Urinary Excretion of I131-Diodrast Injected Intraventricularly in Communicating Hydrocephalus and Aqueduct Stenosis

Nine cases of expansive infantile hydro-cephalus were investigated by injecting Small amounts of I¹³¹-Diodrast intra-ventricularly. Urinary excretion of the tracer was determined during the first 4-5 hours after injection. The cumulative excretion of Diodrast from the C.S.F. differs in cases with communicating hydrocephalus from those with stenosis of the aqueduct. The investigation is rapid and easily performed and has not produced any side effects.     

On the inhibitory action of DFP and PMSF on histamine release from isolated rat mast cells

Conclusion The present results furnish an alternative explanation to the inhibition of histamine release induced by so-called esterase inhibitors. The inhibition can well be explained on the basis that these agents inhibit metabolic energy production necessary for the coupling of stimulation to secretion in the rat mast cells.The financial support of the Danish Medical Research Council (Grant No. 512-5044) and Hesselman's Foundation, Sweden, is gratefully acknowledged.     

Swelling as a possible mechanism of action of X537A to release histamine from rat mast cells

Conclusions The present results strengthen the view that the mechanism of histamine release induced by X537A is different from that induced by agents which depend on calcium and metabolic energy for their action. The swelling of the cells seems to be inherent in the secretory action of X537A on rat mast cells. The fact that X537A is a carrier of monovalent cations [4] can well explain its swelling action and might be the ultimate reason for release. The possibility of a more active role of X537A as an aminophore [4] must be taken into account and is under further investigation.     

Effect of bilateral cervical vagotomy on balloon-induced lower esophageal sphincter relaxation in the dog.

A study was performed in dogs to determine whether balloon distension within the striated muscle esophagus induces lower esophageal sphincter relaxation via a local intramural pathway or a central neural pathway. Bilateral vagosympathetic nerve blockade was produced by cooling the nerve trunks isolated in skin loops on either side of the neck. Sphincter pressure was measured before and during intraesophageal balloon distension, with and without nerve blockade. With the vagosympathetic nerves intact, balloon distension produced sphincter relaxation, sphincter shortening, and orad movement of the sphincter. The threshold for these responses increased progressively as distension was applied at more proximal levels. Bilateral vagosympathetic nerve blockade abolished all the lower esophageal sphincter responses to distension at any level within the esophagus, whether or not sphincter pressure was raised by pentagastrin infusion. Therefore, lower esophageal sphincter relaxation induced by distension of the dog striated muscle esophagus requires a central nervous system connection via the vagosympathetic nerve trunks. There is no direct intramural pathway for this responses in the dog.     

A prospective study of the active management of labor in women of high parity

High parity has been suggested as contra-indication for the use of oxytocin stimulation in labor. The aim of our study was to prospectively evaluate a protocol of oxytocin administration in 130 consecutive low-risk patients having their sixth or subsequent delivery. Induction of labor failed only in 5 cases. No adverse effect on maternal and perinatal outcome was found. We conclude that with the introduction of electronic fetal monitoring and direct recording of uterine activity, oxytocin can be safely used for low-risk grand multiparae.     

Alanine aminotransferase as a marker of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in relation to type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease

For a long time, hepatic steatosis was believed to be a benign condition. Only recently, liver steatosis, also termed non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), has gained much interest. In most cases of NAFLD, a condition regarded as the hepatic component of the metabolic syndrome, the enzyme alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is elevated and consequently has been used as a marker for NAFLD. More recently, several cross-sectional and prospective studies have demonstrated associations of this liver enzyme with features of the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus. This review discusses the biochemical and metabolic properties of ALT, its applicability as a marker of NAFLD and describes its possible role in the pathogenesis of the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus and subsequent cardiovascular disease. In addition, treatment strategies to ameliorate NAFLD and the associated risks are discussed.