Noradrenalin and adrenalin content in the human myocardium after accidental and sudden death

To investigate the mechanisms of sudden death the authors determined the noradrenalin and adrenalin content in the myocardium of various parts of the heart by a fluorometric method; parallel determinations were made in the myocardium of persons dying accidentally. A heterotopic distribution of noradrenalin in the various parts of the heart after sudden death was found compared with its distribution after accidental death. Differences in the content of adrenalin and noradrenalin in the various parts of the heart of the two groups indicate that death was due to different mechanisms.Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Institute of Human Morphology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR A. P. Avtsyn.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 86, No. 8, pp. 153–156, August, 1978.     

Electron-autoradiographic study of RNA synthesis in epithelial cells of the renal tubules of albino rats poisoned with mercuric chloride

Department of Biology, Grodno Medical Institute. Department of Pathological Anatomy, A. V. Vishnevskii Institute of Surgery, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR D. S. Sarkisow.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 107, No. 3, pp. 357–360, March, 1989.     

Activation of the endothelium by IL-1 alpha and glucocorticoids results in major increase of complement C3 and factor B production and generation of C3a.

Constitutive secretion of complement C3 and factor B by the endothelial cell (EC) is lowered by therapeutic concentrations of glucocorticoids such as hydrocortisone or dexamethasone, whereas regulatory protein factor H production is increased by these hormones. In contrast, the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1 alpha has a stimulatory effect on C3 and factor B secretion by the endothelium and an inhibitory effect on factor H secretion. In this study, we examined the combined effect of IL-1 alpha and glucocorticoids on C3 and factor B expression by the endothelial cell. When dexamethasone or hydrocortisone were added to IL-1 alpha, significant potentialization of IL-1 alpha-induced stimulation of C3 and factor B production was observed, occurring at various concentrations of either stimuli. Dose-response experiments indicate that, in vitro, optimal concentrations are in the range of 10(-7) to 10(-5) M for dexamethasone and 50-200 U for IL-1 alpha. In contrast, dexamethasone counteracts, in an additive way, the inhibitory effect of IL-1 alpha on regulatory complement protein factor H production by EC. Such a potentialization between glucocorticoids and IL-1 alpha was not observed for another marker of endothelial activation, IL-1 alpha-induced stimulation of coagulation tissue factor expression. The association of glucocorticoids and IL-1 alpha therefore appears to be a specific and major stimulus for the secretion of complement C3 and factor B, two acute-phase proteins, by the endothelium. As a result of the in vitro endothelium stimulation by glucocorticoids and IL-1 alpha, C3a is generated in the vicinity of the endothelial cell. This study further suggests that complement activation, with its deleterious consequences, may result from the stimulation of endothelium in situations where high levels of IL-1 alpha and endogenous glucocorticoids coexist, such as in septic shock.     

Fluorescence polarization study of the rigor complexes formed at different degrees of saturation of actin filaments with myosin subfragment-1

Summary A serne residue located in the active site of myosin head (S1) was labelled by 9-anthroylnitrile, an amino group located in the central domain of S1 was labelled by 7-diethylamino-3-(4-isothio-cyanato-phenyl)-4-methylcoumarin, a cysteine residue located near the C-terminus of S1 was labelled by 5-[2-((iodoacetyl)-amino)ethyl]-amino-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (1,5-IAEDANS) and a cysteine residue located near the C-terminus of the alkali light chain 1 was labelled with iodoacetamido-tetramethyl-rhodamine. Polarization of fluorescence of S1 was measured in solution (where it indicated the mobility of actin-bound S1) and in myofibrils (where it indicated orientation of probes) to check whether the anisotropy of S1 labelled at different positions depended on the molar ratio S1:actin. In solution, when increasing amounts of actin were added to a fixed amount of labelled S1 (i.e. when myosin heads were initially in excess over actin), anisotropy saturated at 1 mol of S1 per 1 mol of actin. When increasing amounts of S1 were added to a fixed amount of F-actin (i.e. when actin was initially in excess over S1), the anisotropy saturated at 1 mol of S1 per 2 mols of actin. In myofibrils, orientation of S1 was different when S1 was added at nanomolar concentration (intrinsic actin was in excess over extrinsic S1) then when it was added at micromolar concentration (excess of S1 over actin). The fact that the anisotropy of S1 labelled at different positions depended on the molar ratio excluded the possibility that changes were confined to one part of the cross-bridge and supports our earlier proposal that the two rigor complexes which S1 can form with F-actin differ globally in conformation.     

Laparoscopic surgery in colorectal tumors

The authors describe their first experience with using less invasive laparoscopic methods in patients with tumors of the rectum and the colon. Twelve operative interventions were performed. The method and technique of endovideosurgical operations on the colon are described. The intraoperative and postoperative complications are analyzed. The authors not rich experience with performing laparoscopic interventions on the colon shows the necessity of stepwise and thorough mastering the method and of using strictly individual indications for such operations.     

Bronchoscopy in complex examination and treatment of patients with lung abscess

Lung abscess was diagnosed during a complex examination in 115 patients. All the patients had local treatment through the bronchoscope. Cleansing of the abscess cavity takes place 1,3 times quicker in the patients who were given laser irradiation in addition to sanitation bronchoscopy or to whom immunomodulators and antibiotics were introduced lymphotropically intrabronchially, than in those with usual sanitation. The administration of 20 ml of glycerol in the abscess cavity allowed cleansing of the cavity to be 2-3 times quicker.