Prolonged occurrence of cocaine in human saliva and urine after chronic use

Cocaine was detected by immunoassay in saliva and urine of chronic cocaine addicts for 5-10 days during abstinence. Confirmation by a less sensitive but highly specific GC/MS assay of unmetabolized cocaine was successful in saliva through the first 24 h of collection and for the initial 4-5 days in urine. Cocaine saliva concentrations and subject scores for cocaine craving and depression declined during this time and correlated significantly. The presence of unmetabolized cocaine in these biofluids long after the last drug administration suggests that multiple dosing and high exposure to cocaine in man leads to accumulation in deep body compartments and subsequent slow release back into circulation and eventual excretion. The prolonged presence of cocaine in saliva and urine may have implications in testing for cocaine use and in treatment of cocaine withdrawal.     

Morphology and immunohistochemically-defined endocrine function of pancreatic islet cell tumours

Thirty pancreatic islet cell tumours were histologically classified and analysed for their possible peptide hormone content using the immunohistoperoxidase method. Seven tumours contained insulin, six tumours contained gastrin and eight tumours contained glucagon. One tumour contained all three hormones. In the insulin and gastrin-containing tumours, the cells were usually arranged in solid nests of cells, with tubular and acinar formations in about half the cases. In the glucagon-containing tumours the cells were mainly arranged in anastomosing ribbons consisting of one of two layers of small cells. Most of the hormone-containing tumours were argyrophilic using Grimelius' silver reaction. All but one of the glucagon-containing tumours were incidental findings at autopsy. About half of the other tumours had metastasized. It is concluded that a relation exists between the histological pattern of growth and immunohistochemically defined endocrine function of pancreatic islet cell tumours.     

Pituitary cysts and concretions in the gasterosteidae (Teleostei)

Pituitary cysts in the nine-spined stickleback, Pungitius pungitius, were found in the prolactin zone of the rostral pars distalis in 22 per cent of fish caught in May from freshwater, field-drainage ditches near Cardiff, Wales. They were not associated solely with some special environmental or hereditary factor in the Welsh population, for they were also present in 6 per cent of fish caught at a similar time of year in a freshwater lake at Manitoba, Canada. Although the pituitaries of other sticklebacks (Culaea inconstans, Apeltes quadracus and Gasterosteus wheatlandi) are similar to that of P. pungitius, they did not develop large cysts. There were no cysts at all in A. quadracus, and none greater than 50 microns in diameter in C. inconstans and G. wheatlandi. A minority of P. pungitius (less than 1 per cent) develop concretions either within the pituitary ("intraglandular") or in the surrounding capsule ("capsular"). Most of the concretions are filled with a strongly staining and laminated colloid. They are present in males and females, adults and juveniles, in fish killed soon after capture and in animals adapted to laboratory conditions. As far as we are aware, this is the first record of such structures in lower vertebrates.     

Treatment of scleroma with ceforanide

Three patients with rhinoscleroma who presented with nasal and pharyngeal symptoms are described. Treatment with ceforanide, a new second-generation cephalosporin with high intrinsic activity against Klebsiella, and possessing a long half-life, was used as outpatient treatment. A total of 120 g of ceforanide was administered over a period of two months. All three patients showed signs of clinical improvement, but only two of three became bacteriologically sterile at the end of two months; one patient relapsed bacteriologically but not clinically, once the drug was discontinued. Second- and third-generation cephalosporins appear to have excellent activity against the causative pathogens of rhinoscleroma. Because of the impracticality of administering these agents parenterally over prolonged periods of time, there is a need for the development of an oral cephalosporin with similar intrinsic activity and beta-lactamase stability. Perhaps the novel beta-lactam antibiotics such as the penems and monobactams, some of which can be administered orally, will answer that need.     

Computed tomography of the normal radioulnar joints

Computed tomography followed by sectional radiography and photography as performed on eight cadaveric specimens in order to define the anatomy and normal motion of both the proximal and the distal radioulnar articulations. Osseous landmarks were defined that allowed measurement of rotation at the glenohumeral, proximal radioulnar and distal radioulnar joints as well as rotation between humerus and radius and between humerus and ulna. Findings included the absence of independent ulnar rotation and the presence of normal translatory motion at the distal radioulnar articulation that may be misinterpreted as evidence of subluxation of the distal ulna.     

A specific radioimmunoassay for the opioid peptide dynorphin B in neural tissues

Dynorphin-32 was recently isolated from porcine pituitary and shown to consist of dynorphin A (the originally isolated dynorphin heptadecapeptide) at the amino terminus, followed by Lys-Arg (a putative signal for proteolytic cleavage) and then a tridecapeptide, dynorphin B, at the carboxyl terminus. Dynorphin B, like dynorphin A, contains leucine enkephalin. The present report describes and validates a radioimmunoassay for dynorphin B using an antiserum, “13S”, that does not crossreact with other known opioid peptides. Immunoreactive dynorphin B was estimated in rat and porcine neural tissues and found to be 2–3 fold higher than reported values for dynorphin A. Distribution based on tissue concentration was similar to that of dynorphin A, with very high concentrations in neurointermediate pituitary. Small quantities of antiserum “13S” are available to investigators upon request.     

Contact highs and urinary cannabinoid excretion after passive exposure to marijuana smoke

Five healthy men were passively exposed under pre- and postplacebo controlled conditions to sidestream smoke from four and 16 standard marijuana cigarettes (2.8% delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol [delta-9-THC]) for 1 hour each day for 6 consecutive days. Subjective effects produced by the 16-cigarette exposure conditions were similar to those observed after active smoking of one 2.8% delta-9-THC marijuana cigarette. Effects after the four-cigarette condition were less pronounced. Concurrent physiologic measurements showed no clear trends or effects of smoke exposure for either condition. Daily mean plasma levels of delta-9-THC ranged from 2.4 to 7.4 ng/ml with an individual high of 18.8 ng/ml for the 16-cigarette condition. With the use of EMIT cannabinoid assays with 20 ng/ml (EMIT 20) and 100 ng/ml (EMIT 100) cutoffs, urines positive per subject under the four- and 16-cigarette passive exposure conditions were 4.6 +/- 2.2 and 35.2 +/- 3.8, respectively, for the EMIT 20 and 0.0 and 1.0 +/- 0.8, respectively, for the EMIT 100 assay. From the results of these studies, caution is clearly indicated for individuals who might be substantially exposed to heavy marijuana cigarette smoke environments and for those interpreting marijuana screening data.     

DOES TESTOSTERONE INFLUENCE THE POST-STIMULATORY LEVELS OF CALCITONIN IN NORMAL MEN?

We have analysed the sex difference of calcitonin (CT) levels after combined stimulation with calcium and pentagastrin (Ca-PG) in the normal population, and the relationship of the post-stimulatory CT levels with free testosterone (FT). We have also studied the correlation between CT values and the anthropometric parameters, body mass index (BMI) and body surface area (BS), as well as the relationship between CT levels and calcium. A positive and statistically significant correlation was found between post-stimulatory CT and the increment over the base-line of CT and basal FT, and with the anthropometric parameters. However, the increment of CT and the peak values of CT did not have any significant correlation with the Ca levels (basal or post-stimulation). We conclude that the enhanced CT response found in normal men compared to normal women is at least partially determined by the higher testosterone levels found among normal men.