Effect of desympathization on repair of the resected thyroid gland in adult rats

Department of Biology, Izhevsk Medical Institute. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR D. S. Sarkisov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 107, No. 3, pp. 353–356, March, 1989.     

Medical and financial implications of discontinuing a statewide free insulin program involving 3,720 people

In 1981 a statewide program supplying free insulin to 3,720 patients of state health clinics was discontinued. We attempted to assess whether this action had an adverse effect medically and financially on those concerned. A computer randomized sample of 351 patients (9%) was studied by personal interview and questionnaire. Information obtained focused on certain events that occurred 18 months before and after the program ceased. Measurements used to determine medical impact were number of hospitalizations, emergency room and physician visits, changes in weight and glucose levels, and episodes of ketoacidosis. Financial impact was measured by cost of hospitalization and physician visits. Our results revealed no significant changes in any of the medical parameters studied except for fasting serum glucose levels above 300 mg/dl, which occurred less frequently after the free insulin program was discontinued. There were fewer hospitalizations, more visits to physicians, and no change in number of emergency room visits after discontinuance of the free program. The overall cost saving was estimated to be +883,558 for the 18-month study period, in addition to the +550,000 the plan had been costing the state.     

Lack of effect of aspartame or of L-phenylalanine on photically induced myoclonus in the baboon, Papio papio

The effects of large doses of L-phenylalanine and of aspartame on seizure susceptibility and severity have been assessed in baboons Papio papio from Senegal which show photosensitive epileptic responses similar to primary generalised epilepsy in man. L-Phenylalanine, 50, 150 or 450 mg/kg, or aspartame, 300 or 1000 mg/kg, were administered orally. Peak plasma L-phenylalanine concentrations of approximately 2000 mumoles/l occurred 1-4 h after the highest dose of L-phenylalanine or aspartame. The plasma L-phenylalanine to large neutral amino acid ratio increased approximately 30-fold at this time. Compared with water administration there were no changes in epileptic responses 1-5 h after either treatment. In this primate model of epilepsy acute increases in plasma phenylalanine concentration are neither pro- nor anticonvulsant.     

Effect of bacterial purified antigenic fractions on natural defence mechanisms

The in vitro ability of bacterial purified antigenic fractions to interfere with the immune system has been investigated on human mononuclear cells from peripheral blood. Exposure of purified monocytes to the drug at concentrations from 1 to 1000 micrograms/ml, for different periods from 0 to 18 h, significantly increased cell-mediated cytotoxicity against TU5 target cells. Moreover, monocytes exposed for 1 to 18 h to drug concentrations from 0.1 to 1000 micrograms/ml released significant amounts of tumor necrosis factor alpha in a dose-dependent manner in the culture supernatants. The drug was also tested on natural killer (NK) cell activity; mononuclear cells exposed to antigenic fractions for different periods showed a significant increase of NK cytotoxic activity against K562 target cells after 3 and 6, but not 0 and 18 h. Active concentrations were from 1 to 100 micrograms/ml, higher and lower doses being ineffective. Bacterial purified antigenic fractions thus have some ability to interfere in vitro with mechanisms of cytolysis mediated by cells and soluble factors.     

The effect of some tricyclic antidepressants on the inhibition of mouse brain monoamine oxidase in-vivo by phenelzine

Four tricyclic antidepressants, amitriptyline, imipramine, desipramine and iprindole have been shown to partially protect mouse brain monoamine oxidase in-vivo from the irreversible enzyme inhibition produced by subsequent injection of phenelzine. Levels of protection were similar when the enzyme was assayed with selective substrates (5-hydroxytryptamine and phenethylamine) for both the A and B forms of the enzyme. Although other explanations cannot at this stage be ruled out, these observations are consistent with the tricyclic antidepressants acting as reversible inhibitors of brain monoamine oxidase in-vivo.