A method for evaluating antianginal drugs in experimental animals: assessment of myocardial ischemia by myocardial pH

This paper describes a method by which antianginal drugs can be evaluated in the dog heart in situ. Myocardial pH was measured continuously by a micro glass pH electrode inserted in the left ventricular endocardial layers of the dog anesthetized with pentobarbital. Occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) decreased myocardial pH, and release of the LAD restored the pH. The myocardial acidosis induced by ischemia was metabolic in nature and accompanied by a decrease in the levels of adenosine triphosphate and creatine phosphate and an increase in the levels of lactate in the myocardium. Drugs were injected intravenously 30 min after incomplete (partial) occlusion ot the LAD, lasting until 60 min after drug injection. Propranolol, atenolol, and sotalol markedly attenuated the myocardial pH that had been decreased by LAD occlusion. Nitroglycerin, diltiazem, and nicorandil also attenuated the pH, but these drugs were less active in attenuating myocardial acidosis. Dipyridamole, nifedipine, and beta-2 adrenoceptor antagonists were least active in this regard. It is concluded that myocardial pH can be used as an indicator of myocardial regional ischemia and utilized for evaluation of antianginal drugs.     

Subjective ratings of sleepiness--the underlying circadian mechanisms

Previous field and laboratory studies have revealed that there is a diurnal variation in subjective sleepiness that is different in form to that of objective sleepiness and many measures of performance efficiency. The worst subjective sleepiness occurs at the trough in the circadian temperature rhythm, the least subjective sleepiness about 7 h before the peak in temperature. A series of forced desynchronization experiments, in which the endogenous circadian oscillator controlling the temperature rhythm ran at a different period to the sleep/wake cycle, revealed that these findings can be explained by postulating subjective sleepiness to be under the control of both factors, with minimum sleepiness occurring at the peak in temperature in terms of the temperature cycle and about 6 h after waking in terms of the sleep/wake cycle.     

CEA and CA 19.9: an evaluation by new statistical technics on a group of elderly patients

New parametric and non parametric statistical methods have been compared in the evaluation of experimental data of CEA and CA 19.9 using a brief program in BASIC. We have found that the distribution of the two markers is the same of that described in literature except for both the means that we have found being slightly higher than that ones described by other authors.     

Acute hemodynamic effects of piroximone (MDL 19,205) in patients with moderate congestive heart failure: comparison with sodium nitroprusside

Piroximone (MDL 19,205), a new imidazolone derivative, was given intravenously to 14 patients with congestive heart failure (NYHA class II-III), while under constant daily doses of digitalis and diuretics. In the first 3 patients, we determined the dose safely eliciting a favorable hemodynamic response. The subsequent 11 patients received 1 mg/kg of piroximone intravenously, and the hemodynamic effects were compared with those of sodium nitroprusside (SN) at a dose-lowering mean blood pressure by 10-20 mm Hg. Piroximone increased heart rate (13.2 +/- 2.0 beats/min, mean +/- SEM) and lowered mean arterial pressure (9 +/- 2.3 mm Hg). Both agents reduced similarly wedge pressure (6.5 +/- 2.9 and 9 +/- 2.9 mm Hg, respectively, for SN and piroximone) and total peripheral resistance. Cardiac index was increased less by SN (15%) than piroximone (48%) (p less than 0.001), and stroke work index significantly enhanced only by piroximone (p less than 0.001). The changes in loading conditions induced by the two agents being similar, it is likely that piroximone not only acts by peripheral vasodilation, but also possesses positive inotropic properties. Myocardial oxygen demand, assessed indirectly by tension-time index, was not affected by piroximone. Thus, piroximone appears to combine well-balanced vasodilator and inotropic properties which make this new agent potentially very useful for the management of congestive heart failure.     

Is the driver drunk? Oculomotor sobriety testing

Recently a new test involving observation of ocular pursuit movements, end-point nystagmus and angle of lateral deviation at which nystagmoid movements begin has been used by law enforcement agencies to determine the blood alcohol level of suspected drunk drivers. When properly administered and scored, this test can correctly identify approximately 80% of drivers with alcohol levels of 0.10% or greater. The test is more accurate than the traditional coordination or mental computation tests previously used, but questions may be raised about the use of the test with suspects who have ocular problems such as high refractive errors, chronic nystagmus, etc.     

Immunohistochemical characterization of extracellular matrix in the developing human cornea

Collagen, fibronectin and laminin are important components of the extracellular matrix of the human cornea. We used the immunofluorescence technique with polyclonal antibodies directed against these proteins and to bullous pemphigoid antigen (BPA), in order to study their distribution in human corneas from 8 weeks of gestation to term and in adult corneas. Immunoreactivity was observed with antibodies to type I collagen in the limbus and the corneal stroma at 8 weeks of gestation. At 11 weeks of gestation it was found in epithelial basement membrane (EBM) and Descemet's membrane (DM) and continued thus throughout fetal and adult life. Type II collagen was not detected in fetal or adult cornea. Type III collagen was detected during 8-20th weeks of gestation in the EBM, DM and stroma. After 27th weeks of gestation, type III collagen could no longer be detected in the central cornea. Type IV collagen was detected in the EBM as early as 8 weeks of gestation and remained positive throughout fetal and adult life. Descemet's membrane was negative for type IV collagen at 8 weeks of gestation and became positive thereafter. Immunostaining for fibronectin in DM was negative at 8 weeks of gestation, followed by patchy staining of corneal stroma and EBM up to the age of 37 weeks of gestation. Staining in the EBM was negative or variable up to 70 years of age, and then became positive again in a 77 year old individual. Staining for LN was positive in the EBM after 8 weeks of gestation. Staining was negative in DM at that age, but became positive after 9 weeks of gestation. Staining for BPA was negative at 8-9 weeks of gestation, then gradually became positive.