A significant inoculum effect occurred when the size of the inoculum was increased from a concentration of 10(5) to 10(7) organisms per ml.     

Blood preservation. XXXIV. DHA maintains 2,3-DPG and its adverse effect on ATP is reversed with extra phosphate

We have found that the addition of 10 mM inorganic phosphate to DHA in CPD-adenine maintains ATP levels at normal or higher than normal values for six weeks of storage. 2,3-DPG values are slightly lowered by the extra phosphate, but are still maintained at approximately half normal for four weeks by the DHA. The addition of a higher phosphate concentration, 20 mM, to DHA produced lower levels of ATP and 2,3-DPG than those observed with 10 mM phosphate, although both levels were better than in the CPD-adenine control. pH values in this experiment were lowest in the three preservatives containing DHA, probably indicating increased lactate production due to metabolism of this triose sugar, in addition to dextrose present in CPD.     

Relationships between thyroid hormone and glucocorticoid effects in GH3 pituitary cells

The interrelationships between thyroid hormone and cortisol actions were investigated in GH3 pituitary tumor cells. When GH3 cells were grown in thyroid hormone-deficient medium, cortisol did not affect the concentration of TRH receptors. Both thyroid hormones and TRH normally decrease the number of TRH receptors, and cortisol inhibited down-regulation by both hormones. TRH caused a greater increase in PRL synthesis when TRH receptors were high in the presence of cortisol and T3 than when TRH receptors were low (T3 alone). In the presence of cortisol, higher concentrations of T3 were required to decrease TRH receptors, while lower concentrations were necessary to stimulate GH synthesis. Cortisol and T3 alone stimulated GH synthesis 6- and 10-fold, respectively, while together they caused an 830-fold increase. In contrast, T3 did not alter the inhibition of PRL synthesis by the glucocorticoid. Cortisol did not significantly affect the amount of [125I]T3 bound to nuclei from cells incubated in thyroid hormone-deficient or T3-supplemented medium (approximately 100 and approximately 25 fmol/mg cell protein). The data suggest that cortisol modifies thyroid hormone action at a step subsequent to T3 receptor binding.     

Geographical information system and predictive risk maps of urinary schistosomiasis in Ogun State,Nigeria

Background  

The control of urinary schistosomiasis in Ogun State, Nigeria remains inert due to lack of reliable data on the geographical distribution of the disease and the population at risk. To help in developing a control programme, delineating areas of risk, geographical information system and remotely sensed environmental images were used to developed predictive risk maps of the probability of occurrence of the disease and quantify the risk for infection in Ogun State, Nigeria.     

Immature dense granules in platelets from mice with platelet storage pool disease

Mepacrine uptake into platelets and bone marrow megakaryocytes was analyzed to further characterize the dense granule defects in a group of seven mouse pigment mutants that have characteristics of platelet storage pool disease (SPD). In contrast to our previous studies using electron microscopy, this method revealed that all mutants had normal numbers of dense granules. However, total mepacrine uptake in all mutant platelets was significantly diminished to less than 50% of normal uptake. Also, the flashing phenomenon observed when normal dense granules are irradiated with ultraviolet light was either greatly diminished or absent when platelets of individual mutants were similarly irradiated. Therefore the principal defect in the mutant platelets is an inability to accumulate dense granule contents rather than an absence of the granules. Mepacrine uptake into megakaryocytes was indistinguishable in normal and mutant mice. This indicates the mutant dense granule defects appear either very late in megakaryocyte development or early in platelet formation in correlation with development of the mature dense granule. By standard transmission electron microscopy we have not been able to detect gross structural or subcellular abnormalities in either platelets or megakaryocytes of mutant mice. It appears all seven mutants produce immature or functionally abnormal dense granules.