Dietary polyamines promote the growth of azoxymethane-induced aberrant crypt foci in rat colon

We have examined whether dietary polyamines influence the formation and initial growth of azoxymethane (AOM)-induced aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in rat colon. Effects of a combination of dietary polyamines at three dose levels (putrescine: 50, 280, 740 nmol/g; spermidine: 10, 261, 763 nmol/g; spermine: 1, 31, 91 nmol/g) in the polyamine-poor AIN-76A diet were studied in animals in two different experimental situations: animals treated with AOM alone and animals treated with AOM + difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), a specific inhibitor of endogenous polyamine synthesis. In both experimental situations, dietary polyamines enhanced the growth of ACF, expressed as the number of large ACF (foci with three or more aberrant crypts, ACF > or = 3), whereas the formation of ACF, expressed as the number of ACF, was apparently not altered. In animals treated with AOM alone, maximal growth enhancing effect on ACF was nearly obtained with the median level of dietary polyamine. In rats fed a low polyamine diet, basic AIN-76A, DFMO reduced the growth of AOM-induced ACF by 83%. This inhibitory effect of DFMO was counteracted by dietary polyamines in a dose- dependent manner, and it was abolished at the highest level of polyamines. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that dietary polyamines are able to enhance the growth of AOM-induced ACF. Further, dietary polyamines reversed the DFMO-caused inhibition of ACF growth, probably by compensating for the DFMO-reduced endogenous polyamine synthesis.      

Microbiocenosis and the status of the intestinal mucosa in alkylosing spondyloarthritis

Intestinal microbiocenosis was examined in 53 patients with ankylosing spondyloarthritis (AS). Of these, 23 had the central and 30 presented with the peripheral form. 34 patients underwent endoscopic examinations (rectoromanoscopy, ileocolonoscopy). As a result, in 74% of cases with the central form of AS and in 80% of cases with the peripheral form of AS, alterations in the intestinal microflora were revealed, which can be regarded as intestinal dysbacteriosis (ID), with dysbacteriosis being more pronounced in patients with the peripheral form. In such patients it manifested by a considerable decrease of the amount of bifido- and lactoflora, which promoted the increment of the amount of opportunistic microorganisms, particularly Klebsiella. Macroscopic signs of nonspecific inflammation of the small and large intestines were identified in 63% of patients with the central and in 67% of those with the peripheral form of AS. Mean-while histomorphological study of biopsy specimens of the intestinal mucosa showed that all the examinees had chronic inflammation of varying degree.     

Clinical evaluation of the RKA 3-01 radiocardioanalyzer

Detection of cardiovascular diseases can be improved through the use of the radiocardioanalyser RKA 3-01. It measures automatically the volume of circulating blood, records radiocardiograms, performs their analysis, and computes circulation indices.     

Antenatal effect of imipramine on the ontogeny of the imipramine receptors in the cerebral cortex of rats

Ontogenetic study of imipramine binding sites in the rat brain cortex employing autoradiographic and radioreceptor methods revealed that they can be detected at the 19th day of gestation and that by the 14 day of postnatal development their amount reaches the adult levels. The affinity constants of imipramine binding sites did not change significantly throughout the ontogenetic development. Exposure to the therapeutic doses of imipramine on days 17-19 of gestation resulted in a significant increase in the amount of binding sites (24% of the control level) on day 3 of postnatal development, which returned to normal by the end of the second week of postnatal development. The distribution of imipramine binding sites in the cortical layers did not change either in normal rats or in those antenatally treated with imipramine.