The effect of substance P and other tachykinins on inositol phospholipid hydrolysis in rabbit retina, superior colliculus and retinal cultures

Substance P and eledoisin stimulate the accumulation of inositol phosphates in a dose-dependent manner in retinal and superior colliculus slices of the rabbit. The EC50 values for substance P and eledoisin in both tissues were of the same order (1.5-4.9 microM), suggesting that the receptors in the two tissues were alike with characteristics of the SP-P subtype rather than the SP-E subtype. These data suggest that the SP-immunoreactive material in the retinal ganglion and amacrine cells is identical. The effectiveness for a number of tachykinin substances at 10(-5) M for stimulating inositol phosphates accumulation was as follows: Substance P greater than eledoisin greater than neurokinin A greater than neurokinin B greater than substance P (octapeptide) greater than substance P (pentapeptide). Spantide [(D-Arg1, D-Try7.9, Leu11) substance P] and (D-Pro2, D-Try7.9) substance P did not stimulate inositol phospholipid hydrolysis. However, spantide, at a concentration of 10(-6) M, was an antagonist of the effect produced by substance P, but had no action on the effect produced by neurokinin A or neurokinin B. Substance P and other tachykinins were also effective in stimulating inositol phosphates accumulation in 3-5-day-old rabbit retinal cultures but did not elicit a response in the older (25-30-day-old) cultures which lacked neurones but contained Müller cells. Furthermore, substance P was only active in the younger cultures in stimulating an increase in internal calcium levels. It is therefore concluded that retinal tachykinin receptors linked to phosphoinositide turnover and calcium mobilisation are associated exclusively with neurones and not with Müller cells.     

Operative versus non-operative treatment of recent injuries to the ligaments of the knee. A prospective randomized study

Two hundred consecutively seen patients who had an injury to either the anterior cruciate ligament or the medial collateral ligament, or both, were randomly allocated to treatment by either conservative or a surgical regimen. Injuries to the medial collateral ligament could not be demonstrated to benefit from surgical treatment in any respect--with or without surgery the results were excellent. With injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament, recovery was more rapid without surgery but otherwise the results differed between the groups in only one respect: the pivot-shift test was more often positive after conservative treatment. The results were good in both treatment groups even though most of the patients who had an injury of the anterior cruciate ligament were somewhat less pleased with the outcome after a period of time.     

Medical imaging of fetal ventriculomegaly

Five cases of fetal ventriculomegaly are described in detail. Following ultrasonography, either computerized tomography or magnetic resonance imaging was used in an attempt to clarify the structural pathology of the ventriculomegaly. In two patients, a precise diagnosis was achieved while a probable diagnosis was established in a third patient. The diverse etiology of fetal ventriculomegaly in these five cases demonstrates that ancillary medical imaging may be necessary to achieve diagnostic precision prior to therapeutic intervention.     

Effects of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid on Rhizobium sp. in pure culture

The effects of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid on the growth rate, chemical composition, ¹⁴C-2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ uptake by Rhizobium sp. M 4 able to nodulate Arachis hypogaea were determined. Cellular growth was diminished by the presence of 10^?3 M 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in the medium. Alterations in cellular chemical composition, in ¹⁴C-2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and in ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ uptake were found.     

Clinical evaluation of tumor markers in breast cancer patients

During the past 4 years, the performances of various tumor markers such as CA15-3, CEA, ferritin, beta 2-microglobulin and TPA have been evaluated in 78 cases of mammary cancer. The results were categorised according to differences in stages, difference in values from patients with recurrent tumors, the incidence of abnormal values and differences in values before and after surgery. When the incidence of values higher than the cutoff value was determined for each of stage I, II and III + IV, the rates for CEA were 14.3%, 4.9% and 27.8%, respectively, whereas those for TPA were 25.0%, 22.2% and 26.7%, respectively. In addition, for CA15-3, the incidences were 0% in stage I, 5.0% in stage II and 57.1% for combined stages III + IV. The average values for patients with recurrent tumors were 3.2 ng/ml CEA, 194.5 ng/ml ferritin, 316.2 U/l TPA and 81.3 U/ml CA15-3. The rates of abnormal values were 40.0% for CEA, 40.0% for ferritin, 85.7% for TPA and 63.6% for CA15-3. Differences in the values after surgical removal of the tumor were observed with these tumor markers: the CEA value was reduced from 1.6 +/- 1.4 to 1.1 +/- 0.5 (p less than 0.01) and the CA15-3 value from 12.2 +/- 8.4 to 9.3 +/- 4.1 (p less than 0.05), respectively, whereas that for ferritin was conversely increased from 48.9 +/- 48.0 to 74.0 +/- 70.0 (p less than 0.01). However, the values for TPA, despite showing a tendency to decrease, did not show any statistically significant alteration. The fluctuations of these marker levels in patients with recurrent tumors reflects the progress of the disease, with a sudden elevation in values indicating imminent death. The diagnostic significance of these markers is not high, but they are considered to be useful in detecting the progress or condition of a recurrent tumor.     

Hydrochlorothiazide-amiloride causes excessive urinary zinc excretion

Serum zinc levels and urinary zinc excretion were compared in 15 patients with essential hypertension taking chronically a combination of hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride as monotherapy, eight patients maintained with hydrochlorothiazide alone, and eight control subjects. Serum zinc values were statistically comparable in all three groups. However, urinary zinc excretion was abnormally elevated in the two patient groups. In the dosage used, amiloride did not have a zinc-sparing effect.