Segmental intestinal muscular thinning: a possible cause of intestinal obstruction in the newborn

Intestinal obstruction proximal to a transition zone without an interposed physical barrier usually indicates Hirschsprung disease. The authors report one case of focal small bowel muscular thinning just distal to a transition zone that produced clinical and radiographic findings that simulated long-segment Hirschsprung disease in a 2-day-old infant.     

Stimulated elastase release from human leukocytes: Influence of anti-asthmatic,anti-inflammatory and calcium antagonist drugsin vitro

In the present study the effects of drugs, with different modes of action, on FMLP-stimulated release of elastase from human leukocytes were investigatedin vitro. Anti-asthmatic and anti-allergic drugs were compared to well-known anti-inflammatory and anti-histamine agents. The anti-asthmatic/anti-allergic compounds azelastine, astemizole and oxatomide, and the 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor NDGA, were able to suppress the release of elastase from human leukocytes in concentrations between 10 and 100 μM. NSAIDs such as indomethacin, diclofenac and piroxicam and the glucocorticoids dexamethasone and hydrocortisone showed little or no activity. The histamine H1 antagonists mepyramine and ketotifen and the calcium antagonists verapamil, nifedipine and TMB-8 were also ineffective in suppressing FMLP-induced elastase release. Reduction in elastase release by azelastine, that accumulates in lung tissue during long-term treatment in animals, may contribute to its anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects which are thought to be central to its use in asthma therapy.

     

Application of reflectance spectroscopy to the estimation of uric acid, urea and glucose: an evaluation of the Ames Seralyzer

An original approach to the measurement of analytes in clinical chemistry has now become available, in which dry reagent strip technology is linked to measurement by reflectance spectroscopy. The present studies have evaluated the performance of the first of these test systems—for uric acid, urea and glucose, in serum—by comparison with conventional liquid chemistry methods. Satisfactory performance in terms of both precision and accuracy was obtained for all three test systems, the current “state-of-the-art” performance criteria being met; the Seralyzer system proved reliable and easy to use in the hands of trained operators. It should find a place as a “Stat” analyser in the laboratory, in specified wards and in Health Centres.     

Influence of co-culture with established human endometrial epithelial and stromal cell lines on sperm movement characteristics

The effects of co-culture of human spermatozoa with human immortalized endometrial cells - epithelial or stromal - on sperm movement characteristics, including hyperactivation, were studied using computer- assisted sperm analysis (CASA). Epithelial and stromal cell types could be separated following 8-10 days of culture of endometrial cells originating from human biopsies. Both cell types were immortalized by the SV 40 large T antigen. Co-incubation of sperm with epithelial and stromal monolayers enhanced the rate of hyperactivation: 24.9% (P <0.05) and 17.8% (P = 0.05) versus 9.5% as control, respectively, whereas the majority of motility parameters remained unchanged. Conditioned media had no effect upon sperm parameters, including hyperactivation. Co-incubation with either monolayer was able to maintain sperm motility over a longer period than incubation in control medium alone. In four patients whose spermatozoa did not exhibit hyperactivation, co-incubation with epithelial cells, but not conditioned medium, allowed normal rates of hyperactivation (range: 6.9- 15.6%).      

Effect of the late complement components C5b-9 on human monocytes: release of prostanoids, oxygen radicals and of a factor inducing cell proliferation

Recently, we reported stimulation of rat macrophages and human platelets by isolated C5b-9 to synthesize prostaglandin E (PGE) or thromboxane B2 (TXB2). In the present study, we tested whether besides prostanoids, C5b-9 also would induce the production of other mediators. We found that C5b-9 in sublytic concentrations stimulated human granulocytes (polymorphonuclear leukocytes) or monocytes to release oxygen radicals. Furthermore, monocytes release interleukin-1 in response to C5b-9. Thus, besides having a lytic capacity, C5b-9 also functions as a stimulator of various cells.     

Detecting pre-ovulatory luteinizing hormone surges in urine

The study objectives were to determine (i) if pre-ovulatory luteinizing hormone (LH) surges, undetected in urine by two immunoradiometric assays (IRMA), were detectable by an ultrasensitive immunofluorometric assay (IFMA) and (ii) the influence of creatinine adjustment on the detection and timing of the urinary LH surges. Daily urine specimens were contributed by healthy 25-36 year old volunteers during 14 ovulatory menstrual cycles for an epidemiological study conducted in 1983-1985. Specimens were selected as having been previously assayed by two IRMA without consistently detecting LH surges. These urine specimens were remeasured using an IFMA and adjusted for creatinine concentration. IFMA measurements revealed unambiguous LH surges in all cycles. Adjusting IRMA urinary LH values for creatinine concentrations revealed previously undetected LH surges in four of eight cycles. Creatinine adjustment also altered the timing of IRMA and IFMA LH surges by 1-5 days. These results demonstrate an IFMA that detects pre- ovulatory LH surges in unpreserved, frozen urine from cycles where such surges were previously undetectable. Further, creatinine adjustment can markedly affect detection and timing of the onset and peak of the urinary LH surge. While our analysis suggests that this adjustment improves the validity of the LH measure, this requires further investigation.