Dose-dependent effects of verapamil and nifedipine on in vivo platelet function in normal volunteers

The effects of 1 week of treatment with low and moderate doses of verapamil or nifedipine upon platelet function has been studied in 12 healthy volunteers. The ex vivo platelet aggregation threshold for ADP or adrenaline was not altered by verapamil or nifedipine. The plasma concentrations of beta-thromboglobulin and platelet factor 4 were significantly reduced by low but not by moderate doses of verapamil and nifedipine. Low doses of verapamil and nifedipine inhibit in vivo platelet activity in healthy volunteers.     

Endorphin levels in human cerebrospinal fluid during alcohol intoxication and withdrawal

Levels of endorphins were determined in CSF from alcoholics while intoxicated or after 1 day, 1 week, and 3 weeks of abstinence, respectively, and from healthy volunteers. The level of endorphins was determined by a radioreceptor assay and two fractions were analyzed. With fraction 1, there were no significant differences between the groups, but the level was negatively correlated with the blood-alcohol level. The mean level of endorphin fraction 2 during the early withdrawal phase was significantly lower than those of the other groups. With respect to clinical conditions and monoamine metabolites, fraction 2 in early withdrawal correlated significantly to duration of abuse and age. During late withdrawal, fraction 1 level correlated to depressive symptoms and, after 3 weeks of abstinence, fraction 2 correlated to MOPEG levels. This study suggests that endorphin systems are affected during alcohol intoxication and withdrawal in alcoholics.     

Hyperparathyroidism in the elderly.

Primary hyperparathyroidism was studied in a well-defined geriatric population of 1129 individuals during a three-month interval. Primary hyperparathyroidism was diagnosed in 1.5%. The diagnosis was based on a morphologic and biochemic basis. From clinical material consisting of 400 patients treated surgically for primary hyperparathyroidism during a ten-year period, 158 patients (38%) above the age of 64 were studied. At the preoperative evaluation, neuromuscular symptoms were present in 80%, renal insufficiency and kidney stones in each 16%, constipation and/or anorexia in 38%. Ten per cent were considered asymptomatic. In 80% the primary hyperparathyroidism was caused by a solitary adenoma. Ninety-four per cent became normocalcemic following the operation. Consistent hypocalcemia requiring vitamin-D treatment occurred in 3%, and 2% had a persisting hypercalcemia or later recurrence. The therapeutic effect on the neuromuscular symptoms, constipation, anorexia, and renal stone formation was considered good or fair in most of the cases. Primary hyperparathyroidism in the elderly occurs with a high prevalence. It can be treated successfully by surgical therapy with a low cost of morbidity, mortality, and medical care.     

Contrast sensitivity in 10 year old preterm and full term children: a population based study

AIMS: To determine the contrast sensitivity (CS) in 10 year old prematurely born children, previously included in a population based study on the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), and in full term controls. METHODS: This study included 205 prematurely born children and 215 children born at term, from the same geographical area and study period. CS was assessed monocularly with the Vistech 6500 test at five spatial frequencies (1.5-18 cycles/deg). RESULTS: Prematurely born children had statistically significant lower CS at all frequencies, compared to full term ones. The mean differences in logarithmic CS were 0.03 (1.5 cycles/deg), 0.09 (3 cycles/deg), 0.10 (6 cycles/deg), 0.12 (12 cycles/deg), and 0.19 (18 cycles/deg). Even when the children with ROP and neurological disorders were excluded there was a difference between the two groups. Children who had been treated with cryotherapy had the lowest CS. CONCLUSION: CS was lower in 10 year old prematurely born children than in full term ones of the same age. Whether this finding affects their visual function in daily life is uncertain.     

Successful ABO-incompatible liver transplantation using A2 donors

INTRODUCTION: The longer waiting time for a liver graft among patients with blood group O makes it necessary to expand the donor pool for these patients. We herein have reported our experience with ABO-incompatible liver transplantation using A(2) donors to blood group O recipients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1996 to 2005, 10 adult blood group O recipients received 10 A(2) cadaveric grafts. Mean recipient age was 52 +/- 7.7 years (mean +/- SD). The initial immunosuppression was induction with antithymocyte globulin (n = 2), interleukin-2-receptor antagonists (n = 3), or anti-CD20 antibody (rituximab, n = 1), followed by a tacrolimus-based protocol. No preoperative plasmapheresis, immunoadsorption, or splenectomies were performed. RESULTS: Patient and graft survival was 10/10 and 8/10, respectively, at 8.5 months median follow-up (range 10 days to 109 months). Two patients were retransplanted because of bacterial arteritis (n = 1) and portal vein thrombosis (n = 1). The six acute rejections, which occurred in four patients, were all reversed by steroids or increased tacrolimus dosages. The pretransplant anti-A titers against A(1) red blood cells were 1:128 (NaCl technique) and 1:8 to 1024 (IAT technique). The maximum postoperative titers were 1:64 to 4000 (NaCl) and 1:256 to 32000 (IAT). CONCLUSION: The favorable outcome of A(2) to O grafting, with a patient survival of 10/10 and graft survival of 8/10, makes it possible to consider this blood group combination also in nonurgent situations. There was no hyperacute rejection or increased rate of rejections. Anti-A/B titer changes seem to not play a significant role in the monitoring of A(2) to O liver transplantation.     

Influence of pyrazole on ethanol determination with the automated ADH method

Summary It has been demonstrated that the contamination of blood samples with pyrazole will disturb automated enzymatic determinations of ethanol by methods involving the use of YADH, if the sample is not distilled. Determination of ethanol by gas liquid chromatography, the Widmark method or by the ultramicro destination enzymatic method for ethanol analysis (AA-UMDE) according to Buijten were not disturbed by the presence of pyrazole. Contamination of samples with 4-iodo-pyrazole has not been found to disturb ethanol determinations by any method.

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Zusammenfassung Es wurde die Kontamination der Blutprobe mit Pyrazol in wäßrigen Lösung als Salbe verarbeitet sowie als 4-Iodo-Pyrazol-Lösung appliziert überprüft. Bei der Anwendung der Hefe-ADH zur automatisierten enzymatischen Blutalkoholbestimmung ohne Destillationsverfahren treten Störungen ein. Die Anwendung der Gas-chromatographischen Methode, des Widmark-Verfahrens sowie der enzymatischen Ultramikromethode nach Buijten verursacht keine Beeinflussung durch Pyrazol-Beimischung. Die Bestimmungen des Blutalkohols mittels dieser Methoden wurden nach Kontamination mit 4-Iodo-Pyrazol nicht beeinflußt. Auf die mögliche forensische Bedeutung wird hingewiesen.

     

Age–Dependent Effects of Ethanol on Central Monoamine Synthesis in the Male Rat

Abstract: In the present study, the effect of ethanol on central monoamine synthesis in developing and adult male rats was studied by measuring the accumulation of DOPA and 5–hydrotryptophan after inhibition of aromatic amino acid decarboxylase. Before adolescence, ethanol caused a decrease of DOPA accumulation in the whole rat brain, while after adolescence ethanol increased the DOPA synthesis. Ethanol had no effect on the serotonin synthesis at any of the ages studied. It is suggested that hormonal events occuring during puberty may be of importance for the stimulatory properties of ethanol observed at adult age