A simplified method of counting microorganisms in studying human autoflora

Formulae for the calculation of the count of microorganisms isolated from natural bacterial biocenoses of a child's body have been derived. The authors suggest a variant of simplified drip method for the computation of microorganism colonies in solid media. The described method helps cut down the nutrient media consumption at least 3-fold and is time-saving.     

Pharmacokinetics of ethylenediaminemalonatoplatinum(II) (JM-40) during phase I trial

Pharmacokinetics of the cis-platin analog ethylenediaminemalonatoplatinum(II) (JM-410) was studied in 28 cycles of 19 patients during the phase I study of this drug. The drug was administered intravenously by short-term (10-60 min) infusion. Doses ranged from 20 to 1,200mg m-2. JM-40 was determined in plasma ultrafiltrate and urine by HPLC. Platinum (Pt) concentrations were determined in plasma, plasma ultrafiltrate, urine and red blood cells by atomic absorption spectrometry up to 5 days after administration of the drug. Ultrafilterable Pt could be determined up to 45 days after the infusion in one patient sampled over such a long period. Pharmacokinetics of JM-40 showed a linear behaviour. The final half-life of total Pt in plasma was 4.1 +/- 0.9 days. The disposition of JM-40 was similar to that of ultrafilterable Pt in respect to t1/2 alpha (10 and 13 min), t1/2 beta (44 and 57 min), volumes of distribution Vc (11 and 121) and Vss (17 and 201), systemic clearance (256 and 223 ml min-1), renal clearance (69 and 73 ml min-1) and metabolic clearance (183 and 154 ml min-1). During the first 6 h 27 +/- 9% of the administered dose was excreted as JM-40. Cumulative platinum excretion in the urine amounted to 29 +/- 13% and 60 +/- 13% over the first 6 h, 24 h and 5 days, respectively. The uptake of platinum in red blood cells was limited, comprising only 0.24 +/- 0.12% of the administered dose. Although JM-40 and carboplatin are structurally closely related, pharmocokinetics and toxicity of JM-40 were more similar to cis-platin than to carboplatin.     

Effects of emotion on perceptual asymmetry: interactions with personality

Perceptual asymmetry on a series of four specially constructed dichotic word tests was found to change as a function of the emotional quality of the words in the tests (P = 0.05). This was most pronounced in the case of positively valued words which produced an increase in asymmetry consistent with facilitated left-hemisphere function (P less than 0.004). Changes in asymmetry with emotion differed as a function of personality characteristics of the subjects, with repressors and high anxious subjects showing an increase with emotion while true low anxious subjects showed a decrease (P less than 0.02). Personality groups also differed in asymmetry on an emotionally neutral test (P less than 0.04) and in changes in asymmetry over time independent of emotion (P less than 0.001). These data suggest that emotion mediated activation of the left hemisphere may facilitate information processing within that hemisphere. Moreover, they indicate that dichotic listening tests may provide a non-invasive and inexpensive method for assessing emotion mediated changes in brain state that are clinically relevant.     

1 alpha(OH)D3 (ETALPHA) treatment and receptor studies in 16 patients with chronic and myeloproliferative disorders

10 patients with CLL and 2 with CML were treated with gradually increasing doses of 1 alpha(OH)D3, up to 4 micrograms daily during 6 wk. 3 patients with preleukemia and 1 with myelofibrosis were treated with 2 micrograms daily of 1 alpha(OH)D3 for a prolonged period up to 17 wk. The treatment with 1 alpha (OH)D3 did not result in changes of disease parameters in any of the patients under study. Receptor studies for 1,25(OH)2D3 were performed in 8 CLL patients and revealed only 1 patient with increased specific receptor binding capacity. The maximum tolerable dose of 1 alpha(OH)D3 varied individually, but was in the range of 2-4 micrograms daily.     

Carnitine status in Reye and Reye-like syndromes

Fourteen children with the following Reye and Reye-like syndromes were studied to determine each patient's carnitine status: valproate-induced Reye-like attack, ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency, systemic carnitine deficiency, methylmalonic acidemia, and propionic acidemia. Reduced free carnitine and increased serum and urine acylcarnitine levels were found in all patients except for 2 with Reye syndrome, in whom serum creatinine levels were mildly elevated and serum free carnitine levels were not reduced. The renal free carnitine reabsorption rate was reduced in all cases. The free carnitine content of autopsied liver samples were reduced in 2 Reye syndrome patients, 2 OTC deficiency patients, and in a single systemic carnitine deficiency patient. The observed secondary free carnitine deficiency may be a factor in the pathogenesis of Reye and Reye-like syndromes.