An evaluation of two indirect methods of blood pressure measurement in ill patients

Direct (intraarterial) and two indirect (using a mercury sphygmomanometer [MS] and an automatic [auscultatory] device) methods of blood pressure measurement were compared in intensive care patients (N = 32). One trained observer blind to both automatic and direct measurements obtained all indirect MS measurements. All direct and indirect measurements were made on the same arm. Direct measurements were obtained from 10-second strip chart recordings. In normotensive patients both indirect measurements of systolic blood pressure (SBP) underestimated the direct SBP; however, only the SBP value obtained with the automatic device (106 mm Hg) was significantly different, p less than .05, from the direct SBP value (120 mm Hg). No significant difference was noted between methods in measurement of normotensive diastolic blood pressure. In hypertensive patients direct SBP was significantly greater, p less than .05, from both values obtained by indirect measurement. In patients without hypotension the automatic device may be substituted for the MS and direct blood pressure methods. The automatic device may offer the advantage of decreasing observer bias and variability in blood pressure measurement.     

Diagnosis of Ewing sarcoma of the thoracic spine--differential diagnostic difficulties

Spinal Ewing's sarcomas are rare and cause problems in differential diagnosis. The radiologic, nuclear medicine and CT findings in two children with histologically proven Ewing's sarcoma are presented and problems in differential diagnosis discussed. Biopsy should be done early.     

NEUROTROPIN IMMUNOSTIMULATING ACTION ON IMMUNOCOMPETENT CELLS

Neurotropin (NSP) is an extract isolated from the skin of rabbits inoculated with vaccinia virus. The present study examines the possible action of NSP on the number and function of immunocompe tent cells in mice. The experiment showed that NSP had no effect on both T and B lymphocytes of nor- malimmunized mouse spleen. The degree of plaque forming cell reaction and titre of specific antibody showed no significant differences when the NSP treated group and controls were compared. How- ever, NSP exhibited promotive effect on specific antigen binding cells in the early stage of immune responses. It was also noted that the rosette forming capacity of human T lymphocytes in vitro was restor- ed markedly by NSP. These results suggest that NSP possesses certain immunostimulating activity, particularly on the specific antigen binding cells and human T lymphocytes.     

A nuclear protein associated with human cancer cells binds preferentially to a human repetitive DNA sequence.

A protein (Rp66) of 66 kDa was shown by DNA-binding protein blot assay to bind to a human repetitive DNA sequence (low-repeat sequence; LRS) in each of 10 transformed human cell lines examined. This protein-DNA interaction was not observed in 11 normal human cell cultures or in the Chinese hamster cell line CHO-K1. Gel retardation assay confirmed the specificity of the protein-DNA binding between Rp66 and LRS. In a histiocytic lymphoma human cell line, U937, that can be induced to differentiate in the presence of phorbol ester, this binding disappeared after cell differentiation. These together with other results cited suggest a regulatory role for these repetitive sequences in the human genome, with particular application to cancer.     

Differential effects of scopolamine on nocturnal cortisol secretion, sleep architecture, and REM latency in normal volunteers: relation to sleep and cortisol abnormalities in depression

Scopolamine (SCOP) (3.0 mu/kg and 6.0 micrograms/kg) and saline were administered intramuscularly at 11:00 PM to eight normal male volunteers in a randomized design, and the effects on the sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) and nocturnal cortisol secretion (via blood sampling every 15 min) were evaluated. Compared to saline, SCOP produced a significant dose-related delay in rapid eye movement (REM) latency. In contrast, neither dose of SCOP significantly affected nocturnal plasma cortisol concentrations. These results suggest that the central cholinergic system that regulates the onset of REM sleep is more sensitive to dysregulation than the cholinergic system that controls the degree of nocturnal cortisol secretion. If central cholinergic overactivity is responsible for both the REM sleep latency and cortisol abnormalities in depressed patients, then our findings with SCOP might help explain why the incidences of these abnormalities are different.