RNA Synthesis in Cultures of Normal Human Peripheral Blood

RNA and DNA synthesis were measured in cultures of normal human peripheral blood using tritiated cytidine and thymidine and autoradiographictechnics. RNA synthesis preceded DNA synthesis by 24 hours. RNA synthesisoccurred predominantly in the large and medium-sized "blast-like" cells, butdid occur, to a lesser extent, in the small lymphocytes. RNA synthesis did notoccur in the absence of phytohemagglutinin, nor did DNA synthesis. Mechanisms of action of phytohemagglutinin are discussed with particular referenceto its possible antigenic nature.

Submitted on August 12, 1963 Accepted on January 6, 1964     

PRETREATMENT WITH PARACETAMOL INHIBITS METABOLISM OF ENFLURANE IN RATS

We studied the interaction between paracetamol (acetaminophenU.S.P.) and enflurane. Sixteen rats were assigned to four groups(n=4) to receive: paracetamol 7.5 mg/100 g body weight; paracetamolplus 1% enflurane; 1% enflurane alone, or no treatment (controls).Animals were killed 6 h later. A second series of 16 were treatedidentically, but were killed after 24 h. Measurements were madeof fluoride concentrations in serum, liver and urine (indicatorsof biotransformation of enflurane), paracetamol concentrationsin urine, pathological changes in liver samples, and concentrationsof the enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanineaminotransferase (ALT) in serum. Pretreatment with paracetamolsignificantly decreased urinary fluoride at 6 and 24 h afterexposure to enflurane, but decreased fluoride concentrationsin serum and liver only at 6 h after exposure to enflurane.Paracetamol concentrations in urine did not change after exposureto enflurane. Exposure to paracetamol alone increased AST andALT. At 24 h after exposure to enflurane, serum concentrationsof enzymes in rats pretreated with paracetamol were similarto those of control rats. Pretreatment with paracetamol maytherefore inhibit metabolism of enflurane. Although no hepaticdamage was observed, the increased in AST and AL T suggestedsubclinical liver damage in rats given only paracetamol.     

ALFENTANIL PLASMA CONCENTRATION v. EFFECT RELATIONSHIPS IN CARDIAC SURGICAL PATIENTS

Effects of alfentanil, preceded by lorazepam, on suppressionof haemodynamic and somatic responses to noxious stimuli wasstudied in patients undergoing CABG. Plasma concentration ofalfentanil, somatic and haemodynamic responses were measuredat loss of consciousness, tracheal intubation, sternotomy andduring multiple applications of electrocoagulation. Additionalalfentanil was administered i.v. to control unwanted responses.Study 1 (six patients): lorazepam 0.08 mg kg^–1 by mouth1–2 h before operation, alfentanil priming infusion (60µg kg^–1 min^–1 for 10 min) followed by maintenanceinfusion (4.5 µg kg^–1 min^–1). With mean plasmaalfentanil 1178 (SEM 54) ng ml^–1, two patients requiredsupplementary alfentanil to suppress somatic motor responses;one patient required nitroglycerin to control an increase inarterial pressure which was unresponsive to additional alfentanilfollowing sternotomy. Study 2 (13 patients): lorazepam 0.04mg kg^–1 by mouth as premedication; one of three maintenanceinfusion rates of alfentanil: 5.4 (n=4), 6.6 (n=5), or 7.8 (n=4)µg kg^–1 min^–1, each preceded by a proportionalpriming infusion. With plasma alfentanil 2181 (62)ng ml^–1,somatic motor responses requiring additional alfentanil occurredin nine patients; haemodynamic responses in four of seven patientstested could not be controlled by alfentanil. The highest plasmaconcentration of alfentanil to prevent response to a stimulusother than tracheal intubation was different between the twostudies (P<0.05). We conclude that alfentanil alone is insufficientto suppress haemodynamic and somatic motor responses to noxiousstimulation during CABG and that the role of premedication issignificant. *Department of Anesthesia, Bowman-Gray School of Medicine Winston-Salem,NC 27103, U.S.A. 2114 de Mayo Road, Del Mar, Ca. 92014, U.S.A.     

Intraspinal synovial cysts: MR imaging

Juxtaarticular intraspinal synovial cysts are unusual lesions of the spine associated with facet arthropathy. These lesions can cause radicular symptoms and may masquerade clinically as other, more common entities. Synovial cysts have been detected at myelography and have been well characterized at computed tomography as posterolateral epidural masses, typically at L4-5. Six synovial cysts of the lumbar spine were demonstrated on magnetic resonance (MR) images. The signal-intensity patterns of these lesions are variable. MR imaging can be used to document the presence of hemorrhage within the cyst, which may relate to the exacerbation of symptoms. Air-filled synovial cysts may be difficult to detect and distinguish from facet arthropathy.     

Suppression of ongoing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in DA rats by novel peptide drug,structural part of human myelin basic protein 46–62

Previously, we demonstrated that autoantibodies (AAb) in multiple sclerosis (MS) reveal site-specific binding and cleavage toward myelin basic protein (MBP) epitope library. We have found several fragments of MBP immunodominant in terms of AAb binding. Here, we applied these peptides to DA rats with induced protracted relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) most closely related to MS. DA rats with EAE induced by syngenic spinal cord homogenate in complete Freund's adjuvant were treated by nasal route with human MBP 46–62, 81–102, 124–139, 147–170, and Copaxone®. MBP 124–139 and 147–170 displayed only mild therapeutic effects but MBP 46–62 significantly reduced EAE, reflected by lower clinical scores and shorter EAE duration compared to controls.     

Crohn''s Disease of the Colon

Retroperitoneal lumbocrural abscess occurred in 12 patients of 231 with Crohn's colitis or ileocolitis. Although all patients with this complication fell within the group of 175 ileocolitis patients, at least four originated in fistulous tracts of the colon. Eleven of the 12 abscesses developed spontaneously as the first major complication of the disease. The prominent clinical features included pain radiating down the thigh, hip joint flexion, difficulty in walking, hydronephrosis and hydroureter. Internal and external fistulas were significantly more common in the abscess group of 12 patients than in the 219 patients without retroperitoneal abscess. Radiological evidence of granulomatous disease was found in all patients; fistulous tract formation was characteristic and the development of extraperitoneal gas bubbles, in four patients, pathognomonic of abscess with gast-forming organisms. In the presence of established retroperitoneal abscess, the surgical sequence suggested is drainage synchronous with, or followed by diversion and ultimately definitive resection. Resection with anastomosis should not be carried out in the presence of an acute inflammatory process with frank abscess or free pus communicating with the peritoneal cavity. The spontaneous development of retroperitoneal abscess is a serious development in the natural history of Crohn's (ileo) colitis. It frequently heralds the first of a series of operative procedures to deal with the abscess. It sequels are enterocutaneous fistulas and further extension of the disease process.