Hydrogen Peroxide Toxicity and Detoxification in the Erythrocytes of Newborn Infants

The deleterious effects on erythrocytes of low steady-state concentrations ofH₂O₂ in vitro have been compared in samples from full-term and premature infants and adults. Methemoglobin and Heinz bodies were formed to a greaterdegree in the intact erythrocytes of the young subjects. In the absence ofprotective enzymes, however, the extent of oxidation was similar in hemoglobin prepared from cord blood and from adult blood, respectively.

Activity of the enzymes involved in the detoxification of H₂O₂ has beenmeasured in the red blood cells of the aforementioned groups of subjects.Of note was the finding of significantly decreased activity of glutathione peroxidase in the full-term newborn and premature infants.

These findings of increased toxicity from H₂O₂ and decreased efficiencyof the detoxification mechanisms are considered to have bearing on the susceptibility of young subjects to drug-induced hemolytic anemia.

Submitted on June 24, 1966 Accepted on October 13, 1966     

Psychiatric Disorder in Medical In-patients

Four hundred and fifty-three general medical in-patients werescreened for mood disorder (anxiety and depression), organicmental states and alcohol problems. Using the Present StateExamination, affective disorder was identified in 14.6 per cent,being especially common in younger women. Organic psychiatricdisorder was very common in the elderly, occurring in 31 percent of those over 70 years, and 18 per cent of men and 4 percent of women admitted to a drink problem. Mood disorder was not related to the type or severity of physicalillness, but was significantly associated with previous psychiatrichistory and social problems. Two-thirds of those with mood disorderon admission who were still alive four months after dischargewere improved. House officers and family doctors identifiedapproximately half the cases of depression and anxiety, buthouse officers were no more likely to recognise the more severecases than the milder ones. Organic psychiatric disorder wasoften missed, alcohol problems less so.     

THE SCHOOL AGED CHILD WITH MULTIPLE MINIMAL HANDICAPS

This paper summarizes the author's experience with the Multiple Minimal Handicaps in children. The purpose of the paper is to alert the practitioner to this syndrome and to provide information which enables its early detection and corrective management. The condition is not yet widely recognized in Australia, although it is of great practical and theoretical interest. It is important in language and reading disabilities, and as a factor in school failure, and its significance in the development of serious personality disorders requires further systematic study.     

The Choice of Home Birth in a Metropolitan County in Arizona

Sixty-nine women who chose to have home births were interviewed to determine characteristics of this population, to identify factors influencing their decision to have home births, and to find out what other decisions were made to facilitate the experience. The results show that desire for a more personal atmosphere, negative attitudes toward hospitals, and cost were the factors given most often for choosing home birth, and that all women in the study sample would repeat their home birth experiences if the opportunity arose. In the discussion section, the choice of a home birth is viewed as an adaptive strategy—a mechanism for satisfying unmet needs experienced by mothers confronted with hospital rules and regulations. Implications for hospital obstetrics and nonhospital births are discussed.     

Inflammatory Response of Mouse Skin Exposed to the Very Potent Carcinogen Dibenzo[a,l]pyrene: A Model for Tumor Promotion

The potent carcinogenicity of dibenzo[a,l]pyrene in mouse skinis associated with an inflammation unique among polycyclic aromatichydrocarbons and expressed as erythema. The time course of erythemaand the associated histological events in the skin of femaleSENCAR mice were determined after a single application of 6.25–200nmol dibenzo[a,l]pyrene or selected metabolites. Dibenzo[a,l]pyreneand dibenzo[a,l]pyrene-11,12-dihydrodiol, precursor to the bay-regiondiol epoxide, induced an erythema first present 5–6 daysafter treatment Dibenzo[a,l]pyrene-8,9-dihy-drodiol and otherdibenzo[a,l]pyrene metabolites, however, did not induce erythema.These findings suggest a central role for the bay-region diolepoxide in the induction of the observed inflammation. The intensityand duration of erythema were dose-dependent, whereas the delayedappearance of erythema was constant and dose-independent. Theseresults suggest induction of an immune hypersensitivity by dibenzo[a,l]pyreneand its 11,12-dihydrodiol. Histological changes in the skinwere consistent with a contact hypersensitivity reaction andincluded, in association with erythema, epidermal hyperplasiaand the presence of mononuclear leukocytes in the dermis. Animalswere tested for dibenzo[a,l]-pyrene-induced contact hypersensitivity.Female SENCAR mice were treated with a single dermal applicationof dibenzo[a,l]pyrene or 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene. Fivedays later, the animals were challenged with a single applicationof dibenzo[a,l]pyrene or 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene to theear pinna. Ear swelling exhibited features of a contact hypersensitivityreaction, including (1) delayed appearance after challenge,(2) noninducibility in animals not previously exposed to chemicalsensitizer, and (3) chemical specificity. The results suggestthat dibenzo[a,l]pyrene induces, via its bay-region diol epoxide,a contact hypersensitivity reaction that may promote tumor developmentand thereby enhance carcinogenic potency.     

Mania and Cortical Lewy Body Dementia

A case of mania occurring after the onset of cortical Lewy body dementia is described in a lady with no family history or previous history of affective disorder. It is proposed that cortical Lewy body dementia should be considered as a cause of secondary mania. The difficulties of treating mania in this context are discussed.     

Parent Influences in the Transmission of Eating and Weight Related Values and Behaviors

Early adolescent boys (n = 587) and girls (n = 619) and a parent completed questionnaires, that assessed child dieting behaviors, body dissatisfaction and tendency to overeat, child's current and ideal size, mother and father dieting, and encouragement of the child to diet.     

THE FDA REPORT ON INTRAOCULAR LENSES*

Clinical studies of intraocular lenses (IOLs) as investigational devices have been regulated in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since 9 February 1978. As of August 1982. data have been collected on more than one million IOLs implanted. During the last 12 months of the study, 409 000 IOLs were implanted. Visual acuity of 20/40 or better at one year after surgery was present in 85% of over 45 000 cases reviewed. Increasing patient age, surgical problems, postoperative complications, and adverse reactions were factors that reduced the visual acuity. The current trend in the USA is for implantation of posterior chamber and anterior chamber IOLs.     

Properties of a cleaved two-chain form of recombinant human growth hormone

Escherichia coli cells transformed with plasmids engineered for the expression of recombinant human growth hormone as a secreted product also produced a proteolytically cleaved form of rhGH. This variant is isolated at a high resolution anion exchange chromatography stage during the manufacturing process. The higher isoelectric point of this form is demonstrated by isoelectric focusing and chromatofocusing and the two-chain nature by tryptic mapping, N- and C-terminal sequence analyses, and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. These data indicate that the single site of cleavage is between Thr-142 and Tyr-143, in contrast to the two-chain variant isolated from human pituitary glands, which has a clip after residue Phe-139. The recombinant two-chain form was further characterized by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography at both acidic and basic pHs. The assay utilizing bicarbonate-containing mobile phases was determined to be the most efficient and sensitive method. The bioactivity of this two-chain form was measured by the in vivo rat weight gain assay and by the in vitro Nb2 cell bioassay. Its immunological similarity to intact one-chain rhGH was demonstrated with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.     

EFFECT OF PHENTOLAMINE ON THE METABOLIC RESPONSE TO GYNAECOLOGICAL SURGERY

The effect of the infusion of phentolamine 0.5 mg min^–1on the metabolic response to gynaecological surgery was investigated.In comparison with a control group of patients, phentolaminewas associated with a significant increase in plasma insulinconcentration after 30 and 60 min of surgery. The glycaemicresponse to surgery was decreased by -adrenergic blockade, butthis was only significant after 120 min of surgery. The hypotensionproduced by the administration of phentolamine was well tolerated.