New abnormalities in the morphology, cell surface receptors, and electrolyte metabolism of In(Lu) erythrocytes

The In(Lu) phenotype is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait and is characterized by suppression of the Lutheran, P1, i, and Aua erythrocyte blood group antigens. We have developed a monoclonal antibody (L21) that strongly agglutinates all erythrocytes except In(Lu), and we have identified eight In(Lu) individuals among 42,000 blood donors tested. Studies of two families confirmed the dominant mode of inheritance and revealed several new features of this phenotype. The erythrocytes of all five affected individuals from the two families exhibited diminished hemagglutination by the lectin concanavalin A, although they reacted normally with several other lectins. The erythrocytes of two affected individuals in one family exhibited marked acanthocytosis. The erythrocytes of the proposita of the other family exhibited a mild degree of poikilocytosis, but the cells of the other two affected individuals in this family had normal morphology. The osmotic fragility of fresh In(Lu) erythrocytes was normal, but after incubation for 24 hours at 37 degrees C in plasma the In(Lu) cells exhibited a marked increase in resistance to osmotic lysis. During the incubation period the erythrocytes lost K+ and their total cation content was diminished. These data indicate that in addition to the suppression of blood group antigens noted previously, the In(Lu) phenotype includes a variety of morphological abnormalities and a defect in electrolyte metabolism. The use of L21 and similar monoclonal antibodies provides a more sensitive means of detecting In(Lu) erythrocytes than typing with human anti-Lub antisera.     

Recurrent Spontaneous Paresthesia in the Upper Limb Could Be Due to Migraine: A Case Series

Transient neurologic dysfunction is a characteristic feature of migraine. About 20% of migraineurs may experience various symptoms in the absence of any headache at one time or another. Visual auras are the most common auras of migraine, and migraine is considered as the most common cause of transient vision loss in young patients. Sensory auras are the second most common migrainous auras. However, the literature is silent for isolated sensory aura as a migraine equivalent. Herein we report 14 patients with recurrent episodic paresthesia in the limbs and other body parts. All patients fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of “typical aura without headache” of ICHD‐3β. All patients were subjected to various investigations to rule out secondary causes. Ten patients received antimigraine drugs and all showed a positive response to therapy. Recurrent spontaneous paresthesia is quite common in the general population and many patients remain undiagnosed. We speculate that a subset of patients might be related to migrainous sensory auras.     

A prospective comparison of locally made rapid urease test and histology for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection

Background: A number of noncommercial preparations of urease test have been described. The present prospective study evaluated the accuracy of one such preparation for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection. Methods: From February 1996 to November 1996, all patients undergoing elective upper endoscopy in a single endoscopy facility were included. Three antral biopsy specimens were taken. Two specimens were subjected to histologic examination, and one specimen was placed into a “locally made rapid urease test” (LRUT). Results of histologic examinations were taken as standards for comparison. The final result of LRUT was obtained on scrutiny of color changes at 4 hours after the start of the test. Results: Two thousand three hundred sixteen patients (male/female = 1.5:1) with a mean age of 56.7 ± 0.4 years were included. Five hundred sixty-two patients (24.3%) had a history of eradication treatment for H. pylori. Nine hundred fifty-three patients (41.1%) were found to be positive for H. pylori on histologic examination. In patients in whom a history of eradication therapy was absent, the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the LRUT were 92.8%, 97.6%, 97.5%, and 93.0%, respectively. In patients with a history of eradication treatment, the corresponding figures were 76.1%, 99.6%, 96.2%, and 96.9%. Conclusions: The locally made rapid urease test provides a simple, safe, rapid, inexpensive, and accurate test for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection. (Gastrointest Endosc 1997;46:503-6.)     

Beneficial effects of insulin-like growth factor I on epithelial structure and function in parenterally fed rat jejunum

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The functional significance of intestinal hyperplasia stimulated by insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I is unclear and has not been studied in a model of mucosal atrophy induced by total parenteral nutrition (TPN). The aim of this study was to determine how IGF-I affects intestinal structure and epithelial function in the absence of luminal nutrition caused by TPN. METHODS: Rats were maintained with TPN with or without IGF-I (800 micrograms/day), and jejunal histology and epithelial ion transport were measured after 5 days. In a third TPN group without IGF-I, a short-term dose of IGF-I was added during in vitro flux chamber experiments. RESULTS: Rats given TPN with IGF-I had greater jejunal mucosal weight, greater protein and DNA content, and increased villus height and crypt depth compared with rats given TPN only. TPN increased ionic permeability and ion transport responses to secretory and absorptive agents. IGF-I in vivo reversed most of these changes; IGF-I in vitro enhanced sodium-dependent glucose absorption but had no other effects. CONCLUSIONS: Coinfusion of recombinant human IGF-I with TPN solution stimulates intestinal hyperplasia and attenuates transport changes induced by TPN. The latter effect seems to be primarily associated with the growth state of the epithelium. (Gastroenterology 1996 Dec;111(6):1501-8)     

Blood pressure response to the first dose of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in congestive heart failure

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors improve survival in heart failure and delay progression to clinical heart failure in patients with left ventricular dysfunction after myocardial infarction. Increasing numbers of older patients are being considered for such treatment. However, there are reports of excessive and prolonged decreases in blood pressure (BP) after the first dose of some ACE inhibitors. We have studied the hemodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and neurohumoral responses to the first dose of oral captopril 6.25 mg, enalapril 2.5 mg, perindopril 2.0 mg, intravenous enalaprilat 1.5 mg, and perindoprilat 1.0 mg, compared with oral or intravenous placebo in 6 parallel groups of 12 elderly patients each with moderate-to-severe (New York Heart Association classes II-IV) heart failure. Oral dosing with active drugs led to different temporal responses. After captopril, there was an early short-lived decrease in BP. Enalapril led to a later long-lasting decrease, but perindopril was not different from placebo. Intravenous enalaprilat and intravenous perindoprilat each lowered BP to a similar extent. The doses of drugs used appeared to be comparable because plasma ACE inhibition was similar following perindopril or enalapril and also comparing perindoprilat and enalaprilat. These studies indicate that oral ACE inhibitors have different profiles of acute BP changes after the first dose. The explanation is not clear, but could include physicochemical differences in the interaction between prodrug ester and diacid metabolites leading to differences in tissue distribution and local enzyme inhibition.     

Erectile Impotence in Chronic Alcoholics

Erectile impotence is a common complaint in alcoholics, but its mechanism is unknown. We have studied nocturnal penile erection in 13 alcoholics who complained of impotence. Seven had normal erections and their impotence was therefore psychogenic. Six were found to have diminished or absent nocturnal erections. Plasma concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were elevated in this latter group, with the exception of one patient who had only raised FSH. They also had more evidence of neurological damage than the other seven alcoholics, and two had evidence of damage to the parasympathetic nervous system. Investigation of erection during sleep in alcoholic patients with impotence may be useful in differentiating clinically between patients with psychogenic causes and patients with organic causes of impotence.