Synergist Erection System: clinical experience

The Synergist Erection System (SES) was tested over a six-month period in 44 impotent patients with an organic etiology. The device was successfully used by 73 percent. The duration of erection for 75 percent of the patients was as long as they wanted to wear the device. The frequency of use was once a week for 47 percent. The quality of erection was rated satisfactory by 63 percent of the patients and 78 percent of the couples rated satisfactory intercourse. It appears the SES option is a valid one with high success and satisfaction rating at least on a short-term basis. In addition, it offers prophylactic protection.     

High prevalence of NIDDM and impaired glucose tolerance in Indian, Creole, and Chinese Mauritians. Mauritius Noncommunicable Disease Study Group

Mauritius, a multiethnic island nation in the southwestern Indian Ocean, has one of the world's highest diabetes mortality rates. The prevalence of both impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) was investigated in 5080 Muslim and Hindu Indian, Creole (mixed African, European, and Indian origin), and Chinese Mauritian adults aged 25-74 yr who were selected by random cluster sampling. Based on a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test and World Health Organization criteria, the age-standardized prevalence of IGT was significantly greater in women (19.7%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 18.1-21.2) than in men (11.7%, CI 10.5-12.8). By contrast, the prevalence of NIDDM was similar in men (12.1%, CI 10.9-13.4) and women (11.7%, CI 10.5-12.8) for all ethnic groups combined. The sex difference in IGT prevalence was seen in all ethnic groups, but for NIDDM, the sex difference was not consistent across ethnic groups. However, age- and sex-standardized prevalence of IGT and NIDDM was remarkably similar across ethnic groups (16.2 and 12.4% in Hindu Indians, 15.3 and 13.3% in Muslim Indians, 17.5 and 10.4% in Creoles, and 16.6 and 11.9% in Chinese, respectively). Three new cases of diabetes were diagnosed for every two known cases. The high prevalence of abnormal glucose tolerance in Indian subjects is consistent with studies of other migrant Indian communities, but the findings in Creole and, in particular, Chinese subjects are unexpected. Potent environmental factors shared between ethnic groups in Mauritius may be responsible for the epidemic of glucose intolerance.     

Lithium acetate gastrointestinal diffusion system. Part 1: Lithium acetate single-unit gastrointestinal diffusion system: preparation and release rate studies

The gastrointestinal diffusion system (GDS), containing lithium acetate (1), releases the drug by a controlled source of diffusion energy. The unit can possibly be used for all soluble drugs in which solubility is independent from the pH of the gastrointestinal contents as is the case with 1. The one-compartment unit is obtained by tabletting the drug and coating the tablets with a membrane of cellulose acetate to which soluble porofores-gum arabic, sodium chloride, 1-are added. When the pore-creating substance is dissolved out of the coating, there remains a porous film, which controls the rate of release of the drug. The release characteristics depend on membrane composition and mass. The systems reported here provided for zero-order drug delivery in vitro.     

Generalized melanosis with malignant melanoma metastasizing to skin—a pathological study with S-100 protein and HMB-45

A patient with primary malignant melanoma localized to the right gluteal region is described. Four years later and alter intercurrent influenza, disseminated metastases of malignant melanoma to the skin occurred. After a further 6 months melanodermia developed and lasted until the death of the patient (6 months later). Autopsy revealed melanosis of the visceral organs. Histology taken from internal organs using S-100 protein and HMB-45 melanoma methods confirmed metastases of malignant melanoma to the skin, oral cavity, palatal tonsils, nasal and nasopharyngeal mucosae, lungs, myocardium and brain. The authors discuss the mechanism of melanosis—a rare sign in patients with metastasizing malignant melanoma.     

Antioxidant enzyme activities and total nitrite/nitrate levels in the collar model. Effect of nicardipine.

There is a large body of literature describing the causative role of oxidative stress mediated by increased levels of reactive oxygen species in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, and restenosis after angioplasty. The positioning of a soft silicone collar around the rabbit carotid artery elicits intimal thickening. The findings from recent studies demonstrated that both intimal thickening and atherosclerosis lead to synthesis of inducible nitric oxide synthase, resulting in abundant amounts of nitric oxide. We investigated the effects of collaring and nicardipine treatment on the activities of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase and catalase, and total nitrite/nitrate levels, stable products of nitric oxide. Placing the collar increased the total nitrite/ nitrate levels and decreased superoxide dismutase activity in collared arteries. Treatment with nicardipine (20 mg/kg/day, s.c.) prevented enhanced nitric oxide degradation without affecting superoxide dismutase and catalase activities. Our results suggest that enhanced nitric oxide production and superoxide anion are generated in response to the collaring, resulting in oxidative stress within the segment in this model.     

High alveolar surface tension increases clearance of technetium 99m diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid.

The effect of high alveolar surface tension on alveolar epithelial permeability was studied in anesthetized closed-chest mongrel dogs. Alveolar surface tension was elevated by displacement of pulmonary surfactant from the alveolar hypophase by the aerosolized detergent dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (OT). After measurement of baseline hemodynamics, arterial blood gases, and airway pressure, the dogs were separated into groups: Group I inhaled a 1% solution of OT (15 mg/kg) in a vehicle of equal parts saline and ethanol; group II inhaled the same volume of vehicle without OT. The pulmonary clearance of technetium 99m diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid (99mTc-DTPA) (half-time in minutes) was studied immediately after aerosol (OT and vehicle) delivery and compared with that of historical control values. No change was seen in arterial blood gases and airway pressure after vehicle inhalation, whereas OT caused a marked fall in arterial oxygen tension and increase in airway pressure. Vehicle inhalation effected only a slight increase in DTPA clearance, whereas OT significantly reduced half-time over control and group II. These data suggest that high alveolar surface tension increases alveolar epithelial permeability.     

Scientific and regulatory issues relevant to assessing risk for developmental neurotoxicity: an overview

The effects of chemical exposure on the developing nervous system have been documented in both humans and animals for a variety of agents. However, the comparability of these effects has not been carefully evaluated to determine the predictability of animal models to adverse effects in humans. A workshop sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse was held on April 11-13, 1989, to address the Qualitative and Quantitative Comparability of Human and Animal Developmental Neurotoxicity. Invited experts were asked to review the human and animal data on several agents that are known to cause developmental neurotoxicity in humans, including lead, methylmercury, selected abused agents, anticonvulsants, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), ethanol and X-irradiation, and to make quantitative comparisons on a specific end point basis as well as on a functional category basis. In addition, they were asked to make quantitative comparisons when adequate dose-effect data were available. The data also were evaluated in the context of the proposed EPA developmental neurotoxicity testing battery to determine whether or not the battery would adequately detect the effects of each agent. Finally, four work groups were asked to reach consensus on issues relating to: 1) comparability of end points across species for developmental neurotoxicity; 2) testing methods in developmental neurotoxicity for use in human risk assessment; 3) weight-of-evidence and quantitative evaluation of data from developmental neurotoxicity studies; and 4) triggers for developmental neurotoxicity testing.