Risk factors for ischemic heart disease and glycosaminoglycans (GAG's) in plasma in atherosclerosis obliterans

GAGs (glycosoaminoglycans) derive from damaged artery endothelium cells. Theoretically their concentration could be used to measure the level of atherosclerosis process. The aim of the study was to estimate the concentration of glucosamine and galactosamine in plasma in patients with AO in comparison to the main risk factors of CHD: smoking, hyperlipidemia, hypertension. Investigated group: the subject of the study were 35 men and 26 women suffering from AO. The control group comprised 20 men and 28 women. People from both groups were 36-65 years old. The concentration of glucosamine and galactosamine were determined by automatic amino acid analyzer LC 6001 Biotronic. The lipids in plasma were determined by conventional methods. Results 100% of men and 81% of women with AO were smokers to compare 70% and 17% in the control group. Systolic blood pressure in men with AO was 134 +/- 13 mm Hg and in women 136 +/- 16 mm Hg. In the control groups they were respectively 122 +/- 10 mm Hg and 124 +/- 10 mm Hg. The difference between the groups is statistically significant. Diastolic and systolic pressures in women with AO were higher then in the control group. In men with AO systolic pressure, but not diastolic pressure, was higher than in the control group. It was observed that in women with AO the concentration of total cholesterol, LDL-chol, apo B in serum, apo B in LDL, TG, TC-HDL-chol/HDL-chol, LDL/HDL were higher, HDL-chol was lower in comparison with the control group. In men with AO total cholesterol, LDL-chol/HDL-chol and TC-HDL-chol/HDL-chol were higher then in the control group, HDL-chol was lower. 80% of women and 74% of men with AO suffered from hyperlipidemia compared with 36% and 60% in the control group respectively. Mixed hyperlipidemia was the most important factor differentiating patients with AO and the control group, when compared to other types of hyperlipidemia. The coexistence of risk factors was more frequently observed in patient with AO then in the control group. Differences in concentrations of glucosamine and galactosamine between the patients with AO and the control group were not statistically significant in women and only slightly statistically significant in men. CONCLUSIONS: Classical risk factors of CHD differentiate patients with AO from the healthy people. The concentrations of glucosamine and galactosamine in plasma cannot be used to determine the atherosclerosis process.     

Primary osteosarcoma of the skull

Primary osteogenic sarcoma of the skull is an exceedingly rare condition. An adult male patient is described, who had a painless swelling in the right forehead that had rapidly enlarged in the previous 6 months. Radiological investigations showed a large destructive mass lesion involving the right side of the frontal bone with extension into the frontal sinus, causing marked extradural compression of brain parenchyma. Histopathological examination confirmed the lesion to be primary osteogenic sarcoma.     

Usefulness of distraction osteogenesis in the treatment of knee arthrosis]

AIMS: The purpose of this study is the assessment of efficiency of distraction osteogenesis (DO) as a method of operative treatment of knee arthrosis with co-existent varus deformity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Authors undertook an attempt of evaluation of results of tibial corticotomy in 21 patients (25 operated knee joints) treated in Orthopaedic Clinic of Wroclaw Medical University in years 1995-2001, with the use of circular, external Ilizarov's fixator. All the operated patients underwent corticotomy of proximal tibial metaphysis followed by slow axis correction and bone regenerate formation started at 7th postoperative day. In orthopaedic examination functional evaluation of knee joint with modified point scale according to Ranawat (HSS-score) there were taken into account. In rentgenometric examination the limbs axis in the frontal plane and joint space morphology according to Ahlback were evaluated. RESULTS: The results in our group of patients were very encouraging. Accordingly to Ranawat scale, in majority of patients assessed before the treatment as poor and fair moved to group assessed as fair and good and even excellent. We observed decelerated regenerate formation and remodeling probably caused by advanced age of patients in 6 cases. In 3 cases persistent lose of entire correction was observed. CONCLUSIONS: In author's opinion DO as a method of operative treatment of unicompartmental knee arthrosis could be advocated as alternative method to traditional tibial osteotomy considering its biological effect stimulating regeneration of all tissues including cartilage even in advanced unicompartmental arthrosis.     

Epidemiologic analysis of antigenic variations of street rabies virus: detection by monoclonal antibodies

The nucleocapsid antigen of 204 strains of street rabies virus, which originated in Europe, Africa and Asia, was analyzed by fluorescent antibody staining technique with a panel of 20 monoclonal antibodies specific for nucleocapsid of rabies and rabies-related viruses. A definite pattern of reactivity was observed with strains of the same geographic origin with the exception of strains originating from Madagascar, Thailand and Iran which were more diversified. Mice immunized with a vaccine prepared from a Pasteur PV-11 strain of virus were well protected against challenge with representative strains from Europe and Africa, and a partial protection was observed following challenge with strains from Madagascar and Thailand.     

Effective protection of monkeys against death from street virus by post-exposure administration of tissue-culture rabies vaccine

Three series of experiments on rabies vaccines were carried out on rhesus monkeys using suckling-mouse-brain vaccine, rabbit-brain vaccine, duck-embryo vaccine, and purified, concentrated tissue-culture vaccine. The latter was prepared in a human diploid cell strain and inactivated with β-propiolactone, and consisted of tissue-culture fluid concentrated 200-fold with a final infectivity titre of 10^9.8 plaque-forming units per ml before inactivation. In the first two series of experiments, several vaccines were tested for relative immunogenicity on a pre-exposure basis. In the third series, a successful model was developed in which a single inoculation of the tissue-culture vaccine administered after exposure to rabies virus, with or without accompanying standard doses of antirabies serum, was evaluated as a method of prevention. A single dose of the tissue-culture vaccine protected 7 out of 8 monkeys from death by street virus. Homologous or heterologous antirabies serum alone gave poor results. The results indicate great promise for prophylaxis in man with one dose, or perhaps a few doses, of highly concentrated, purified tissue-culture vaccine.     

Comportement des acides aminés plasmatiques libres chez des chiens normaux et des chiens pancréatectomisés après administration intraveineuse rapide de l-leucine

Resume L'injection intraveineuse rapide de l-leucine entraîne chez les chiens normaux une hypoglycémie, une chute du taux plasmatique du potassium et du phosphore inorganique, une hyperaminoacidémie initiale fort transitorie, et une l'hypoaminoacidémie survenante après. Chez les chiens traités au préalable par chlorpropamide l'hypoglycémie, l'hypokaliémie et l'hypoaminoacidémie entraînées par l'injection de leucine sont plus marquées - à différent degré; par contre la fugace hyperaminoacidémie et l'hypophosphatémie sont du même rang que dans le groupe précédent. Chez les chiens pancréatectomisés, l'injection rapide de leucine provoque un abaissement minime de la glycémie et n'influence pas le taux plasmatique du potassium; chez ces animaux la chute du taux des acides aminés dans le plasma est inférieure par rapport aux animaux sains, tandis que l'hyperaminoacidémie initiale et l'hypophoshatémie sont les mêmes.L'injection intraveineuse rapide de la l-valine et de l-alanine aux chiens normaux entraîne un abaissement de la glycémie et de la kaliémie inférieur en comparaison avec les mêmes effects de la leucine, lors que l'hypophosphatémie est du même rang. Ces acidesaminés provoquent également un accorissement initial de la concentration d'autres acidesaminés dans le plasma, montrant des différences en comparaison avec les modifications faisantes suite à l'injection de la leucine. La l-valine produit également un abaissement secondaire du taux de certains acides-aminés, tandis que l'on n'observe pas ce phénomène après l'injection de l-alanine. Dans la discussion on a évoqué la possibilité d'une influence de la leucine alimentaire sur l'utilisation des hydrates de carbone et des protéines digérés.

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Summary The quick intravenous administration of l-leucine produces in normal dogs a hypoglycemia, a decrease of potassium and of inorganic phosphorus, an initial and very transient increase of blood aminoacid plasma values and afterwards a decrease of blood aminoacids. In dogs previously treated with chlorpropamide, the decrease of glycemia, kaliemia and aminoacidemia are more evident, and in different degrees: on the contrary the transient decrease of blood aminoacids and the decrease of blood phosphorus are of he same degree as the other group's. In pancreatectomized dogs the quick administration of leucine produces a very small decrease of glycemia and it does not affect the potassium plasma values: in these animals the fall of the aminoacids in plasma is inferior to the one that happens in healthy animals, while the initial hypoaminoacidemia and hypophosphatemia are of the same degree.The quick intravenous administration of l-valine and l-alanine in normal dogs produces a decrease of glycemia and kaliemia inferior compared with the same effects of leucine, while the hypophosphatemia is of the same degree. Valine and alanine produce an initial increase of the aminoacid blood levels too, showing afterwards some differences from the changes that take place after the leucine administration. L-valine produces a secondary decrease of some aminoacid levels too, while such phenomenon cannot be observed after l-alanine injection. During the discussion, the possibility that food leucine may affect the utilization of carbohydrates and digested proteins is taken into consideration.

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Zusammenfassung Die rasche i.v. Injektion von l-Leuzin verursacht bei normalen Hunden eine Hypoglykaemie, Abfall des Plasmaniveaus von K und inorganischem P, anfaengliche, rasch voruebergehende Hyperaminoazidaemie und darauffolgende Hypoaminoazidaemie. Bei den zuvor mit Chlorpropamid behandelten Hunden sind die Hypoglykaemie, Hypokaliaemie und die Hypoaminoazidaemie — mit unterschiedlichem Grad — ausgepraegter; hingegen sind die voruebergehende Hyperaminoazidaemie sowie die Hypophosphataemie gleichen Grades, wie bei der vorhergehenden Gruppe. Bei den pankreatektomierten Hunden bewirkt die rasche Leuzin-Injektion einen minimalen Abfall des Blutzuckers und beeinflusst nicht das Plasmaniveau von K. Bei diesen Tieren ist der Abfall des Plasmaniveaus der Aminosaeuren geringer als bei gesunden Tieren, waehrend die anfaegliche Hyperaminoazidaemie und Hypophosphataemie die gleichen sind.Die rasche i.v. Injektion von l-Valin und l-Alanin bewirkt bei den normalen Hunden einen Abfall des Blutzuckers und der Kaliaemie, der geringer ist als der von Leuzin hervorgerufene, waehrend die Hypophosphataemie gleichen Grades ist. Diese Aminosaeuren rufen auch eine anfaengliche Erhoehung der Konzentration der anderen Aminosaeuren im Plasma hervor und offenbaren somit Unterschiede in Bezug auf die nach Leuzin-Injektion auftretenden Veraenderungen. Das l-Valin produziert ferner einen sekundaeren Abfall des Niveaus einiger anderer Aminosaeuren, waehrend man dieses Phaenomen nach l-Alanin-Injektion nicht beobachtet. In der Diskussion wird auf die Moeglichkeit eines Einflusses des alimentaeren Leuzins auf die Verwertung der verdauten Kohlehydrate und der Proteine hingewiesen.

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Resumen La inyección endovenosa rápida de l-leucina en perros normales determina una hipoglicemia, una caída del nivel plasmático del potasio y del fósforo inorgánico, una hiperaminoacidemia inicial my transitoria y una sucesiva hipoaminoacidemia. En los perros previamente tratados con clorpropamida, la hipoglicemia, la hipocaliemia y la hipoaminoacidemia son más marcadas, en grados diversos; en cambio, la fugaz hiperaminoacidemia y la hipofosfatemia son del mismo grado que en el grupo precedente. En los perros pancreatectomizados, la inyección rápida de leucina provoca una mínima disminución de la glicemia y no influye sobre el nivel plasmático del potasio; en estos animales, la caída del nivel plasmático de los aminoácidos es inferior a la de los animales sanos, mientras la hiperaminoacidemia inicial y la hipofosfatemia son las mismas.La inyección endovenosa rápida de l-valina y de l-alanina en perros normales determina una menor disminución de la glicemia y de la caliemia en comparación con los mismos efectos de la leucina, mientras la hipofosfatemia es del mismo grado. Estos aminoácidos provocan igualmente en el plasma un aumento inicial en la concentración de los otros aminoácidos, mostrando algunas diferencias con respecto a las modificaciones que se verifican después de la inyección de leucina. La l-valina también produce una reducción secundaria del nivel de algunos aminoácidos, mientras dicho fenómeno no se observa después de inyectar la l-alanina. En la discusión se illustra la posibilidad de influencia de la leucina alimenticia en la utilización de los hidratos de carbono y de las proteínas digeridas.

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Riassunto L'iniezione endovenosa rapida di l-leucina determina in cani normali una ipoglicemia, una caduta del livello plasmatico del potassio e del fosforo inorganico, una iperaminoacidemia iniziale, molto transitoria, ed una successiva ipoaminoacidemia. Nei cani trattati preventivamente con cloropropamide, l'ipoglicemia, l'ipokaliemia e l'ipoaminoacidemia sono più marcate, in gradi diversi; in cambio la fugace iperaminoacidemia e l'ipofosfatemia sono dello stesso grado del gruppo precedente. Nei cani pancreatectomizzati, l'iniezione rapida della leucina provoca un abbassamento minimo della glicemia e non influenza il livello plasmatico del potassio; in questi animali la caduta del livello plasmatico degli aminoacidi è inferiore a quanto avviene negli animali sani, mentre la iperaminoacidemia iniziale e l'ipofosfatemia sono le stesse.L'iniezione endovenosa rapida della l-valina e della l-alanina nei cani normali determina un abbassamento della glicemia e della kaliemia inferiore in confronto agli stessi effetti della leucina, mentre l'ipofosfatemia è dello stesso grado. Questi aminoacidi provocano ugualmente un aumento iniziale nella concentrazione degli altri aminoacidi nel plasma, mostrando quindi delle differenze rispetto alle modifiche che si verificano dopo l'iniezione di leucina. La l-valina produce ugualmente un abbassamento secondario del livello di alcuni aminoacidi, mentre tale fenomeno non si osserva dopo l'iniezione della l-alanina. Nella discussione viene ricordata la possibilità d'influenza della leucina alimentare sull'utilizzazione degli idrati di carbonio e delle proteine digerite.

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Rapport présenté pendant le 1° Congresso Nazionale della Società Italiana di Diabetologia, le 16 févriér 1966 à Catania.     

DNA adducts level in normal and preeclamptic placentas

OBJECTIVE: An increase in lipid peroxidation intensification in preeclamptic placentas leads to an increased level of lipid peroxidation products and increased reactive oxygen species activity which can be associated with increased activation of chemicals to electrophilic species that bind covalently to DNA and form adducts. DESIGN: The aim of the study was the determination of DNA adducts (A-DNA) in placentas from normal and preeclamptic pregnancies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The investigations comprised placentas obtained immediately after delivery from 21 normal pregnancies [group K], 24 pregnancies complicated by severe preeclampsia-PE without intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR [group PE] and 21 pregnancies complicated by severe PE and IUGR [group PEI]. DNA adducts were determined using nuclease P1 digestion enhancement version of the 32P-postlabeling method. The results were expressed in numbers of DNA adducts per 10(8) nucleotides. Comparative analysis was performed using ANO-VA and median tests. RESULTS: Mean level of A-DNA (MA-DNA) in the group PE--1.39 +/- 1.21 (M +/- SD) was similar (p = 0.57) to MA-DNA in group K (1.16 +/- 1.03). However MA-DNA in the PEI group (1.93 +/- 1.28) was significantly higher (p = 0.045) than MA-DNA in the group K as well as MA-DNA in the group PE (p = 0.025). MA-DNA level in all studied preeclamptic placentas (groups PE + PEI) was 1.65 +/- 1.26 and was similar (p = 0.152) to revealed in group K. CONCLUSIONS: The level of DNA adducts in placentas from pregnancies complicated by severe preeclampsia and IUGR is higher than in placentas from pregnancies complicated by severe preeclampsia without IUGR and higher than in placentas from normal pregnancies.     

ACAPELLA-1K, a capillary-based submicroliter automated fluid handling system for genome analysis

The Genomation Laboratory in the Electrical Engineering Department at the University of Washington has been developing an automated, high-throughput, submicroliter-scale fluid-handling system for use in molecular biology, especially as part of the Human Genome Project and other high-throughput DNA sequencing endeavors. Small glass capillaries enable the preparation, handling, and monitoring of 1-microliter reaction volumes. The Genomation Laboratory, with corporate partners Orca Photonic Systems, Inc. and Engineering Arts, has developed modules for aspiration, dispensing, mixing, transport, and rapid thermal processing of biological samples contained in glass capillaries. The ACAPELLA-1K is the first integration of these modules, designed to process 1000 samples in an eight-hour day. It has served as a test bed for the technologies as well as for performing biological experiments in conjunction with the University of Washington Genome Center. This system and related results are presented in this paper. A video of the system in operation is provided at. The Genomation Laboratory is presently developing the next-stage ACAPELLA-5K system based on the results of the ACAPELLA-1K system.