EFFECT OF ACUTE AND CHRONIC NEUROLEPTIC THERAPY ON SERUM PROLACTIN LEVELS IN MEN AND WOMEN OF DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS

A single fasting level of serum prolactin was measured in each of sixty control subjects and eighty-three psychiatric patients of both sexes who had been on neuroleptic therapy for 2-4 weeks (acute treatment) or at least 5 years (chronic treatment) and who were aged either 17-45 or 48-85 years. All groups of patients had significantly higher mean prolactin levels than controls. Gender, age group of women, and exposure to acute or chronic treatment were significant variables determining the magnitude of neuroleptic-induced elevation of prolactin. In some of the groups, dose, duration of chronic therapy, and concomitant administration of anticholinergic drugs also influenced prolactin levels. Whereas all acutely treated women had prolactin values above the control range, one out of twelve (8.3%) of the women aged 17-45 years and six out of fourteen (42.9%) of the women aged 48-85 years who were under chronic treatment had normal values. Normal prolactin levels were also found in five out of sixteen (31.2%) of the acutely treated and nine out of twenty-four (37.5%) of the chronically treated men aged 17-85 years.     

Fluorescence spectroscopic analysis of the hydrogen bonding properties of catecholamines,resorcinolamines, and related compounds with phosphate and other anionic species in aqueous solution††

Fluorescence spectroscopic analysis based upon the difference in fluorescent behaviour of several phenol, catechol and resorcinol derivatives in 0·2 M phosphate and water, at different pH values ranging from 7·4 to 1·0, produced evidence for the existence of complexes between phosphate anions and these compounds. This complex formation was also found with acetate, citrate and glutamate but not with sulphate and borate. A comparison of different ligand structures revealed that the complex formation observed with unsubstituted phenol, catechol or resorcinol was not influenced by ethyl substitution; however, ethylamine or ethanolamine substitution favoured the formation of the complex. The findings indicate the formation of 1:1 intermolecular complexes between mono- and dihydroxyphenethylamines and several anionic species with participation of two hydrogen bonds. The predictions of a theoretical model describing this interaction are confirmed by the experimental data. Association constants of isoprenaline with phosphate and glutamate were found to be 5·1 and 26·6 litres mol^?1 respectively; for the complexes of m-tyramine and terbutaline with phosphate, association constants of 15·3 and 6·9 litres mol^?1 respectively, were obtained.     

Genetics of the HL-A System in a Venezuelan Heterogeneous Population

Abstract. HL-A antigen and gene frequencies of 206 unrelated adults living in the cities of Caracas and Maracaibo have shown that this heterogeneous Venezuelan population sample possess 11 specificities of the first (LA) HL-A series and 15 specificities of the second (Four) series. HL-A2, HL-A9, HL-A5 and W5 showed frequencies higher than those observed in Caucasoid populations. The most frequent haplotypes were 2, W5; 2, 5; 9, 12; 2, 12 and 2, X₂. No outstandingly high value for gametic association between the alleles of the 2 HL-A series was observed, but haplotypes formed by antigens with dissimilar frequencies in Caucasoids, Negroids and American Indian tribes have shown statistically significant D values. Genetic distance calculated using the HL-A system alone showed that this population is closer to the average Caucasoid and Negroid populations tested at the 5th International Histocompatibility Workshop than to 2 American Indian tribes living in the same country.     

The effect of transfer factor on the in vitro migration of tuberculin stimulated white cells from sarcoid and normal subjects

In the mixed leukocyte migration test, white cells from Mantoux positive and Mantoux negative individuals and from patients with sarcoidosis responded similarly to tuberculin, there being no significant difference in the migration index of the three groups. The cells from patients with sarcoidosis, however, showed a depressed response to phytohaemagglutinin. Transfer factor prepared from an individual with a very positive Mantoux reaction did not have any significant effect on the migration index when added to the white cells from sarcoid patients either in the presence or absence of tuberculin.     

ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ALPACA GROWTH HORMONE

A simple and mild procedure is described for the isolation of pituitary growth hormone from alpaca glands. It involves extractions in buffer at pH 8. 7 and gel filtration in Sephadex G-75. An average yield of 1 mg purified product may be obtained from 1 g fresh alpaca pituitary glands. The alpaca hormone was exam ined for homogeneity by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, gel electro-focusing and end-group analyses. It is a protein composed of a single polypeptide chain with phenylalanine at both ends. The C-terminal sequence is -Ala-Phe. The molecular weight is approximately 21700 and the amino acid composition very similar to that observed in equine growth hormone.     

Disrupted Desmosomes in Induced Lesions of Familial Benign Chronic Pemphigus

An occlusive dressing was applied to the unaffected skin of the back of a patient with familial benign chronic pemphigus (FBCP). Small lesions of FBCP appeared after 48 h, and the ultrastructure of successive biopsies was studied. It was concluded that: (a) the initial phenomenon in FBCP is the result of an insufficiency of cellular adhesion. This confirms several previous reports. (b) desmosomes are separated in two halves, invaginated in vacuoles and later deeply included in the cell. The particular fate of these disrupted desmosomes has already been observed after the action of several enzymes on the epidermis and in Darier's disease.     

Invasive Fibrous Thyroiditis (Riedel's Struma): A Manifestation of Multifocal Fibrosclerosis? A Case Report with Review of the Literature

A patient is described with Riedel's thyroiditis and invasivefibrous growth in parathyroid, lacrimal glands, and retroperitoneally.It is proposed that Riedel's thyroiditis is not a disease inits own right but a manifestation of a generalized disease offibrous tissues.