Corticoidogenesis in Bufo arenarum H. I. In vitro biosynthesis of [3H]pregnenolone and [3H]corticosterone metabolites and of endogenous 3-oxo-4-ene intermediates at 28 degrees C and 37 degrees C

Sliced interrenal tissue from Bufo arenarum H. was incubated without exogenous substrate (to determine endogenous corticosterone (B) and progesterone), as well as in the presence of [3H]pregnenolone ([3H]Pre) and [3H]corticosterone, at 28 and at 37 degrees C. When yields of radiometabolites were analyzed as such, [3H]Pre at 28 degrees C was found to be a good precursor for 18-hydroxycorticosterone (18-HO-B), aldosterone (aldo), and an unknown N very similar but not equal to 19-hydroxycorticosterone. However, [3H]Pre at 28 degrees C was not a good precursor for corticosterone. When the same tritiated substrate was incubated at 37 degrees C, the yields of 18-HO-B and N diminished significantly, aldo remained as it was at 28 degrees C, and B increased. [3H]B was a poor precursor to aldo, 18-HO-B, and N, irrespective of incubation temperatures, but a good precursor to material with the mobility of 11-dehydro-B and an aldo-like compound X. Measurement of endogenous B and progesterone pools followed by calculations of specific activities lead to the conclusion that these differences should not be ascribed to artifactual competitions between precursor pools for enzyme systems. This species is thus characteristic in its capacity to bypass, at least at 28 degrees C and under the in vitro conditions employed, corticosterone during aldo biosynthesis. Furthermore, the vast ambient temperature ranges to which this and many other amphibian species are exposed and the temperature dependence observed in corticoidogenesis of B. arenarum suggest that corticoidogenic studies in these species should be carried out at more than one temperature.     

Efficacy of chronic amiodarone therapy in patients with variant angina pectoris and inhibition of ergonovine coronary constriction

In three patients with vasospastic angina pectoris, chronic amiodarone administered orally at doses of 800 and 1,000 mg/day totally suppressed spontaneous episodes of ischemic chest pain for 8 to 14 months. Before treatment, ergonovine maleate 0.2 to 0.4 mg intravenously provoked chest pain and similar ischemic ECG changes as those occurring spontaneously. During amiodarone treatment ergonovine vasoconstriction was totally or partially inhibited. In addition to calcium-blocking agents, amiodarone is another spasmolytic drug which effects smooth muscle relaxation by different mechanisms and appears to be useful for the chronic treatment and prevention of variant angina. The vasodilator property of amiodarone is achieved by both direct action and noncompetitive alpha receptor antagonism of coronary vasculature.     

Cryostat sections with tissue amastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi as a substrate for Chagas' disease serology

Sera from 30 chronic chagasic patients together with 52 control samples (34 with other pathological conditions and 18 from normal individuals) were titrated by the indirect immunofluorescent technique (IFA) on Trypanosoma cruzi amastigotes. Acetone-fixed cryostat sections of skeletal muscle of Rockland mice 10 days post-infection with the RA isolate of T. cruzi were used as substrate. Results were compared with titres obtained by conventional IFA on epimastigotes. All 52 control sera had amastigote titres less than or equal to 2 double dilutions (dd) as compared with epimastigote values. Out of the 30 chagasic samples, differences were greater than or equal to 4 dd (less than or equal to 1 log) for 22, 3 dd for 5 and less than or equal to 2 dd for the remaining 3, when comparing amastigote and epimastigote titres. These results show that the use of amastigotes in cryostat sections of infected tissue for performing Chagas' serology in a simple, adequate and sensitive method.     

New nonimmunological method of measuring fibrinogen-fibrin degradation products

A new nonimmunological procedure, called the Latex Fibrin Polymerization Inhibition Test, for the assay of serum fibrinogen-fibrin degradation products (FDP) is described. This is based on the observation that the aggregation of uncoated latex particles during the polymerization phase of fibrin formation is inhibited by the presence of FDP. It is sensitive, specific, and rapid. The results are expressed in Polymerization Inhibition Units (PIU). It has been applied to studies of FDP prepared $\text{in vitro}$ and to assay of normal and pathological sera. The ratio between these results and those obtained with an immunological assay for FDP is helpful in the differential diagnosis of the presence of “early” versus “late” degradation products in sera of patients with elevated FDP.     

Atrial dissociation

Atrial dissociation in a 62-year-old woman with coronary heart disease is reported. The ectopic auricular pacemaker, coexisting with sinus rhythm showed a regular rate of 300 per minute (unilateral atrial tachycardia). The differential diagnosis, mainly with atrial parasystole, is stressed. The possible mechanism of this arrhythmia is discussed in relation to the site of the ectopic focus.