Prostaglandins and angioplasty. An experimental study in canine arteries

To prevent platelet aggregation following percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), cyclooxygenase inhibitors such as acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and indomethacin are recommended. However, ASA blocks both the proaggregating effects of thromboxane (TXA2) and the antiaggregating and vasodilating effects of prostacyclin (PGI2). The authors measured the contractile response of dilated canine carotid arteries in situ and in vitro using an isometric force transducer. Following PTA, contraction of the arterial wall was significantly reduced (p less than 0.01). By blocking cyclooxygenase with indomethacin (3 micrograms/ml), contraction was greatly improved (p less than 0.001). These results suggest that PTA may result in marked release of prostacyclin by the damaged arterial wall, which could account for the decreased responsiveness of the artery to exogenous norepinephrine.     

Pedigree analysis and epidemiological features of idiopathic congenital talipes equinovarus in the United Kingdom: a case-control study

Background  

Congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV) is a common developmental disorder of the foot, affecting between 1 and 4.5 per 1000 live births. The aetiology is not well elucidated. While both genetic and environmental factors are implicated, no specific genes have been identified and little is known about environmental risk factors.     

Kinetics of buccal absorption of amphetamines

The buccal absorption of amphetamine, methylamphetamine and dimethylamphetamine in solutions at pH 8·16 and 9·18, was measured in man after 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10 min. The recovery of the drugs from the buccal membrane after uptake was also measured by washing out the mouth for varying times with buffer solutions. An analogue computer model of the biological system was used and the kinetic parameters for the buccal absorption of the amphetamines were calculated.