Metabolism of [14C]arachidonic acid by polymorphonuclear leukocytes in patients with psoriasis

The formation of LTB4 and its omega-oxidation products 20-hydroxy- and 20-carboxy-LTB4 from exogenous [14C]arachidonic acid (AA) by neutrophils from 12 psoriatic patients and 10 healthy controls was investigated. Only a slight difference was detected in the mean amount of [14C]LTB4 produced. In contrast, the amounts of [14C]omega-oxidation products obtained from psoriatic PMN were 2.4-fold higher than the amounts from PMN of healthy controls. We conclude that in vitro, psoriatic PMN synthesize more LTB4 from exogenous AA than do PMN of healthy individuals and due to an efficient omega-oxidation system, the net release of LTB4 in both groups appears to be similar.     

Isocyanate exposure and hypersensitivity pneumonitis--report of a probable case and prevalence of specific immunoglobulin G antibodies among exposed individuals

A car painter experienced three episodes of a hypersensitivity pneumonitis-like disease after exposure to two-component acrylic lacquers with hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) as the curing agent. High titers of HDI-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibodies were found in the patient's serum by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In the ELISA, 5 to 10% of the sera from 455 isocyanate-exposed but asymptomatic workers were positive, depending on the criterion used for a positive test, whereas 0% of the sera from 157 unexposed referents was found to be positive. Among 10 subjects with isocyanate-induced asthma and isocyanate-specific IgE antibodies, 50% had specific IgG. It was concluded that the presence of isocyanate-specific IgG antibodies in serum is correlated with isocyanate exposure rather than with symptoms of isocyanate-induced disease.     

Calcium modulators of the anellated dihydropyridine type. Synthesis and pharmacologic action

The anellated dihydropyridines 4a-l can be gained by Hantzsch-like synthesis from 5,5-dimethylcyclohexanedione (1), the aromatic aldehydes 2a-l and methyl-beta-aminocrotonate (3). Cyclisation of the side chains with bromosuccinimide or pyridiniumbromideperbromide leads to the octahydrofuro[3,4-b]chinoline-diones 4m-p. Structures of type 4 are characterized by the spectroscopic data. Positive inotropic effects, caused by calcium agonism, are exerted by the tested substances at the isolated, electrically stimulated left guinea pig atrium, 4j being the most potent with an intrinsic activity of 0.79, compared with ethyl 4-[2-(difluoromethoxy)phenyl]-1, 4,5,7-tetrahydro-2-methyl-5-oxo-furo[3,4-b]pyridine-3-carboxylate. BaCl2-induced contractions at the guinea pig ileum are suppressed dose-dependently.     

Biological effects of pulsing electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) on ICR mice

Three experiments were performed to determine the biological effects of PEMFs (5-16 Gauss, induced voltage 1.2-13.5 mV) on ICR mice. Pregnant mice were exposed to PEMFs for 8 hrs/day between the 6th and 15th day of gestation (dg) in Exp. I, and for 24 hrs/day between 0 and 18 dg in Exp. II and III. Dams were sacrificed on 18 dg, and fetuses were examined for external, visceral and skeletal anomalies in Exp. I and II. In Exp. III, all animals spontaneously delivered and their offspring were examined for behavioral development. Dams exposed to PEMFs in Exp. II exhibited slightly decreased body weights on 5, 7-10 dg. In Exp. III, body weights of offspring exposed to PEMFs were increased on days 8-21, and behavioral development was transiently accelerated. In Exp. I-III, exposure to PEMFs during the gestation had no significant detrimental effects on the pregnancy, or prenatal and postnatal development.     

Synovial sarcoma of the hand—A literature study

Ninety cases of synovial sarcoma of the hand, including eight case reports have been described during the last fifty years, (1934-1984). 8.5% of all synovial sarcomata involve the hand, and affect predominantly individuals under the age of thirty. The five-year survival of these cases was 18% and the ten-year survival 9%.     

Hydrochlorothiazide-amiloride causes excessive urinary zinc excretion

Serum zinc levels and urinary zinc excretion were compared in 15 patients with essential hypertension taking chronically a combination of hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride as monotherapy, eight patients maintained with hydrochlorothiazide alone, and eight control subjects. Serum zinc values were statistically comparable in all three groups. However, urinary zinc excretion was abnormally elevated in the two patient groups. In the dosage used, amiloride did not have a zinc-sparing effect.     

Lack of effects of prenatal exposure to lidocaine on development of behavior in rats

The objective of this investigation was to study the effects of lidocaine upon postnatal development of the rat. Lidocaine, 6 mg/kg (21 mumol/kg), was given to a group of 12 rats. Injections were administered intramuscularly, bilaterally in the masseter muscles, once a day on days 10 and 11 of pregnancy. Twelve control rats were given physiologic saline. Clinical signs, mortality, body weight, and food consumption were recorded during pregnancy and lactation. The duration of gestation was also recorded. The development of the offspring was monitored by tests of spontaneous activity, nociception, learning ability, and physical development. No clinical signs of adverse reactions were seen in any of the groups. In the majority of the learning ability tests, the control and lidocaine-treated groups showed similar results. However, in the schedule of differential reinforcement of low rates of responding (DRL 20), the lidocaine-exposed males received more reinforcements than the controls and made fewer responses. In the tests of nociception, a significant difference between sexes was recorded, in that the females were more sensitive than the males in the shock-titration test. Physical development, as monitored by swimming ability and spontaneous activity, showed no inter-group difference. The present results indicate that prenatal exposure to lidocaine fails to result in postnatal impairment of the development of behavioral performance of a wide range of tasks.     

Metastatic bone disease from occult carcinoma: a profile

Summary To assess the general profile of metastatic bone disease from occult primary carcinoma, the records of 172 patients with skeletal metastases seen between 1965 and 1985 were reviewed. In 51 patients (30%), the origin of the primary could not be identified when bone metastases were first diagnosed. This group were predominantly male with a high incidence of spinal metastases, cord compression and pathological fractures, and a significantly shorter (P<0.1) survival compared with bony metastases when the primary was known. The site of the primary was established in 33 patients (65%), mostly at autopsy. Lung carcinoma was by far the most common primary tumour in 52% of the cases, while it accounted for only 7% of those with a diagnosed primary. We believe that the onset of bony metastases from an occult source must initially raise the possibility of lung carcinoma. If the primary remains undetected, it appears justifiable to assume it to be in the lung, since the probability of a missed lung tumour being responsible for the metastases is high.

---

Résumé Les auteurs ont revu les observations de 172 malades porteurs de métastases osseuses, vus entre 1965 et 1985, afin d'apprécier l'aspect général des métastases provenant d'un cancer primitif méconnu. Chez 51 malades (30%) l'origine du cancer primitif n'avait pu être découverte lors du diagnostic de métastase osseuse. Ce groupe était à prédominance masculine, comportant un nombre élevé d'atteintes vertébrales, de compressions médullaires et de fractures pathologiques, et un taux de survie significativement plus court (P<0,1) comparativement à celui des métastases d'un cancer primitif connu. La localisation du cancer primitif a été découverte dans 33 cas (65%), la plupart du temps à l'autopsie. Le cancer du poumon était le plus fréquemment en cause (52%), alors qu'il n'était responsable que de 7% des cas quand le cancer primitif était connu. Il semble que l'apparition de métastases osseuses d'origine inconnue doive faire évoquer d'emblée la possibilité d'un cancer du poumon. Si le cancer primitif ne peut être découvert il est vraisemblable qu'il siège au niveau du poumon, la probabilité d'un cancer du poumon méconnu, responsable des métastases, étant élevée.

---

---

Presented in part at the International Symposium on Bone Metastases, Rome, Italy, June 1986