Receptor-dependent regulation of the concentration of Ca2+ in the cytoplasm of thrombocytes in hypertensive patients

Platelet activation factor (PAF)-, ADP and vasopressin-induced increments of platelet Ca2+ concentration were measured by quin-2 in 64 patients with essential hypertension and 16 normal donors. Basal concentration of free Ca2+ was 87 +/- 4 nM in donors, 106 +/- 5 nM in patients with labile hypertension (LH) and 122 +/- 6 nM in those with stable hypertension (SH) (p less than 0.01). PAF, ADP and vasopressin, added to platelets, increased [Ca]in by 448 +/- 58, 397 +/- 66, and 277 +/- 50 nM, respectively, in the donors, by 473 +/- 57, 479 +/- 54 and 195 +/- 32 nM, in LH patients, and by 607 +/- 85, 584 +/- 73 and 245 +/- 41 nM in SH patients. There were no significant variations between the three samples, using the ANOVA test. In 20 patients, whose both parents had essential hypertension, [Ca]in increment was 738 +/- 8 nM for PAF, 682 +/- 90 nM for ADP, and 320 +/- 61 nM for vasopressin. In 19 patients, who admitted to no essential hypertension in the family, these parameters were significantly lower: 310 +/- 40 nM for PAF, 389 +/- 61 nM for ADP, and 147 +/- 26 nM for vasopressin. The demonstrated changes may be making an important contribution to the maintenance of elevated vascular tone and provide an evidence in favor of a genetically-predetermined EH variety.     

Embryotoxic effects of deoxynivalenol mycotoxin (vomitoxin) in rats]

Study of embryotoxic action of deoxynivalenol in levels of 0.2, 1, 5, 10 mg/kg from 7 to 15 day of rat pregnancy was worked up. The 0.2 mg/kg determined as a maximal acceptable dose without toxic effects.     

Neuroimaging in Pineal Tumors

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The authors report radiological findings in 11 tumors in the pineal region, which were histologically diagnosed as germinomas, pineocytomas pineoblastomas, ependymomas, teratomas, and astrocytomas. METHODS: Computed tomography (CT) was performed in seven patients and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in all patients. RESULTS: CT showed a solid or solid/cystic mass with variable contrast enhancement. MRI showed a heterogeneous mass, with hypointense signal on T1 and iso/hyperintense signal on T2-weighted images (WI) and gadolinium enhancement. Extension to adjacent structures occurred in five patients and spread through the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) in two. CONCLUSIONS: Pineal region tumors have no pathognomonic imaging pattern. MRI and CT are complementary in diagnosis and are important to determine localization, extension, and meningeal spread.