Effects of prostaglandins and the autonomic nervous system on the vasodilatory properties of nitroglycerin in conscious dogs.

This study was designed to assess the respective roles of prostaglandins and the autonomic nervous system in the responses to nitroglycerin (NTG) in conscious dogs. In vivo, NTG (1, 10, and 100 micrograms/kg i.v.) induced dose-dependent decreases in blood pressure and increases in heart rate and cardiac output. Coronary and carotid blood flows increased simultaneously, whereas responses in renal blood flow were biphasic, i.e., an initial decrease was followed by an increase above control at 10 and 100 micrograms/kg. NTG responses were not changed by indomethacin but were affected by chlorisondamine alone or in combination with indomethacin; tachycardia was abolished, and increases in cardiac output after 10 and 100 micrograms/kg were reduced by 26 and 32%, respectively, after ganglionic blockade and by 19 and 32%, respectively, after chlorisondamine plus indomethacin. In addition, increases in carotid blood flow in doses of 100 micrograms/kg were reduced by 88% after chlorisondamine and 83% after chlorisondamine plus indomethacin. Finally, in the presence of chlorisondamine plus indomethacin, NTG induced a more pronounced hypotension associated with a more pronounced renal vasodilation at the highest dose. Independent of indomethacin pretreatment, NTG in vitro induced a dose-dependent relaxation of the carotid, coronary, and renal arteries. Depending on the vascular bed, the reflex and local controls of circulation are affected differently by NTG.     

Prevalence of Legionella in pharyngeal secretions of patients with pharyngitis

A serological investigation has suggested that Legionella pneumophila may be associated with sore throat in adults. In a study of 177 adults and children with acute pharyngitis, Legionella species were not isolated from pharyngeal cultures, which utilized selective and nonselective buffered charcoal-yeast extract media. Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci were isolated from 14 percent of the 177 symptomatic patients. Throat cultures from 88 asymptomatic control subjects were negative for Legionella and beta-hemolytic streptococci. Further studies are needed to determine if Legionella species are associated with acute pharyngitis.     

Do viscous polysaccharides slow absorption by inhibiting diffusion or convection?

Viscous polysaccharides such as guar gum delay absorption probably by impairing the access of luminal contents to the absorptive epithelium. Measurements of the electrical resistivity of saline solutions were carried out to determine if guar gum (0.5, 0.75 and 1 per cent w/v), in concentrations which impaired absorption in vitro, delayed diffusion of solutes or inhibited convection of luminal contents. Our results indicated that guar had no effect on the mobility of ions in a completely unstirred solution but delayed the time taken for saline solutions of different resistivity to achieve complete mixing, when they were brought into contact inside a vessel, which was rotated at a constant speed. The time taken to achieve complete mixing was directly related to the viscosity of the guar solutions. The effect of intestinal contraction on the absorption of glucose was simulated in an in vitro model, consisting of a length of dialysis tubing, alternately contracted at each end. Movement of glucose out of the dialysis tubing was increased by increasing the rate of contraction. The incorporation of guar gum into the solution prevented the rise in glucose uptake produced by increasing the rate of contraction. These effects suggest that guar probably reduces absorption by resisting the convective effects of intestinal contractions.     

A case of Datisca glomerata poisoning in beef cattle

Six of 175 Angus heifers died after ingesting excessive amounts of Durango root (Datisca glomerata). Animals had rumens full of Durango root, were extremely lethargic, and had diarrhea prior to death. The animals had nonspecific postmortem lesions. This case is discussed in light of previous findings from trials in which Durango root was experimentally fed to cattle.     

Galanin- and CGRP-like immunoreactivity coexist in rat spinal motoneurons.

We can report, that by the use of indirect immunofluorescence techniques, that rat spinal motoneurons contain galanin-like immunoreactivity (LI). Furthermore, that galanin and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-LI coexist in a number of spinal motoneurons. Co-localization could be demonstrated as thoracic, lumbar as well as sacral spinal cord levels in individual neurons by studying adjacent sections each stained by one of the two antisera, as well as by double labelling experiments. Small neurons, within the gamma-motoneuron and interneuron size-range, were also positive for galanin-LI.     

A meta-analysis of randomized trials of fish oil in prevention of restenosis following coronary angioplasty.

The efficacy of fish oil in decreasing restenosis following percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) remains controversial despite seven published reports of randomized trials involving 951 patients. We performed a meta-analysis to determine whether these trials, viewed in aggregate, demonstrate a significant benefit. We evaluated rates of restenosis two to 12 months after PTCA and calculated an estimate of the overall effect and 95% confidence interval (CI). The typical odds ratio (treatment versus control) was 0.71 (95% CI 0.54, 0.94), P = 0.016 (two-tailed). The data show a strong and highly significant (P less than .0001) relationship between daily fish oil dose and gastrointestinal side effects. While compatible with a small to moderate benefit of fish oil on rates of restenosis, these results require confirmation in a randomized clinical trial large enough to distinguish reliably between a clinically meaningful benefit and a null result.