Changes in cadaverine and putrescine metabolism in the mouse kidney induced to growth by an anabolic steroid

The formation of cadaverine and putrescine was studied in the kidneys of gonadectomized male mice stimulated to growth by nandrolone. an anbolic steroid with low androgenic activity. Administration of nandrolone resulted in an increased kidney weight and elevated activities of lysine and ornithine decarboxylase (assayed by measurement of the formation of ¹⁴CO₂ from the I-¹⁴C-labelled amino acids). The responses were dose and time dependent. The elevated enzyme activities were reflected by an increased endogenous kidney content of cadaverine and putrescine as well as in an increased urinary excretion of the diamines. Further, the kidney content and the urinary excretion of the polyamines sper-midine and spermine were elevated on nandrolone treatment. Fractionation of kidney extracts on pore gradient electrophoresis revealed an apparent molecular weight of about 95000 Daltons of the lysine decarboxylase as well as of the ornithine decarboxylase. On electrofocusing it was evident that both enzymes were present as more than one isoelectric form. However, the main form in both cases focused at a pH of about 5.0.     

Effects of Depression,Self-Blame and Dependency on Health Professionals' Evaluation of Paraplegic Patients

Health professionals (N = 146) were given 14 rating scales, on which to evaluate interviews with paraplegics who expressed either depression, optimism, dependence, independence, self-blame or denial of blame, regarding their injuries. Patient mood had least effect on ratings. Depressed patients were perceived as behaving more typically and appropriately, and judged as more in need of counselling than optimistic patients. Self-blaming paraplegics were rated as more depressed, dependent, poorly adjusted, coping less well, less likeable and more in need of counselling than patients who denied blame. Dependent patients were seen as more depressed, self-blaming, poorly adjusted, coping less well, having poorer prognoses, needing more information and counselling, and acting less appropriately than independent patients. Results reveal clinical attitudes, some of which are at variance with research findings, e.g. patient optimism tends to be discounted and the value of self-blame as a coping strategy is unrecognised.     

Iron Metabolism and “Sports Anemia”

Abstract Several reports have suggested that iron deficiency might explain “sports anemia” especially in long distance runners. The present study was made to further study the iron metabolism in runners as the proposed cause of “sports anemia” is abstruse considering the good iron nutrition in these athletes. Based on a screening of 43 elite male runners, using bone marrow hemosiderin, serum ferritin and transferrin saturation, two groups of subjects were selected for a very extensive study on iron metabolism. In group 1 (n=5) iron depletion was suggested in at least one of the screening studies. In group 2 (n=7) at least one test strongly indicated good iron repletion. This experimental design was chosen to obtain two groups with similar body composition and exercise load but different iron metabolism. The studies comprised determinations of red cell and plasma volumes, plasma iron turnover and red cell incorporation of radioiron, red cell indices, plasma iron and transferrin, red cell protoporphyrin, serum ferritin, serum haptoglobin, urinary iron losses, iron absorption, bone marrow hemosiderin, dietary intake of energy and nutrients and a Desferal test. Pooling the results together it was obvious that none of the subjects were truly iron-deficient. A few occasional findings suggesting low iron stores cannot be satisfactorily explained and indicate that further studies are needed     

Microsphere analysis of β2-adrenergic control of resistance in different vascular areas after hemorrhage

In cats exposed to bleeding (exsanguination of 15 ml×kg bwt^-1) the microsphere technique was used to determine regional vascular resistances in a large number of tissues before and after i.v. administration of the ‘selective’β₂-adrenoceptor antagonist ICI 118,551. β₂-blockade significantly raised vascular resistance in the stomach (+26%), small (+25%) and large (+38%) intestine, pancreas (+29%), kidney (+39%), omental (+33%) and subcutaneous (+26%) fat, ‘white’ skeletal muscle (+19%), and skin (+24%). These findings indicate that, with intact β-adrenoceptors, β₂-adrenergic dilator interaction counteracted the hemorrhage evoked vasoconstrictor influences. β₂-blockade also evoked quite a strong increase of total peripheral resistance (19%) and led to some redistribution of cardiac output. It is concluded that β₂-adrenergic inhibition of vascular tone significantly seems to improve tissue perfusion during bleeding in several vascular areas. Such effects may be of special significance during severe hemorrhage. In the intestine, pancreas, and adipose tissue, for example, protection against excessive vasoconstriction may serve to minimize the severe metabolic disturbances with secondary release of toxic factors into the circulation reported during hemorrhagic shock.     

Preparation of cells from pig gastric mucosa

Cells were isolated from pig gastric mucosa by a combination of mechanical and enzymatic treatment. Isopycnic centrifugation on linear density gradients of Percoll provided a simple and rapid procedure for obtaining highly enriched parietal cells and chief cells. Their densities were 1.06 and 1.10 g/ml, respectively. Isolated mucosal cells attached to Petri dishes coated with fibronectin or collagen. Both parietal cells and chief cells adhered more readily to fibronectin than collagen. Mucosal cells and cells from the Percoll gradients were maintained for up to one week as primary cell cultures. The ability of free parietal cells to produce acid was tested by the ¹⁴C-aminopyrine accumulation technique. Maximal accumulation was 2.5 pmol aminopyrine per 10⁴ parietal cells after incubation for 45 min at 10^-4 M histamine. The EC₅₀ for histamine was 5times10^-6 M.The accumulation of aminopyrine at 10^-6 M carbachol and 10^-7 M pentagastrin were for both secretagogues about 0.9 pmol per 10⁴ parietal cells.     

A Randomized Study of Secondary Prevention of Early Stage Problem Drinkers in Primary Health Care

The subjects were recruited from participants in a health examination of random samples of the adult population in Stockholm county. Those aged 18–64years who admitted a high alcohol consumption (>40 g 100% ethanol/day) among men and <30 g among women) or had an elevated value of serum-gammaglutamyltransferase (GOT) (cut-off point 1.0 microkatal/l for men and 0.6 microkatal/l for women) or had certain other indications of a high alcohol consumption were included. More severe cases, and those with an elevated GOT due to reasons other than alcohol, were excluded. The remaining subjects, 70 men and 13 women, were allocated at random to either an intervention or a comparison group. An elevated GGT was the main inclusion criteria. The subjects in the comparison group were advised by the general practitioner to cut their alcohol consumption, while those in the intervention group made further visits to their general practitioner, who gave general support and used an elevated GGT as an indication of the recent level of alcohol consumption at consecutive visits. There were three visits on average, so we are comparing a group receiving advice with a group receiving further minimal intervention. At the one-year follow-up there were greater, however not significant, reductions in GGT-level, in self-reported alcohol consumption and in a ‘problem index’ in the minimal intervention group than in the comparison group.