Characteristic modifications of the breathing pattern of mice to evaluate the effects of airborne chemicals on the respiratory tract

A system was developed for exposure of unanesthetized mice to airborne chemicals and for continuous measurement of their breathing pattern prior to, during and following exposure. By measuring inspiratory and expiratory airflows (VI and VE), and integration with time to yield tidal volume (VT), we obtained characteristic modifications to the normal breathing pattern. These permitted recognition that a specific portion of the respiratory tract was affected by the selected airborne chemicals. Following recognition, we also quantitated the degree of effect using one specific measurement in each case. An effect on the upper respiratory tract, induced by the sensory irritant, 2-chlorobenzylchloride, was quantitated by measuring a decrease in respiratory frequency. An effect on the conducting airways, induced by the airway constrictor, carbamylcholine, was quantitated by a decrease in VE at the mid-point of VT. An effect at the alveolar level, induced either by the vagal nerve ending stimulant, propranolol, or by the pulmonary irritant, machining fluid G, was quantitated by an increase in the length of a pause induced at the end of expiration. The system is easy to construct and operate and can be used to rapidly evaluate the effects of airborne chemicals on the respiratory tract.     

Influence of colloidal carbon phagocytosis as a metabolic load on the hepatic energy metabolism in rats

The influence of phagocytosis on hepatic energy metabolism was investigated in rats injected with colloidal carbon. Following injection of 6 mg colloidal carbon per 100 g body wt (BW) the hepatic energy charge potential (ECP) remained unchanged. However, oxidative phosphorylation of the isolated mitochondria (PR) increased significantly to 120 and 124% of the control at 1 and 3 hr, respectively, and returned to the normal range at 6 hr. The pyruvate level rose to 195 and 150% at 3 and 6 hr. The lactate level was elevated to 195 and 143% at 3 and 6 hr. Following injection of 20 mg colloidal carbon per 100 g BW, the ECP decreased from 0.865 to 0.783 at 1 hr, but recovered to the normal range thereafter. The PR increased more markedly to 135% at 1 hr, concomitant with an elevation of the ketone body ratio. At 3 hr it remained elevated at 118%, but returned to the normal level at 6 hr. The pyruvate and lactate levels increased to more than 250% at 1 and 3 hr. At 6 hr, the lactate level returned to the control level, but the pyruvate level showed still higher level than the control. These results indicate that phagocytosis exerts an acute metabolic load on the total liver. It was tentatively proposed that parenchymal and nonparenchymal cells in the liver have interrelation in the energy metabolism, and that an enhancement of hepatocellular mitochondrial phosphorylative activity occurs to assist the accelerated metabolism due to phagocytosis.     

Laser angioplasty: a new approach in the treatment of iliac occlusion

Laser thermal angioplasty is a new technique. The longest follow-up is 3 years. It is used increasingly for the treatment of atheromatous disease of the femoropopliteal segment. The authors describe a case of successful recanalization of a completely occluded left external iliac artery using laser thermal angioplasty. The artery was approached through a left femoral dissection. The patient was discharged from the hospital on postoperative day 4 without claudication. The present indications and potential benefits and complications of this procedure are discussed.     

Spontaneous peripelvic extravasation: reports of two cases

Spontaneous peripelvic extravasation must be distinguished from spontaneous rupture of the renal pelvis in urological emergency. The literatures revealed 42 cases of peripelvic extravasation and 35 cases of rupture of the renal pelvis in Japan. Most of them were caused by urolithiasis and malignant tumors. We report 2 cases of spontaneous peripelvic extravasation caused by urolithiasis, which were successfully treated conservatively.     

MR appearances of urinary bladder in amyloidosis associated with multiple myeloma

Amyloidosis led to thickening of the urinary bladder wall, with hypointensity in T2-weighted images, which was distinguished from multiple myeloma involvement. Received: 3 April 1995/Accepted: 7 August 1995     

Platelet MAO activity and the cortisol response to dexamethasone in major depression

Previous studies have sometimes found a positive relationship between platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity and dexamethasone nonsuppression in depressed patients. To assess this relationship in more detail, we examined the association between these two biological variables in unmedicated depressed patients. A positive correlation between platelet MAO activity and 8:00 AM serum cortisol levels following an overnight dexamethasone test (1 mg) was observed. The relationship between high and low platelet MAO activity (median split) and suppression of serum cortisol levels was also significant. These relationships were stronger in bipolar patients. Multiple regression revealed that postdexamethasone 8:00 AM dexamethasone levels and platelet MAO activity were independent predictors of the 8:00 AM cortisol levels following dexamethasone. The possibility that platelet MAO activity may be a peripheral marker of brain serotonergic activity which in turn may affect various aspects of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis activity, is discussed. We also found that all nine depressed patients studied greater than or equal to 15 days after admission were suppressors. Platelet MAO activity, but not 8:00 AM pre- or postdexamethasone serum cortisol, was related to the severity of depression.     

Severe constrictive pericarditis as an unsuspected cause of death in a patient with idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome and restrictive cardiomyopathy

A 43-year-old man with idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome survived a relatively long term (6 1/2 years) before he succumbed to intractable heart failure. Six months before death, his chronic heart failure from restrictive cardiomyopathy was well compensated. Autopsy demonstrated severe constrictive pericarditis which was not suspected antemortem. Constrictive pericarditis as a late complication of idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome is discussed.     

Intraaortic balloon tamponade during hemorrhagic shock in sheep

Two groups (n = 10 in each) of adult sheep were exposed to hemorrhagic shock resulting in mean arterial pressure (MAP) below 25 mmHg for 10 min. Following that, group A received crystalloids (8% of body wt) during one hr together with supraceliac intraaortic balloon tamponade during the first 30 min, while group B (controls) received crystalloids only. The central circulation was rapidly restored in group A, as indicated by increased MAP and increased systemic vascular resistance (SVR). After deflation of the balloon MAP dropped to the same value as in the control group, while cardiac index increased gradually with volume replacement and was significantly higher at the end of the resuscitation period (60 min) than in the control group (P less than 0.05). Despite a more rapid restoration of central hemodynamics in group A, lactic acidosis was more severe, acute renal failure and neurological complications more frequent, and mortality higher than in the control group. It was concluded that continuous supraceliac aortic occlusion for 30 min had deleterious effects on organs dependent on aortic blood flow distal to the aortic tamponade and may contribute to the development of multiple organ failure after resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effects of intermittent intraaortic balloon tamponade in hemorrhagic shock.