Zinc Requirements in Trauma and Inflammation

Delayed response in healing has been reported to be due to deficiencies in the trace mineral, zinc. Though trace elements are generally recognized as important in human nutrition, zinc is only recently receiving attention. The literature is scattered with many articles about zinc's use in trauma and inflammation. This paper is a review of some of the current knowledge of zinc and its use in trauma and inflammation.     

Release of immunoreactive somatostatin in the spinal dorsal horn of the cat

Antibody microprobes were used to investigate the possible release of immunoreactive somatostatin (irSS) within the lumbar spinal cord of anaesthetized cats. A basal release of irSS was detected in the region of the substantia gelatinosa of the dorsal horn. By comparison with in vitro standards the concentration of SS detected in this region was estimated at 10(-7) M. This release of irSS was not significantly altered by electrical stimulation of large myelinated primary afferent fibres but was increased when unmyelinated afferents were additionally stimulated. Release of irSS was also detected at the spinal cord surface. The results support a role for somatostatin in nociceptive transmission in the spinal cord.     

X-linked syndrome of platelet dysfunction, thrombocytopenia, and imbalanced globin chain synthesis with hemolysis

An unusual family is described with a congenital bleeding disorder present in four males belonging to three generations. Of the three surviving affected males, all had splenomegaly and petechiae. The three had moderate thrombocytopenia (55-90 X 10(9)/liter) and markedly prolonged Ivy-template bleeding times (greater than 30 min). They were also noted to have reticulocytosis and, upon further investigation, imbalanced globin chain synthesis resembling that of beta-thalassemia minor. Studies on nine additional family members in four generations were normal except for slight elevations of reticulocyte counts in female members, one of whom had the abnormal globin chain synthesis ratio. In male members, the bleeding tendency and clinical signs always occurred in the presence of the globin chain synthesis defect and reticulocytosis. This previously undescribed condition was apparently transmitted as an X-linked disorder.     

Myelomatosis with Xanthomatosis Multiforme

A 45-year-old man developed, apparently simultaneously, two rare conditions, xanthomatosis (with hypercholesterolemia) and myelomatosis. His blood contained very high levels of cholesterol, the major part of which was present in a markedly elevated beta-lipoprotein fraction. Studies carried out over a period of six years, utilizing electrophoresis, ultracentrifugation, determinations of chemical composition and incorporation with C¹⁴-labelled glutamic acid and acetate, indicated a direct association between the two conditions, the myeloma lipoprotein apparently being produced by the abnormal plasma cells in the bone marrow. There were definite indications that the low density S_f 0-12 lipoproteins were primarily involved.