BECLOMETHASONE DIPROPIONATE AEROSOL IN REVERSIBLE OBSTRUCTIVE AIRWAYS DISEASE

Seven patients with reversible obstructive airways disease, who were unsatisfactorily relieved by conventional broncho-dilating drugs, were admitted to a 1-year-long therapeutic trial with beclomethasone dipropionate aerosol, 400 μg a day.
After 3 weeks of treatment the mean values of VC, FEV, and PEFR were increased by about 100 per cent of the pre-treatment values, and the consumption of self-administered bronchodilators was markedly diminished.
Throughout the trial the occupational disability and need for hospitalisation were negligible compared with the previous year. Development of tolerance to the drug was not observed during the trial.
The adrenocortical function remained unaffected, as judged by the plasma cortisol levels and adrenocortical stimulation tests. Continuously low normal levels of excreted urinary 17-ketogenic-steroids might indicate a very slight adrenal suppression.     

The Use of an Oral Airway in the Treatment of Respiratory Distress of Infants

Fatal respiratory distress in children with a birth weight below 2000 g, brought about by rhinitis within the first two to three weeks of life, and in children with congenital nasal defects, has been treated with a simple mouth tube. This was found to overcome the children's inability to breathe through the mouth, thus relieving their exhausting respiratory efforts, without causing any serious complications even when used for periods of months.     

Angina Pectoris,Intermittent Claudication and Congestive Heart Failure in Middle-aged Male Hypertensives

ABSTRACT. Samuelsson O, Wilhelmsen L, Pennert K, Berglund G (Section of Preventive Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine I, Sahlgrenska and Östra Hospitals, University of Göteborg, Göteborg, Sweden). Angina pectoris, intermittent claudication and congestive heart failure in middle-aged male hypertensives. Acta Med Scand 1987; 221:23–32. A group of middle-aged male hypertensives, derived from a random sample of a Swedish urban population, has been treated and followed for 10 years. The development of angina pectoris, intermittent claudication and congestive heart failure have been analysed. The initial prevalence and the average yearly incidence of angina pectoris was 3.9% and 1.3% p.a., of intermittent claudication 1.7% and 0.6% p.a. and of heart failure 1.0% and 0.8% p.a. ECG signs indicating subclinical heart disease (major Q wave, STdepression, T wave inversion) were risk factors for development of angina pectoris and congestive heart failure. Heart enlargement on chest X-ray was also a risk factor for development of congestive heart failure, as were a high serum creatinine, body mass index, serum uric acid and proteinuria. Smoking was found to be a strong and independent risk factor for any one of these cardiovascular disorders. After 10 years about one fourth of all patients, still attending the clinic, had at least one cardiovascular complication. Hence, the risk of developing cardiovascular disorders is substantial and seems to be potentiated by the same risk factors known to operate in the general population.     

Peptides corresponding to the second epidermal growth factor-like domain of human blood coagulation factor VII: synthesis,folding and biological activity

Factor VIIa (FVIIa) is the enzymatically active constituent of the FVIIa/tissue factor (TF) complex, the initiator of the extrinsic pathway of blood coagulation. The zymogen FVII and FVIIa are composed of discrete domains, two of which are homologous to the epidermal growth factor (EGF). This investigation examined the significance of the FVII EGF-2 domain in the processes leading to activation of factor X (FX). Peptides 47 residues in length and corresponding to the amino acid sequence of the EGF-2 domain of human FVII were prepared by solid-phase synthesis methods. Peptide variants with all six Cys residues replaced by l -2-aminobutyryl residues (1), or containing one (2a-c), two (3a,b) or three (4) disulfide bonds, were obtained by application of various S-protecting groups and oxidation methods. Peptide 4, containing the cystine bridge arrangement corresponding to that found in the native protein, was prepared by a two-step regioselective disulfide bond formation method. An evaluation of the anti-coagulant properties of peptides 1-4 revealed that all peptides, with the exception of the two-cystine isomer containing non-native disulfide pairings (3b), were potent inhibitors of TF/FVIIa-mediated activation of FX. The fully constrained peptide 4 was found to be twice as active as its completely non-constrained counterpart 1, the two peptides showing IC₅₀ values of 1.6 ± 0.5μm (1) and 0.8 ± 0.2 μm (4) with respect to TF/FVIIa-dependent FX activation. The results of this study demonstrate the functional importance of the EGF-2 domain of FVII in the induction of coagulation by the extrinsic pathway.     

Blood flow changes in the duck during thermal panting

Carotid and sciatic blood flow have been measured in resting and panting Pekin ducks using electromagnetic flowmeters. Panting induced by high ambient temperature caused the carotid blood flow to increase from 9.6 to 26.0 ml min^-1, while the sciatic flow declined slightly from 41.6 to 38.1 ml min^-1. During panting breathing rate increased 10–20 times, but there were no significant changes in heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure. The carotid peripheral resistance was therefore greatly reduced, whereas sciatic resistance remained unchanged or increased slightly. The vascular beds perfused by the sciatic (legs) and carotid (upper respiratory tract) arteries are both important for heat dissipation. This study shows that when heat dissipation from the naked legs becomes inefficient due to high ambient temperature, blood flow in the sciatic tended to decline while conversely panting was associated with a large increase in carotid flow.     

Laboratory study of fluoride impregnated toothpicks

Abstract – The uptake of NaF in wooden toothpicks as well as the release of F from toothpicks impregnated with either sodium fluoride or amine fluoride was studied. The initial rate of fluoride uptake was found to be high, and an amount of NaF suitable for clinical use was obtained after immersing toothpicks in a 4% NaF solution for about 5 min. When immersed water or saliva, fluoride was rapidly released from the impregnated toothpick. The F⁻ Concentration registered is saliva collected during use of fluoride impregnated toothpicks varied from about 0.1 part/10⁶ F (amine fluoride impregnated toothpicks) to more than 50 parts/10⁶ F (extended impregnation with NaF). The results indicate that teh clinical potential of fluoride impregnated toothpicks should be explored.