Potential biosoluble carriers: biocompatibility and biodegradability of oxidized cellulose

The biocompatibility and biodegradability of periodate oxidized cellulose is assessed in vivo. Morophological and histopathological studies over a period of six months indicate that oxidized cellulose degrades slowly without producing excessive tissue reaction. Preliminary investigations on the kinetics of degradation of oxidized cellulose in vitro, immobilization of alpha-chymotrypsin on it and the rate of the enzyme release in a solution of pH 7.4 are also briefly reported.     

A study of the prognostic role of serum fucose and fucosyl transferase in cancer of the uterine cervix

Serum fucose levels and fucosyl transferase activities have been designated as nonspecific markers of malignancy, and play an important role in the diagnosis of different types of malignancies. In the present study, attempts were made to determine the prognostic significance of these markers in patients with cancer of the uterine cervix after therapy. It was found that both serum fucose and fucosyl transferase, which were elevated in untreated patients declined significantly in patients responsive to therapy at different follow-up intervals, but not in patients unresponsive to therapy.     

Otolaryngologic Manifestations of Sarcoidosis: Presentation and Diagnosis

Neuro-otologic manifestations of sarcoidosis are rare. Dizziness in particular is a rare presenting complaint of the patient afflicted with this systemic granulomatous disorder. Head and neck and sinonasal presentations of this disease are more common. We reviewed our experience with six such patients who presented for management of their otolaryngologic (ORL) manifestations in order to delineate the involvement of the otolaryngologist in the treatment and diagnosis of these patients, with a focus upon the relevant tests and procedures in the otolaryngologist's de novo diagnosis of sarcoidosis. Studies ordered in the course of otolaryngologic evaluation and their utility in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis by the otolaryngologist are reviewed and classified into useful, supportive, and ancillary. The otolaryngologist played an important role in diagnosis, with four of six patients diagnosed to have sarcoidosis on the basis of their otolaryngologic presentations. Biopsy was performed by the otolaryngologist for diagnosis of sarcoidosis in all four of these cases. Steroids were central to treatment. Oral steroid therapy was the principal treatment: both patients with neuro-otologic sarcoid were sucessfully managed with oral steroids. Intralesional steroids were necessary to treat the skin lesion. One of six patients patients experienced complications related to steroid use.     

Monoamine oxidase inhibition by the tremorogenic drug–-LON 954

N-Carbamovl−2−(2,6−dichlorophenyl)acetamidine HCl (LON 954), a tremorogenic drug, inhibited MAO activity in various tissue preparations in a reversible, competitive manner showing some degree of selectivity towards type-B MAO.     

Acid Phosphatases of the Human Testis Separation and Enzyme Characteristics

Acid phosphatase activities of human testicular tissue were studied after gel filtration on Sepharose 6B and rechromatography on DE-52 cellulose. Four enzyme activity peaks were detected by using p-nitrophenyl phosphate, α-naphthyl phosphate and thymolphthalein phosphate as substrates. Pooled fractions representing each peak were used to analyse the pH-optima, thermal inactivation and modifier characteristics.
Enzyme I was eluted with the first protein peak obtained in gel filtration. Its optimum was at pH 4 and it was the most resistant among the four enzymes to thermal treatment. Enzyme I showed a moderate inhibition with tartrate and fluoride. The three substrates tested were readily hydrolysed by this activity.
Enzyme II was co-eluted with Enzyme IV in the second peak of gel filtration. After cellulose chromatography of this peak Enzyme II was eluted first from the column. Its optimum activity was at pH 3.5. About 80% of its activity was lost by a 15-min incubation at 60°C. The enzyme was the most sensitive to both tartrate and fluoride. All three substrates were also hydrolysed by this enzyme.
Enzyme III was eluted in the third peak of gel filtration. Its optimal activity was at pH 5. It was the most thermolabile among the enzymes. Another unique feature of this enzyme was also the high sensitivity to cadmium, copper and high concentration of zinc and resistance to both tartrate and fluoride, α-naphthyl phosphate and thymolphthalein phosphate were not hydrolysed by this enzyme.
Enzyme IV was co-eluted with Enzyme II in the second peak of gel filtration but could be separated from the latter in DE-52 cellulose chromatography. Its optimum was at pH 5.5. It was resistant to low concentrations     

Increase in rat spinal cord blood flow with the calcium channel blocker, nimodipine

Nimodipine, a calcium channel blocker, is known to increase cerebral blood flow. In the present study, the authors investigated the effect of nimodipine on spinal cord blood flow in normal rats. Cardiovascular parameters, including mean systemic arterial blood pressure, cardiac output, and heart rate, were recorded during infusion of nimodipine in a dose-response fashion. The experiment was a randomized blind study in which four groups of five rats received different doses of nimodipine (0.001, 0.01, 0.05, and 0.10 mg/kg) intravenously over 30 minutes, and a control group of five rats received only the diluent. The hydrogen clearance and thermodilution techniques were used to measure spinal cord blood flow and cardiac output, respectively. The 0.05-mg/kg dose of nimodipine caused the largest increase in spinal cord blood flow, with a 40% increase over the preinfusion level, although there was a 25% reduction in mean arterial pressure. The 0.10-mg/kg dose did not increase spinal cord blood flow more than the 0.05-mg/kg dose, most likely due to the concomitant 37% reduction in mean arterial pressure. Cardiac output was significantly increased by the 0.05- and 0.10-mg/kg doses secondary to the drop in total peripheral resistance. The increase in spinal cord blood flow produced by nimodipine lasted approximately 20 minutes after the termination of the infusion. Thus, nimodipine at a dose of 0.05 mg/kg markedly increased blood flow in the normal spinal cord even though there were major changes in mean systemic arterial pressure and cardiac output. Further research is required to determine whether this drug might be beneficial in treating ischemic states of the spinal cord, such as posttraumatic ischemia.     

Infrared reflectance from whole blood soaked filter paper and implications in haemoglobinometry

For field use, particularly in a rural environment, where large number of subjects have to be screened, conventional methods for haemoglobin determination such as Sahli's method and the cyanmethaemoglobin method are too cumbersome for practical use. On the other hand, the current methods of whole blood haemoglobin by optical wedge comparison are too unreliable. A new approach based on infra-red reflectance has been proposed here. A novel disposable cell has been devised by means of which a standardised volume of blood from a finger prick can be soaked up without volumetric measurement apparatus. Also the cell prevents dehydration but does not affect infra-red reflectance. Haemoglobin measurements with this new technique can be sufficiently accurate as to meet the needs of field use.