Trichloroethylene and halothane inhibit uptake and metabolism of 5-hydroxytryptamine in rat lung slices

The effect of exposure to organic solvents on uptake and metabolism of 5-HT was studied in rat lung slices. It was found that under control conditions 5-HT was both taken up and metabolized to 5-HIAA. When halothane (35,000 ppm) or trichloroethylene (18,000 ppm) were equilibrated with the incubation medium the uptake of 5-HT decreased by approximately 50% after 30 min of incubation, and the production of 5-HIAA was inhibited by approximately 70% and 80%, respectively. The results are consistent with earlier studies using a much more elaborate technique, in which halothane and trichloroethylene were found to depress 5-HT uptake in isolated perfused rat lungs. Our results demonstrate that the simpler technique employing lung slices can also be used, to investigate factors affecting pulmonary uptake of endogenous amines, and, potentially, the uptake of other compounds as well.     

Resting and volume-stimulated circulating atrial natriuretic peptide in young normotensive men with positive family histories of hypertension.

Normotensive young men (36 +/- 5 years old) with positive family histories of hypertension (n = 11) and age-matched controls (n = 21) with negative family histories of hypertension were examined. The control group was divided into one group matched for body mass index with those subjects with positive family histories (n = 10) and one group with normal body mass index (n = 11). Blood pressure, central venous pressure (CVP), plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and serum aldosterone were examined at a baseline and during an acute volume load with 1000 ml saline solution. Subjects with positive family histories and controls matched for body mass index had a higher blood pressure at baseline than controls with normal body mass index. CVP and serum aldosterone did not differ between the three groups, while sodium intake and plasma concentrations of ANP were significantly higher in subjects with positive family histories. During volume loading, CVP increased significantly more in subjects with positive family histories as compared with the two control groups. A blunted response to ANP was observed during volume loading in subjects with positive family histories, while subjects in the two control groups demonstrated comparable and significant increases in circulating ANP. Serum aldosterone, however, decreased during volume loading in all three groups, with no difference between the groups. We conclude that normotensive subjects with positive family histories are characterized by increased basal concentrations of ANP and exhibit a blunted response to an acute volume load.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Prediction of Posttreatment Drinking Outcome in a 2-Year Out-Patient Alcoholic Treatment Program. A Follow-up Study

Fifty alcoholics who attended a 2-year out-patient treatment program with standardized evaluations every third month were followed-up 2 years after completion of the program. One patient refused to be followed-up and four were dead. Corroboration was available in 78% of the cases. The number of abuse days from the second half-year of therapy and forward was strongly related to the number of abuse days during the follow-up period as were ratings both of drinking goal fulfillment and fulfillment of other treatment goals at termination of the treatment period. On the contrary initial characteristics and background data as well as the number of abuse days during the first half-year were not related to number of abuse days during the follow-up period. Our findings indicate that improvement during long term out-patient treatment for alcoholism is stable during the following 2 years with a socially stable sample.     

Failure to detect early breast cancer using in vitro nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of plasma.

Water suppressed proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy of human plasma has been described as successful in detection of malignancy. We designed a prospective study to test the hypothesis that in vitro NMR spectroscopy has a high sensitivity for detecting early breast cancer. One hundred and thirty-five women were referred for breast biopsy due to abnormal mammograms. One hundred of these were recruited through a population-based mammography screening project. Sixty-nine of 135 women were found to have breast cancer and their average line width of the methyl and methylene resonance in the plasma were compared to those women who had a benign or normal histopathology in the biopsy and to the line width for 100 healthy subjects from the same population. The mean line width at a half-height of the methyl and methylene resonances of the serum lipoprotein lipids in the NMR spectrum did not differ appreciably between the groups. The line width correlated highly with the serum triglycerides, but correction for the level of triglycerides did not improve the diagnostic accuracy of the line width. Receiver-operating characteristic analysis revealed a sensitivity of 61% and a false positive rate of 43% at the most beneficial cut-off of line width (39.7 Hz). In vitro NMR spectroscopy in our hands was thus not a useful diagnostic tool in patients with early breast cancer.     

Evaluation of Functional Capacity after Stroke as a Basis for Active Intervention

ABSTRACT This paper describes further testing of an Activity Index introduced by Hamrin & Wohlin, which was designed especially to evaluate the functional capacity of patients after stroke. The results of reliability tests and validation procedures are presented, in particular in comparison with the internationally well known Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living. The standardised item alpha reliability coefficient for the Activity Index was 0.97 for the total score (n= 231) and the corresponding value for the Katz Index of ADL was 0.94. Using factor analysis with four factors, 88.3% of the variances of the 16 variables of the Activity Index could be explained, and the different variables were found to have a logical distribution between the factors. In a two-factor analysis of the Katz Index of ADL, 89.6% of the variance of the six variables could be explained, and the hierarchical structure of the test was recognised. Compared with the Katz Index of ADL, the Activity Index had a higher predictive capacity and it also better measured changes in the patient's functional ability between different test occasions.     

Epirubicin as a single agent therapy for the treatment of breast cancer — A pharmacokinetic and clinical study

Sixty women with breast cancer (mean age: 61 years; range 36-78 years) were treated with Epirubicin (4’epi-Dox-orubicin), 60 mg m^-2 , as single drug therapy. The drug was administered as 2 hours’ constant rate infusions. The pharmacokinetics of the drug during the first course of treatment was evaluated by measurements of the plasma concentration of Epirubicin at the end of the infusion period. There was a five-fold inter-individual variation of the dose-normalized maximum plasma concentration, which increased with increasing age of the patients. There was no correlation between this pharmacokinetic parameter and degree of obesity.     

Spinal cord restitution following compression injuries in rats

Spinal cord compression injuries were produced in rats by applying weights to a plate 2.2 x 50 mm in size, placed on the exposed midthoracic dura covering the spinal cord. The influence of force and duration of compression was studied by using 3 different weights, 20, 35 and 50 g, applied for 1, 5 and 10 min. Postoperative neurological function was tested by the inclined plane method and the rats were observed for 3 weeks. Neurological impairment increased with force and duration of compression. It is therefore reasonable to conclude that patients suffering from spinal cord injury should be investigated immediately for signs of persistent cord compression. If this is present, early decompression might be of value, although nothing is known in man concerning the limits of force and duration of compression permitting postoperative neurological recovery.     

Trichloroethylene inhibits uptake of 3H-5-hydroxytryptamine but not uptake of 3H-zimeldine or 3H-propranolol in isolated perfused rat lungs

Pulmonary uptake of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), zimeldine and propranolol were studied using the isolated perfused rat lung model. The 5-HT uptake was found to be attenuated by approximately 50 per cent in comparison to the control, when the lungs were ventilated with air containing 5,000 p.p.m. trichloroethylene. In experiments in which the active uptake of 5-HT was blocked with the selective 5-HT uptake inhibitor zimeldine (5 X 10(-6) M), the uptake of 5-HT decreased by 70 +/- 1.7 per cent (mean +/- S.E.M.). When trichloroethylene (5,000 p.p.m. and 18,000 p.p.m.) was added, no further decrease in uptake was noted. The uptake of 3H-zimeldine (10(-6) M) and 3H-propranolol (10(-6) M) was unaffected by ventilating the lungs with trichloroethylene. It is concluded that trichloroethylene inhibits the active uptake of 5-HT from the pulmonary circulation, but that it has no effect on the uptake of zimeldine or propranolol, which are taken up predominantly by passive diffusion.     

Caries experience in Icelandic 12-year-old urban children between 1984 and 1991

Abstract – In order to evaluate trends in caries experience, a 20% random sample of 12-yr-old residents of Reykjavik, Iceland (252 children) was examined clinically and radiographically in 1991 under conditions consistent with those of the survey conducted in 1984. In addition to caries data, frequency of toothbrushing and use of fluoride dentifrice were recorded. The mean DFT and DPS were 3.0 and 4.1, respectively. The decrease in caries experience reached 60% with an annual fall in DPS of nearly 10%. During the 7-yr period between examinations the decline in DFT and DFS scores averaged 5.2 and 8, respectively, the annual reduction amounting to 0.7 DF teeth or 1.1 DF surfaces per child. The ratio of approximal/occlusal caries and the proportion of approximal caries were similar in both surveys. Fourteen percent of the children were free from manifest caries in 1991, but only 2% in 1984. Polarization between low and high prevalence individuals had intensified. Ninety-five percent of the children brushed their teeth regularly and 97% reported using a fluoride dentifrice.     

Pleural mesotheliomas and asbestos exposure in the pulp and paper industries: a new risk group identified by linkage of official registers

Analysis of data obtained by linking the 1960 Swedish Census and the Swedish Cancer Registry has demonstrated an increased risk of pleural mesothelioma among pulp and paper workers. The present study was undertaken with the aim of revealing possible environmental risk factors. The work histories of the 25 cases identified earlier were reviewed. "Certain" or "probable" exposure to asbestos was found among 70% of these workers. The study illustrates how linkage of official registers can be used to identify new risk environments and encourage the establishment of preventive measures.