Concentrations of serum total protein and protein fractions during diestrus and pregnancy in Makuii ewes

The aim of this study was to determine the blood protein changes during different stages of pregnancy and to compare with prepregnancy diestrus in ewes. A total of 90 blood samples were taken from ten Makuii ewes (the native sheep breed in Iran) at diestrus and on days 8, 14, 28, 45, 60, 90, 125, and 145 of pregnancy. Serum protein electrophoresis of samples exhibited four fractions: albumin, α, β, and γ fractions in Makuii ewes, which in α- and γ-globulin bands were divided to α1 and α2; and γ1 and γ2, respectively. The mean concentrations (in gram per deciliter) of total serum proteins, albumin, α1-, α2-, β-, γ1-, and γ2-globulin at diestrus period were 7.03, 3.77, 0.18, 0.74, 0.41, 1.56, and 0.41, respectively. Those values fluctuated nonsignificantly throughout gestation until the 125th day of pregnancy. Thereafter, a significant decrease (p < 0.01) in serum protein levels occurred at the 145th day of pregnancy compared to prepregnancy and other gestational time points. It was concluded that blood protein levels declined sharply during late gestation when the nutrient demands of the fetus were maximal.     

Morphologic evaluation of the liver in hereditary angioedema patients on long-term treatment with androgen derivatives

17 alpha-Alkylated androgens are highly effective in preventing attacks in HAE patients. These drugs, however, seem to be implicated in the development of cholestatic jaundice, peliosis hepatis, and liver tumors. In order to assess the risk-benefit balance of the long-term therapy with androgen derivatives, a follow-up investigation was performed in 13 HAE patients. The results of this study indicate that long-term treatment (15 to 47 mo) with low doses of danazol or stanozolol does not induce significant hepatic damage detectable by laboratory tests or liver biopsy. However, the limited number of patients, although in a rather long period of observation, still suggests a careful control and the use of minimal effective doses.     

Serum creatine kinase B subunit levels in neurogenic atrophies

Summary This study is an attempt to determine the creatine kinase B (CK-B) subunit levels in neurogenic atrophies. A group of 69 patients was studied and the results were compared with those in a group of 32 patients with muscle disease. The results showed that the CK-B levels are considerably higher in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (P<0.001) and peroneal muscular atrophy (P<0.001). Further studies in the various subgroups of neurogenic atrophies showed that, regardless of the nosological entity, the CK-B activity is considerably higher: (1) in the widespread as opposed to limited forms (P<0.001); (2) in the chronic than in the acute neurogenic atrophies (P<0.001); and (3) in the active as opposed to residual forms (P<0.02). It is suggested that the increase of CK-B in neurogenic atrophies is a strong indication of an active regeneration process in the denervated muscle.     

A double-blind study on the effect of discontinuation of gold therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Summary To assess the benefit of further gold treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who had already received more than 6 g of this metal, 24 such patients were included in a double-blind trial. Besides this gold group comprising 11 patients who received gold (Auromyose^®) in the same dosage schedule as before the study, the trial included a placebo group comprising 13 patients who received gold in a suspension diluted 1/100. In either group clinical, laboratory, and radiological data did not differ after 6 and 24 months in relation to the results at entry except for the serum gold concentrations, which were lower in the placebo group. We conclude that discontinuation of the treatment in RA patients who have received more than 6 g gold is not harmful to the patients for at least two years after withdrawal.     

Perioperative Cefamandolprophylaxe bei aortocoronaren Bypass-Operationen Serumkonzentrationsverlauf während der extrakorporalen Zirkulation

Zusammenfassung Eine perioperative antibiotische Kurzprophylaxe mit 2 g Cefamandol intravenös bei Narkoseeinleitung wurde bei 12 Patienten während coronarchirurgischer Eingriffe unter Verwendung der Herz-Lungen-Maschine durchgeführt. Bei Beginn der extrakorporalen Zirkulation (= EKZ) kam es infolge Hämodilution zu einem Absinken der Serumkonzentrationen von 110,96 ± 40,29 mcg/ml auf 70,89 ± 34,65 g/ml innerhalb von 10 min. Im weiteren Verlauf der EKZ war der Abfall der Serumspiegel gleich schnell wie davor und danach. Nach 240 min fanden sich noch Serumspiegel von 16,80 ± 9,32 g/ml. Als Ursache für das Versagen einer antibiotischen Prophylaxe kommt bei einer Operationsdauer von mehr als 4 h das Absinken der Serumspiegel unter die minimale Hemmkonzentration der entsprechenden Keime in Frage.

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Perioperative cefamandole prophylaxis in aortocoronary bypass operations: Course of serum concentration during extracorporeal circulation

Summary Antibiotic prophylaxis with 2 g Cefamandole at induction of anaesthesia was performed in 12 male patients undergoing aortocoronary bypass surgery. Caused by hemodilution, there was a marked decrease of serum concentration at the beginning of extracorporeal circulation, from 110.96 ± 40.29 mcg/ml to 70.89 ± 34.65 mcg/ml within 10 min. During extracorporeal circulation, elimination was as fast as before and after perfusion. 240 min after application, mean serum concentrations of 16.80 ± 9.32 mcg/ml were measured. Failure of antibiotic prophylaxis in operations exceeding 4 h might be due to unadaequate antibiotic concentrations, beyond the minimal inhibitory concentration for the pathogens, reported to cause infections after cardiac operations.

     

Serum vasopressin (AVP) levels in polyuric brain-dead organ donors

Summary Hydromineral metabolism and serum arginine-vasopressin (AVP) levels were investigated in 11 patients who sustained brain death. They showed various degrees of polyuria with low osmolality and low fractional sodium excretion. Urine osmolality was always below that of serum, and AVP levels were between 1.3 and 50.0 pg/ml vs 0.7–8.0 pg/ml in ten normal subjects. Thus central diabetes insipidus was excluded. A renal mechanism inducing water diuresis has to be assumed. The type of renal lesion, however, remains unclear.This work was supported by the Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung, project no. 3100, Vienna     

冠心病患者血清总胆红素浓度变化及意义

目的：探讨血清总胆红素浓度变化与冠心病的关系。方法：检测经选择性冠脉造影确诊的１２８例冠心病患者及１０３例冠脉正常人空腹状态下血清总胆红素浓度,分析冠心病患者血清总胆红素浓度变化。结果：冠心病患者血清总胆红素浓度明显低于冠脉正常者（Ｐ〈０．０１）,且冠心病发病年龄愈低,胆红素水平也愈低（Ｐ〈０．０５）,但冠脉病变支数似与胆红素水平无关（Ｐ〉０．０５）。结论：低血清胆红素水平可能是冠心病发生的原因之     

肾细胞癌患者血清中血管内皮生长因子的表达

目的　据认为血管内皮生长因子是实体肿瘤血管生成和生长的重要成分。本实验通过研究VEGF在肾细胞癌的表达 ,探讨其在肾细胞癌中的作用。方法　肾细胞癌患者血清标本 2 4例 ,健康对照 2 0例 ,定量SABC ELISA法行血清中VEGF测定。结果　肾细胞癌患者血清VEGF中值 ( 4 76pg/ml)较对照组( 312pg/ml)明显增高 (P <0 0 1)。结论　血清VEGF值于肾细胞癌相关 ,可作为肾细胞癌的监控指标。     

A rapid method for detecting barbiturates in serum using EI-SIM

A simple and rapid method for analysis of barbiturates in serum has been developed. In order to extract and clean barbiturates in serum, a separation column packed with Extrelut and Florisil was used, and the eluate was directly analyzed by means of electron impact selected ion monitoring (EI-SIM). Selected ions used were base peak ions of 10 barbituartes, and the internal standard used was allobarbital or secobarbital. The calibration curves were linear over the range 0.5–5 ng. Extraction of replicate serum samples containing 20 g/1.5 ml and 5 g/1.5 ml resulted in a recovery of 87.2–105.2% and 81.6–104.6%, respectively, with the exception of phenobarbital, which was 151.9% and 172.1%, respectively. Secobarbital was also analyzed in the serum of 13 patients who had been given secobarbital intravenously. In 3 out of 10 cases, Secobarbital levels greater than 1 g/ml were detected more than 72 h after administration. This method seems to have possibilities for clinical use.Paper presented at the 2nd International Symposium ADVANCES IN LEGAL MEDICINE, Berlin, Germany, August 30–September 1, 1993