Possible Involvement of Prostaglandins in Increases in Rat Plasma Adrenocorticotropic Hormone and Corticosterone Levels Induced by Radiation and Interleukin-1{alpha} Alone or Combined

Exposing rats to 1–10 Gy of ionizing radiation increasedplasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticoste-rone(CORT) levels. In both irradiated and nonirradiated rats, recombinanthuman interleukin-1 (rhIL-1 1 hr before radiation/sham exposure)enhanced plasma ACTH and CORT levels. Indomethacin, a cyclooxygenaseinhibitor, attenuated plasma ACTH and CORT levels induced byradiation. Indomethacin also attenuated ACTH and CORT levelsinduced by radiation and interleukin-1 alone or combined. Theseresults suggest that prostaglandins are involved in the increasein plasma ACTH and CORT levels induced by radiation and rhIL-1alone or combined.     

Clinical spectrum of chronic Budd-Chiari syndrome and surgical relief for 'coarctation' of the inferior vena cava

This report presents the clinical features of 78 cases of the chronic Budd-Chiari syndrome encountered over a period of 13 years. The diagnosis of hepatic venous outflow obstruction was confirmed by venographic studies in all cases. In 20 patients there was hepatic vein occlusion without inferior vena caval (IVC) obstruction (Group A). In 17 patients there was constriction of the IVC above the drainage site of the right hepatic vein which was patent (Group B). In 13 patients there was short segmental obstruction of the hepatic segment of the IVC along with blockage of the hepatic venous orifices (Group C). In 28 patients there was hepatic venous obstruction with long segment involvement of the IVC extending to varying lengths of the infrahepatic segment (Group D). Of particular interest are the operative findings in 12 of 17 patients of Group B of hour glass constriction of the IVC, which can be labelled as ‘coarctation of the IVC'. Dorsal cavoatrial bypass using a polytetra fluoroethylene graft has proved useful in Group B. Interesting histopathological findings of the liver in some of the cases are also described. The possible aetiology of the Group B cases is discussed.