Bradykinin-induced vasoconstriction of rat mesenteric arteries precontracted with noradrenaline.

1. Administration of bradykinin caused dose-dependent vasoconstriction in rat isolated perfused mesenteric arteries precontracted with noradrenaline. 2. The vasoconstrictor response was not mediated by BK1-bradykinin receptors. 3. Inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase with indomethacin, aspirin or meclofenamate abolished the vasoconstrictor effect of bradykinin, showing that a member of the arachidonic acid cascade may be involved. 4. Inhibitors of thromboxane synthesis (imidazole and UK 38485) did not affect or only reduced the bradykinin-induced vasoconstriction. 5. The endoperoxide H2/thromboxane A2 receptor antagonist SQ 29548 significantly reduced the vasoconstrictor effect of bradykinin, but did not affect the vasoconstrictor response to noradrenaline, adrenaline, vasopressin, 5-hydroxytryptamine or prostaglandins. 6. The eicosanoid(s) that mediate bradykinin-induced vasoconstriction appear to be synthesized outside the arterial endothelium. 7. The data suggest that the vasoconstrictor effect of bradykinin in the rat isolated mesenteric artery is mediated by vasoconstrictor arachidonic acid metabolites including the cyclic endoperoxides and/or the thromboxanes.     

Bovine colostrum immunoglobulin concentrate for cryptosporidiosis in AIDS.

Lactobin-R is a commercial hyperimmune bovine colostrum with potent anticryptosporidial activity. It was administered to a 4 year old child with AIDS and severe diarrhoea associated with cryptosporidiosis. There was significant clinical improvement in the diarrhoea and permanent elimination of the parasite from the gut as assessed through serial jejunal biopsy and stool specimens.     

The response of general surgeons to HIV in England and Wales.

The prevalence of HIV in the UK has been estimated to be 1 in 1000 of the population. Surgeons are at particular risk of occupational transmission from infected blood. To determine the effect of HIV on surgical practice we sent a questionnaire to 681 general surgeons in England and Wales; 450 replied (66%). Of those who replied, 42% were aware of having operated on an HIV-infected patient at least once, and 28 had recognised self-injury in such circumstances; 79% attempted to identify HIV-infected patients preoperatively, though many depended on clinical suspicion alone, which is known to be unreliable. Of those who had operated on a seropositive patient, 90% reported taking special precautions to avoid blood contact and minimise sharps injuries for such cases. The majority wore double gloves, eye protection and fluid-resistant gowns, but only a minority reported changes in surgical technique. Half had made no changes in procedures or technique when operating on patients not identified as being at risk of HIV infection. Among a wide variety of comments made by the surgeons, the commonest was a call for facilitation of HIV testing prior to surgery. This survey indicates that surgery on HIV-infected patients is not restricted to specialist centres. We review the means of identifying HIV-infected patients, the precautions that can be taken to minimise HIV transmission during surgery, and the possible influences of HIV status on surgical decisions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

九洲港货运港区的鼠密度调查、及灭鼠效果观察

本文报道了1995年春对九洲港货运港区的鼠密度和灭鼠效果调查，结果鼠密度投药后(4．1％)比投药前(24．6％)有明显下降，灭鼠率达83．3％；根据九洲港货运港区鼠患情况，提出防鼠灭鼠建议。     

药物构效关系研究与药物设计中常用计算机软件

分子力学、量子化学和分子图形学是研究有机药物分子电子特性、空间性质及其与受体相互作用的有力工具。现扼要介绍国内外较常用的量子化学和分子力学及分子图形学有关计算机程序的应用特性。