Determination of the solute removal index for urea by using a partial spent dialysate collection method

In 22 hemodialysis patients, during a dialysis session, the solute removal index (SRI) for urea obtained from the use of a partial spent dialysate collection method was compared with that derived from the use of a total spent dialysate collection technique. The partial spent dialysate collection method was used to harvest a small representative sample of the total spent dialysate. The volumes of spent dialysate collected by the partial and the total spent dialysate collection methods were 1.7 +/- 0.4 L and 129.6 +/- 15.3 L, respectively. The total amount of urea nitrogen removed by dialysis as estimated by the partial spent dialysate collection method was similar to that determined by the total spent dialysate collection approach. As a result, the SRI value for urea obtained by the partial spent dialysate collection method (namely, 63% +/- 8%) correlated very well (r = 0.95, P < 0.001) with that derived by the total spent dialysate collection technique (namely, 62% +/- 8%). Our data suggest that it is feasible to use a simple partial spent dialysate collection method to obtain SRI results in patients treated with hemodialysis.     

Intestinal pseudoobstruction as a paraneoplastic syndrome in ganglioneuroblastoma.

Intestinal pseudoobstruction may be part of a paraneoplastic syndrome. We report a teenage girl with ganglioneuroblastoma who presented with severe constipation. The intestinal pseudoobstruction was presumed to be due to inflammation of the myenteric plexus with destruction of the ganglion cells caused by antineuronal nuclear antibodies (ANNA or Anti-Hu).     

逍遥丸的三维高效液相色谱法鉴定和指标成分的定量

用三维高效液相色谱(three dimensional HPLC)法对中成药逍遥丸进行了分析。结果表明该法用于逍遥丸中单味中药鉴定及其指标成分(marker substances)含量测定均得到满意结果。     

Free flaps for head and neck cancer reconstruction: Does the use of both large cervical vessels as recipient vessels and the employment of end-to-side technique enhance flap survival?

This study specifically investigates whether the use of both large cervical vessels (the external carotid artery and the internal jugular vein) as recipient vessels with end-to-side anastomosis enhance free flap survival in head and neck cancer reconstruction, when compared with the use of other standard smaller neck recipient vessels and end-to-end anastomosis. A total of 84 consecutive patients were included and were divided into two groups (42 in each group) according to the recipient vessels. The overall vessel thrombosis rate was 6% (five of 84 cases) and the overall flap loss rate was 2.4% (two of 84 cases) yielding a flap salvage rate of 60%. Vessel thrombosis occurred in three cases of the smaller vessels group and in two cases of the large cervical vessels group. This was not statistically significant.     

F90927: A New Member in the Class of Cardioactive Steroids

F90927 is a newly developed cardioactive drug with a steroid-like structure. It acts directly and agonistically on the cardiac L-type Ca²⁺ channel by shifting its voltage-dependent activation toward more negative potentials. This leads to an increased influx of Ca²⁺ and, therefore, to a stronger contraction; however, no arrhythmias occur. Calcium current stimulation can already be observed at nanomolar concentrations, but higher concentrations of F90927 elevate intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration, causing a reduction of the myocardial compliance and an increased diastolic blood pressure. Vessels also react to F90927 and contract in its presence. Binding of F90927 with the L-type Ca²⁺ channel presumably occurs in the vicinity of the transmembrane domains III and IV of the α₁ subunit. F90927 exhibits no use dependence and interacts with Ca²⁺ channel inhibitors of all three known classes of channel modulators (dihydropyridines, phenylalkylamines, and benzothiazepines), suggesting that it is a member of a new class of Ca²⁺ channel modulators. Due to its adverse effects on blood pressure and vessel contraction, F90927 is not an ideal drug candidate. It has, however, some unique properties, which makes it a promising tool to study the function of the L-type Ca²⁺ channel.     

A novel steroid-like compound F90927 exerting positive-inotropic effects in cardiac muscle

Here we report a novel steroid-like compound F90363, exhibiting positive inotropy in vivo and in vitro in various cardiac muscle preparations. F90363 is a racemic mixture composed of the stereoisomers (-)-F90926 and (+)-F90927. Only F90927 exerted positive inotropy, while F90926 induced a weak negative inotropy, but only at concentrations 10(3) times higher than F90927 and most likely resulting from an unspecific interaction. The rapid time course of the action of F90927 suggested a direct interaction with a cellular target rather than a genomic alteration. We could identify the L-type Ca2+ current I(Ca(L)) as a main target of F90927, while excluding other components of cardiac Ca2+ signalling as potential contributors. In addition, several other signaling pathways known to lead to positive inotropy (e.g. alpha- and beta-adrenergic stimulation, cAMP pathways) could be excluded as targets of F90927. However, vessel contraction and stiffening of the cardiac muscle at high doses (>30 microM, 0.36 mg kg(-1), respectively) prevent the use of F90927 as a candidate for drug development. Since the compound may still find valuable applications in research, the aim of the present study was to identify the cellular target and the mechanism of inotropy of F90927.