I.V. GLYCERYL TRINITRATE: HAEMODYNAMIC EFFECTS AND CLINICAL USE IN CARDIAC SURGERY

A commercial preparation of glyceryl tnnitrate for i.v. administrationwas assessed under both experimental and clinical conditionsThe overall haemodynamic effects were beneficial during coronaryartery grafting and aortic valve replacement, when the drugwas given at a rate of 0.8 µgkg^–1 mm^–1 atwhich dose there was no appreciable effect on resistance vesselsNo adverse side-effects occurred. There was no change in theactivity of the preparation, whether diluted or not, over a6-h period.     

REPORT on the Fourth International Workshop on Chromosome 9: held at Williamsburg, Virginia, USA, April 23–25, 1995

The Fourth International Workshop on Chromosome 9 was a highly successful endeavor in terms of the growth of the map, both genetic and physical, the amount of data entered into GDB, and the continued comradeship in the sharing of data and resources that was exemplified. SIGMA remained a stable and valuable part of the chromosome 9 mapping effort. A new subsection outlining the morbid anatomy of chromosome 9 was included. Finally, specific goals were set for the community to aim for over the upcoming months. These included extending the information about the ease of use of genetic markers, and coordinating across numerous groups the meiotic breakpoint mapping of many microsatellite markers. Workshop files are available by anonymous ftp from ftp.gene.ucl.ac.uk (128.40.82.1) in the subdirectory /pub/c9workshop/1995, or by using a World Wide Web browser (such as Mosaic or Netscape) via the Chromosome 9 Home Page (at the URL http://www.gene.ucl.ac.uk/chr9home.html ).     

Red cell stroma protein rich in vitamin B12 during active regeneration; anemia studies using radioactive cobalt B12 in dogs

During active blood regeneration in anemia in dogs an increase occurs in the stroma protein of the red cells. When vitamin B₁₂ with radioactive cobalt is given at the start of this blood regeneration one finds concentration of labeled B₁₂ in the stroma protein but not in the hemoglobin. After the acute phase of red cell regeneration is ended the concentration of B₁₂ in stroma protein falls rapidly to very low levels within 2 weeks. Subsequent episodes of red blood cell regeneration seems not to cause remobilization of radioactive cobalt into red cells from other body stores. It appears that the vitamin B₁₂ is a factor of importance in the first steps of stroma protein formation in the first few days of the life of the red cell in the dog. This response in dogs and the response in pernicious anemia to vitamin B₁₂ may have some points in common. Distribution of the B₁₂-radioactive cobalt in the organs and tissues at autopsy has been recorded. Some very suggestive localizations were noted and some variation 1 week and 7 weeks after B₁₂ injections. Radioactive cobalt escapes in the urine during the weeks following B₁₂ injections.     

Plasma and tissue proteins produced by non-hepatic rat organs as studied with lysine-epsilon-C14; gamma globulins the chief plasma protein fraction produced by non-hepatic tissues

The non-hepatic tissues in a perfused "carcass" (caudal half of the rat) maintain some physiological functions for as long as 5 to 6 hours of perfusion, including good clearance of lysine-ε-C¹⁴ and glucose from the perfusate, and synthesis of both tissue and plasma proteins. The perfused "carcass" tissues incorporate only small amounts of lysine-ε-C¹⁴ into the plasma proteins to an extent not markedly affected by the presence of the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, spleen, or kidneys. This activity is found only in the globulin fraction obtained by sodium sulfate fractionation. No significant activity was detected in the plasma fibrinogen or albumin fractions. C¹⁴-labeled plasma proteins obtained from the eviscerated surviving rat 6 hours after intravenous lysine-ε-C¹⁴ have been separated by zone electrophoresis. The gamma globulins contain most of the C¹⁴ activity, with small but measurable activity in the beta and alpha globulins, and no activity in the albumin fraction.     

Synthesis of all plasma protein fractions except gamma globulins by the liver; the use of zone electrophoresis and lysine-epsilon-C14 to define the plasma proteins synthesized by the isolated perfused liver

Lysine-ε-C¹⁴-labeled plasma proteins produced by the normal rat and the isolated perfused rat liver have been fractionated by preparative zone electrophoresis. The isolated perfused liver incorporates lysine-ε-C¹⁴ into the plasma albumin, alpha globulin, and beta globulin (including fibrinogen) fractions. No significant C¹⁴ incorporation into the trichloracetic acid-precipitable proteins of the gamma globulin fraction was observed. Presumptive evidence indicates that the alpha globulins turn over more rapidly than any other major plasma protein fraction. The increased production of gamma globulins in liver disease is discussed.     

RESPIRATORY DEATH AFTER RENAL HOMOTRANSPLANTATION

Renal transplantation from the father was performed on a girl aged 16 years. Apart from a controlled episode of rejection, the graft functioned well. Dyspn?a and cyanosis with alveolar-capillary block developed 73 days after transplantation and progressed to death 10 days later. At autopsy, thrombi were found in pulmonary and small systemic vessels, and their age coincided with the duration of symptoms. Although Pneumocystis carinii was found in the lungs, it was greatly concentrated in infarcts. The evidence suggests that pulmonary thrombi are an important feature of “transplantation pneumonia”.