Trace element status in multiple sclerosis

We compared trace element status in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients (n = 27) with and without treatment with corticosteroids and groups of healthy subjects. Concentrations of plasma ceruloplasmin, selenium, and zinc and erythrocyte (RBC) glutathione peroxidase, Se, and Zn were similar in all groups. RBC copper concentrations were significantly lower in MS patients than in control subjects (mean +/- SEM: 0.048 +/- 0.005 vs 0.060 +/- 0.002 mumol/g Hb) because of decreased RBC Cu with steroid therapy. RBC Zn-Cu ratios were significantly higher (14.9 +/- 1.0 vs 10.1 +/- 0.3) in MS patients than in control subjects, differing in both groups of MS patients. In MS and control subjects, RBC Cu correlated significantly with RBC Zn (r = 0.56, 0.49). Disease acuity and disability had no effect on trace-mineral status. These data suggest that in MS there is altered Cu and Zn homeostasis that may cause or result from the disease and is influenced by corticosteroid therapy. Systemic trace element alterations might provide clinically useful markers of MS.     

Comparison of potency of human carcinogens: vinyl chloride, chloromethylmethyl ether and bis(chloromethyl)ether

The alpha-chloroether carcinogen chloromethylmethyl ether (CME) and its impurity bis(chloromethyl)ether (BCME) are direct-acting alkylating agents. Vinyl chloride (VC) is an indirect-acting carcinogen but its accepted carcinogenic intermediate, chloroethylene oxide, is also an alpha-chloroether. Both CME-BCME and VC have been in industrial use since about 1950. Hence, they were selected for comparison of potency as human carcinogens using numerous epidemiologic reports. There were 115 deaths due to angiosarcoma of the liver among several hundred thousand VC-exposed workers on the basis of reports from 10 countries during 1955 and 1984. Reports from five countries cited a total of 87 respiratory cancer deaths among only 3024 CME-BCME-exposed workers. If a recent court settlement in the United States is taken into account, the number of respiratory cancer deaths due to CME-BCME rises to 117. On the basis of these numbers of cancer deaths, and the levels and durations of exposure, it is concluded that VC is a weak human carcinogen compared to CME-BCME.     

Role of burst activity in attribute detection by visual neurons of the cat cortex

The temporal structure of neuronal responses has been investigated in the Clare-Bishop area of the cat cortex. Stationary and moving slit and moving spot have been used for stimulation. It was found that orientational and directional selectivity was determined mainly by the number of clustered impulses and the number of clusters. A closed-loop model for features detection which is able to interpret clustered activity is presented.     

Double-outlet right ventricle and severe systemic outflow tract hypoplasia

Double-outlet right ventricle and severe systemic outflow tract hypoplasia comprises a subset of patients in whom total correction or palliation requires complex surgical procedures in the neonatal period. Our experience with 3 patients illustrates the difficulties associated with treatment and suggests possible surgical options for this otherwise lethal variant of the Taussig-Bing syndrome.     

Vagotomy in the surgery of perforated pyloroduodenal ulcer

Under analysis are results of the surgical treatment of 300 patients with perforating pyloroduodenal ulcers. The correct selection of patients for the operation gives best nearest and especially long-term results of vagotomy with antrum resection. The amount of recurrences after a simple suturing of the ulcer in 164 patients was 50%, while after vagotomy with/without various draining operations it was 3.7%. Postoperative lethality after vagotomy was not great, long-term results being considerably better than after the operations of simple suturing the ulcer.     

Similar dose responsiveness of hepatic glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis to glucagon in vivo

This study was undertaken to determine whether the dose-dependent effect of glucagon on gluconeogenesis parallels its effect on hepatic glycogenolysis in conscious overnight-fasted dogs. Endogenous insulin and glucagon secretion were inhibited by somatostatin (0.8 micrograms X kg-1 X min-1), and intraportal replacement infusions of insulin (213 +/- 28 microU X kg-1 X min-1) and glucagon (0.65 ng X kg-1 X min-1) were given to maintain basal hormone concentrations for 2 h (12 +/- 2 microU/ml and 108 +/- 23 pg/ml, respectively). The glucagon infusion was then increased 2-, 4-, 8-, or 12-fold for 3 h, whereas the rate of insulin infusion was left unchanged. Glucose production (GP) was determined with 3-[3H]glucose, and gluconeogenesis (GNG) was assessed with tracer (U-[14C]alanine conversion to [14C]glucose) and arteriovenous difference (hepatic fractional extraction of alanine, FEA) techniques. Increases in plasma glucagon of 53 +/- 8, 199 +/- 48, 402 +/- 28, and 697 +/- 149 pg/ml resulted in initial (15-30 min) increases in GP of 1.1 +/- 0.4 (N = 4), 4.9 +/- 0.5 (N = 4), 6.5 +/- 0.6 (N = 6), and 7.7 +/- 1.4 (N = 4) mg X kg-1 X min-1, respectively; increases in GNG (approximately 3 h) of 48 +/- 19, 151 +/- 50, 161 +/- 25, and 157 +/- 7%, respectively; and increases in FEA (3 h) of 0.14 +/- 0.07, 0.37 +/- 0.05, 0.42 +/- 0.04, and 0.40 +/- 0.17, respectively. In conclusion, GNG and glycogenolysis were similarly sensitive to stimulation by glucagon in vivo, and the dose-response curves were markedly parallel.     

Psychiatric morbidity in Hobart's dependent aged

Psychiatric morbidity in the dependent aged was studied in the elderly population of Hobart's nursing homes and long-stay hospitals. Only patients with home addresses in Hobart and who were admitted for the first time aged 70 years or over were included. Three hundred and twelve persons were interviewed with a standard interview, and an informant was interviewed when appropriate. The medical records were searched for diagnoses and drug treatments. Physical disability was rated on an ad hoc scale. Comparisons were made of the prevalence of dementia, depression and anxiety in different types of unit, and between these and two domiciliary samples, one of which received domiciliary nursing services (n = 100) and the other not (n = 100). The differential use of institutions by men and women, and a possible sex difference in the prevalence of dementia is discussed.     

Early pharmacokinetics and clinical effects of oral D-amphetamine in normal subjects

Seven normal subjects received 0.25 mg/kg D-amphetamine orally, both after an overnight fast and again after a standard breakfast. Plasma levels, subjective and cardiovascular effects, and observer-rated activation were assessed hourly for 5 hr. Food did not affect amphetamine levels. Plasma levels peaked at 2-3 hr. Maximum cardiovascular effects generally occurred at 1 hr, whereas maximum behavioral and subjective effects occurred at 2 hr. Subjective and behavioral effects declined thereafter, in spite of substantial amphetamine levels. A separate group of 8 subjects received 0.5 mg/kg D-amphetamine orally. Plasma levels, subjective and cardiovascular effects, and activation ratings were assessed hourly for 4 hr. Maximum plasma levels were approximately twice those seen in the first group. In this case, plasma levels peaked at 3-4 hr; blood pressure and subjective and behavioral effects were all maximal at 2-3 hr and were declining by 4 hr, in spite of stable or rising plasma levels.     

Activating effect of substance P on nerve tissue in culture

The effect of substance P on organotypic culture of rat sympathetic ganglia and spinal cord was studied. Substance P was able to stimulate the fibre outgrowth from explant, to increase the numbers of glial and fibroblasttypic cells in ganglia growth zone. The effect was observed in the range from 10(-5) to 10(-12) M (for sympathetic ganglia) and from 10(-5) to 10(-14) M (for spinal cord culture). It is suggested that substance P can be used as a nonspecific growth factor for peripheral and central nervous tissue.