Cerebrospinal fluid cyclic AMP and acid monoamine metabolites following probenecid: Studies in psychiatric patients

At probenecid levels greater than 10 g/ml, CSF cAMP was independent of CSF probenecid concentration. At these levels of probenecid, cAMP transport out of CSF is probably maximally blocked and cAMP levels reflect cAMP release into CSF. CSF cAMP was significantly higher in RDC-diagnosed schizophrenics than in other psychotics or depressives. A significant decrease in CSF cAMP was found in psychotic patients treated with chlorpromazine. No changes in CSF cAMP were observed in patients treated with tricyclic antidepressants or lithium.     

Acid maltase deficiency in non-identical adult twins

Summary Acid maltase deficiency is described in non-identical adult twins. The onset of the disease can be traced into late infancy; the clinical picture is one of severe muscular dystrophy; respiratory insuficiency was the cause of death in one case. The autopsy showed the central nervous system, heart and liver to be spared. Glycogen filled vacuoles are found in skin, mesenchymal cells, small nerves and skeletal muscles. The light microscopic study of 9 different muscles showed extremely variable involvement ranging from normal appearance to overt vacuolization. A 6–20% residual acid -glucosidase activity was found in visceral organs, cultured fibroblasts and in some skeletal muscles. No satisfactory explanation can be given why this generalized acid -glucosidase deficiency produces a selective involvement of skeletal muscles. If compared with infantile AMD (Pompe's disease) our cases have a much higher residual acid -glucosidase activity and show the presence of an antigenically detectable protein.From our study and from a similar report in the literature (de Barsy et al., 1975), it appears that a combined approach of light microscopy, electron microscopy and biochemical analysis (determination of acid -glucosidase) is necessary to make a diagnosis of AMD in adults.Dr. Th. de Barsy is a Research Fellow of the Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique.     

Pharmacokinetics of ascorbic acid in man

Summary The pharmacokinetic characteristics of ascorbic acid have been investigated in normal adult volunteers, using a two-compartment open model. After oral administration in a normal gelatine capsule the bioavailability of ascorbic acid was 69%. It was 98% when a sustained-release preparation was given in an identical capsule. During daily oral intake of ascorbic acid 1 g in the sustained-release form blood levels reached the equilibrium state within 3 days. Daily doses of ascorbic acid 1 g resulted in tissue saturation in 7 days, with a profound change in the pharmacokinetics of the vitamin. The binding of ascorbic acid to plasma proteins was low (24%). Its significance for the pharmacokinetic behaviour of the drug is discussed.     

Connective tissue growth factor: a novel player in tissue reorganization after brain injury?

Recent studies have suggested a role of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in repair processes of the skin as well as in various types of fibrotic disease. However, a function of this molecule in central nervous system (CNS) repair has not been demonstrated yet. In this study we analysed the temporal and spatial expression pattern of CTGF after unilateral kainic acid lesions of the hippocampal CA3 region in mice. We found a strong induction of CTGF mRNA and protein expression in neurons and glial cells of the lesioned hippocampus. Interestingly, increased expression of this mitogen was accompanied by elevated levels of the extracellular matrix molecule fibronectin, which is a known target of CTGF action. Therefore, our data indicate a novel function of CTGF in postlesional restructuring of the hippocampus, where it possibly participates in glial scar formation.     

Norepinephrine regulation of growth hormone release from goldfish pituitary cells. II. Intracellular sites of action

Previous results suggest that norepinephrine decreases growth hormone (GH) release in goldfish by means of alpha-2 adrenoceptor activation. The intracellular mechanisms by which norepinephrine inhibits GH release were examined in the present study using dispersed goldfish pituitary cells. In 2-h static incubation experiments, norepinephrine and the alpha-2 agonist clonidine decreased basal GH release and the GH responses to stimulation by the dopamine D1 agonist SKF38393 and two native gonadotropin-releasing hormones (GnRH). Norepinephrine also reduced GH responses to the adenylate cyclase activator forskolin, two protein kinase C (PKC) activators (phorbol ester and synthetic diacylglycerol), and two Ca2+ ionophores (ionomycin and A23187). Similarly, norepinephrine applied as a 1-h pulse in cell column perifusion experiments reduced basal GH release and abolished the GH response to a 5-min pulse of arachidonic acid. In goldfish, D1-stimulated GH release is mediated by AC-, arachidonic acid-and Ca2+-dependent pathways, whereas GnRH action is coupled to PKC-and Ca2+-dependent mechanisms. These results suggest that norepinephrine activation of alpha-2 receptors inhibits ligand-induced GH secretion by actions subsequent to activation of these second messenger cascades. To further characterize norepinephrine mechanisms of action on unstimulated hormone release, the ability of norepinephrine and an alpha-2 agonist to affect activation of two second messenger cascades under basal conditions was also investigated. Static incubation with clonidine reduced cAMP production in a time-and dose-dependent manner, suggesting that norepinephrine inhibitory action can also be expressed at the level of cAMP production. Resting intracellular free calcium levels in single, identified goldfish somatotropes was unaffected by norepinephrine. However, the inhibitory effects of norepinephrine on basal GH secretion was not observed in the presence of a voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channel agonist. Whether these channels are targets for norepinephrine action on unstimulated GH release requires further investigation.     

Presence of human herpesvirus 6 and herpes simplex virus detected by polymerase chain reaction in surgical tissue from temporal lobe epileptic patients

We investigated the presence of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and herpes simplex virus (HSV) in surgical tissue from temporal lobe epileptic patients. A total of 17 cases were studied, including eight males and nine females. The mean age was 24.9 +/- 11.1 years and the mean age of onset was 11.1 +/- 5.4 years. Five patients were diagnosed as encephalitis/meningitis and another three had a history of suspected encephalitis/meningitis, but no patient showed any obvious neurological symptom or mental handicap. Mesial and lateral temporal tissues were examined by polymerase chain reaction. Among six patients positive for HHV-6 (35%), the mesial temporal lobe was positive in four and the lateral temporal lobe was positive in three. Herpes simplex virus was positive in only one patient. Three of the six patients positive for HHV-6 did not show any apparent causes. Mild encephalitis/meningitis induced by HHV-6, a condition sometimes not recognized as encephalitis/meningitis, may be one of the most frequent causes of temporal lobe epilepsy.     

高效液相色谱法测定复方苯甲酸乳膏中苯甲酸和水杨酸的含量

目的:建立高效液相色谱法(HPLC)测定复方苯甲酸乳膏中苯甲酸和水杨酸的含量。方法:色谱柱为Hypersil C_(18)柱(4.6nm×250mm,5μm),流动相为甲醇-水(44:56),流速0.8mL·min~(-1),检测波长为226nm。结果:苯甲酸和水杨酸分别在15.20～76.00mg·L~(-1)和7.64～38.20mg·L~(-1)范围内线性良好(r=0.9999);日内、日间RSD在0.030～4.79％,高、中、低浓度回收率在98.54％～101.20％。分析了3批样品,结果满意。结论:本方法简便,快速,准确,可作为复方苯甲酸乳膏的质量控制方法。     

冰醋酸涂剂稳定性研究

目的：研究冰醋酸涂剂的稳定性。方法：采用酸碱中和分析法和气相色谱法分别对醋酸与其不稳定产物乙酸乙酯运行定量测定。结果：在放置过程中醋酸含量下降，而乙酸乙酯含量增加。结论：《中国医院制剂规范》第2版收载的冰醋酸涂剂不稳定。