Diagnosis of adrenoleukodystrophy using dried blood spots

We have demonstrated the increased C26:0/C22:0 ratio in the fatty acids of sphingolipid fraction in dried blood spots on filter paper from the patient with adrenoleukodystrophy. The ratio of C26:0/C22:0 in the dried blood spots from the patient was 2.1-fold higher than those of the normal controls. This value was almost the same as the ratio in erythrocyte membrane sphingomyelin from the patient, because sphingolipid fraction in the dried blood spots consists of mainly the sphingomyelin from erythrocyte membranes. Blood samples are easy to obtain by mail and the method is useful in the diagnosis of the patient and screening for the families known to be at risk.     

Serum lipid levels in hypertensive patients during captopril treatment

Captopril (37.5 mg daily) was administered to 64 hypertensive patients for 16 weeks. During treatment, systolic and diastolic blood pressures decreased significantly (from means of 164/98 mmHg before treatment to 150/90 mmHg at four weeks and 142/86 mmHg at eight weeks; P less than 0.001), but serum levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, lipoprotein cholesterol, lipoprotein triglyceride, and apolipoproteins showed no significant changes. Scores on the atherogenic index did not change. Patients with high initial total cholesterol levels and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels tended to improve their lipid levels. It is concluded that captopril does not adversely affect serum lipoprotein metabolism.     

The beneficial effects of 40% and 100% O2 inhalations on acutely-induced myocardial ischemia in dogs

The effectiveness of O2 inhalation on the acutely-induced ischemic myocardium in dogs was investigated. In 22 open-chest mongrel dogs, the left anterior descending coronary artery was partially occluded to reduce coronary flow. The regional coronary vein accompanying the artery was cannulated to obtain coronary venous blood. Switching of inspiratory gas from room air to 40% O2 produced an elevation of coronary venous O2 saturation from 35.8 +/- 12.7 (S.D.) to 41.1 +/- 11.9% and shifting of myocardial lactate production to utilization (from -0.9 +/- 36.9 to 5.0 +/- 36.7%), indicating that 40% O2 inhalation ameliorated ischemia. Application of 100% O2 inhalation caused even more beneficial effects; coronary venous O2 saturation was elevated to 50.6 +/- 12.6% and myocardial lactate extraction was improved to 7.8 +/- 40.5%. The present study indicated that 40% O2 inhalation was effective and 100% O2 inhalation even more effective in ameliorating acutely-induced myocardial ischemia. Decreases in myocardial contractile force and left ventricular size and suppression of sympathoadrenal activity might be possible mechanisms for these beneficial effects.     

Antitumor effect of the organogermanium compound Ge-132 on the Lewis lung carcinoma (3LL) in C57BL/6 (B6) mice

Effects of the organogermanium compound Ge-132 (i.p.) were examined on the 3LL local tumor (1 X 10(5)/mouse, s.c.) and its pulmonary metastases in B6 mice. A characteristic feature of its action was the preferential antimetastatic effect under strictly defined conditions. Either inhibition or facilitation was observed depending on the treatment schedules; 7 daily doses of 100 mg/kg yielded the inhibition ratio 49% when started from day 1, whereas the treatment from day 8 resulted in the ratio -99%. The maximum inhibition was obtained at 100 mg/kg. The postsurgical-adjuvant treatment with Ge-132 was of no beneficial effect. The local tumor growth was affected only marginally and temporarily. When inoculum size was minimized (1 X 10(4)), a single dose of 300 mg/kg on day 1, but not on day 8, was effective in prolonging the latency before tumor take. The antitumor action of Ge-132 was discussed with reference to its interferon (IFN)-inducing activity.