Effect of diltiazem on coronary blood flow distribution in dog heart under ischemia

Effect of intracoronary infusion of diltiazem (1 microgram/min) on regional myocardial blood flow (RMBF) was studied using 15-microns radioactive microspheres in 11 excised cross-circulated canine left ventricles. With total coronary blood flow (CBF) and heart rate (HR) held constant, regional ischemia was induced by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). Diltiazem at the dose used had no effects on ventricular Emax before and after LAD ligation. RMBF expressed by the counts divided by the counts averaged in all segments in each layer significantly (p less than 0.05) increased under diltiazem only in the low-flow region that had less than 50% RMBF before diltiazem; from 21% (+/- 12%) to 35% (+/- 18%) in the epicardial, from 22% (+/- 12%) to 32% (+/- 18%) in the midwall, and from 24% (+/- 10%) to 31% (+/- 12%) in the endocardial layers. We conclude that the beneficial effect of diltiazem on the ischemic heart involves a direct action on the coronary vascular system and does not necessarily depend on the concomitant changes in hemodynamics.     

HEALTH STATUS AND HEALTH CARE IN RURAL AUSTRALIA: A CASE STUDY

Knowledge of the health status of, and patterns of health care service utilization by rural Australian communities, is scant. This deficiency limits attempts to formulate policies designed to bring about efficient, effective and equitable delivery of health care services. This article reports the results of a health interview survey conducted in the Wimmera region of Victoria during spring 1984. The results demonstrate not only that patterns of morbidity in rural areas differ from the Australian average, but also that the health status of rural dwellers is worse than that of most Australians. Evidence suggests that while accessibility is not the most significant determinant of utilization of health care services, distance from services does affect propensity to use them.     

A case of chronic subdural hematoma with anxiety states and concomitant regression-like symptoms

The authors described an epileptic suffering from head trauma in whom anxiety states and concomitant regression-like symptoms masked the diagnosis of chronic subdural hematoma. Along with the occurrence of chronic subdural hematoma, psychic symptoms were manifested including the anxiety and regression of personality. However, after the chronic subdural hematoma was neurosurgically evacuated, these psychic symptoms gradually disappeared. In the study of organic and symptomatic psychosis, Mackenzie and Popkin (1983) have proposed the concept of an organic anxiety syndrome on the ground that DSM-III provides no organic equivalent for anxiety disorders. Therefore, we presented a case of chronic subdural hematoma in which the direct effect on CNS of this pathological condition was considered to bring about the above-mentioned anxiety disorders with regression-like symptoms.     

Clinical efficacy of clarithromycin in the field of pediatrics

A new macrolide antibiotic, clarithromycin (TE-031, A-56268), was studied for its clinical efficacy in the field of pediatrics. Patients treated were infants and children ranging from 2 months to 11 years old suffering from acute bronchitis in 5 cases, acute tonsillitis in 2 cases, Mycoplasma pneumonia in 2 cases, pertussis in 6 cases, scarlatina in 1 case and acute enteritis in 2 cases, a total of 18 cases. TE-031 was administered 19.7-43.5 mg/kg in daily doses and lengths of treatment ranged from 4 to 19 days. As regards to its clinical efficacy, good or excellent results were obtained in all cases: excellent in 11 cases and good in 7 cases. No clinical side effects nor abnormal laboratory test values obviously attributable to TE-031 were observed.     

Effects of N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-2-(2-oxo-1-pyrrolidinyl)acetamide (DM-9384) on learning and memory in rats

Effects of N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-2-(2-oxo-1-pyrrolidinyl) acetamide (DM-9384) on learning and memory were studied using four different experimental rat models. In electroconvulsive shock- or scopolamine-induced amnesia in the step-through passive avoidance task, DM-9384 improved both types of amnesia when administered before the training trial. Aniracetam also showed similar but somewhat weaker effects. Furthermore, in the scopolamine amnesia model, an improvement was confirmed with arecoline. The dose-response curves for these compounds were bell-shaped. In the shuttle box active avoidance task, DM-9384 administered daily 1 hr before each training session facilitated the acquisition process of the avoidance response. In addition, the experiment of light-dark discrimination task with positive reinforcement showed that this compound administered daily after each session slightly accelerated the acquisition process of the correct response. These results suggest an ability of DM-9384 to enhance cognitive functions.     

Pharmacological properties of fluphenazine-mustard, an irreversible calmodulin antagonist

We describe an improved synthesis and properties of fluphenazine-mustard, a potent phenothiazine having an alkylating chlorethylamine chain in its structure. The drug possesses anticalmodulin activity equivalent to the parent compound, but unlike fluphenazine dihydrochloride, the mustard derivative irreversibly antagonizes the ability of calmodulin to activate cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase. This property is partially calcium-dependent and can be overcome by coincubation with excess fluphenazine dihydrochloride. The compound irreversibly inactivated calmodulin when incubated with intact cells and caused single-stranded breakage of DNA. Fluphenazine-mustard possesses potent antiproliferative and cytotoxic properties against malignant cell lines that are likely to be mediated through both of these actions.