The effect of tablet formulation on the haemodynamic properties of glyceryl trinitrate

A non-invasive haemodynamic study was carried out in 13 normal subjects to compare the pharmacodynamics of glyceryl trinitrate when formulated as a moulded tablet ('Nitrostat') rather than as a generic compressed tablet. The glyceryl trinitrate moulded tablet, with a much more rapid and predictable dissolution time, produced an earlier onset of systolic blood pressure fall (p less than 0.01) and a greater maximum percentage change in peripheral blood flow (p less than 0.02). No other significant differences in effect on pulse rate, blood pressure or peripheral blood flow were noted.

Potentiation of ethanol narcosis by dopamine- and l-DOPA-based isoquinolines

The isoquinolines, salsolinol and 3-carboxysalsolinol, prolong ethanol-induced narcosis in mice. Pretreatment with carbidopa increases the effect of 3-carboxysalsolinol but not of salsolinol. These results suggest that ethanol sleeping-time potentiation by l-LOPA may involve a partial conversion to the isoquinoline in vivo. A central depressant action of salsolinol or the 3-carboxy analogue is suggested.

Sensory system involvement in infantile spinal muscular atrophy

Nine cases of infantile spinal muscular atrophy were studied post-mortem. Their ages at death ranged from 5 months to 10 years. In all cases severe loss of anterior horn cells in the spinal cord and neurogenic muscular atrophy were characteristic of this disease. In 6 cases there was also loss of myelin in the posterior columns particularly affecting the lumbar contribution. Sensory ganglia, especially from the lumbar region, contained nodules of Nageotte, indicating sensory neuron degeneration. These sensory abnormalities were more severe in the longer surviving cases. It seems possible that sensory neuron degeneration occurs more commonly in Werdnig-Hoffmann disease than has previously been supposed but that it is less severe and develops more slowly than motor neuron degeneration.

Oestradiol-17 beta and prolactin levels in rat peripheral plasma

Radioimmunoassay methods for the determination of oestradiol-17 beta and prolactin have been examined for their reliability and applied to the measurement of hormone concentrations in the plasmas from male and female rats. Prolactin was detectable in all samples (greater than 7 ng RP-1 ng/ml) but the concentration of oestradiol-17 beta was below the sensitivity of the method (greater than 0-10 ng/100 ml) in ovariectomized females. Plasma oestradiol-17 beta concentration rose gradually from metoestrus to proestrus and fell to barely detectable levels in oestrus. Plasma prolactin concentration was very variable even for rats in the same stage of the oestrous cycle but values were minimal in the afternoon of diestrus and a surge in secretion occurred in the afternoon of proestrus. In addition to the stage of the oestrous cycle, the prolactin concentration was influenced by mode of blood collection, degree of haemolysis and choice of serum or plasma. There was no correlation between the concentration of prolactin and that of oestradiol-17 beta in the same sample of plasma.

Pulmonary disease after amitriptyline overdosage

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Bacteriaemia following urological surgery

This is a study of postoperative bacteriaemia in 100 consecutive patients having urological surgery under general anaesthesia. Bacteriaemia was noted in 12 per cent of patients and was found to be much commoner in patients having prostatic surgery than in those having bladder, ureteral, or upper urinary-tract surgery. Bacteriaemia was commoner in those patients whose urine was infected at the time of operation. The use of prophylactic antimicrobial cover in patients with infected urine is discussed.

Reduced carcinogenic effects of aflatoxin in rats given phenobarbitone

Rats were fed a diet containing 50 per cent peanut meal contaminated with aflatoxins (Rosetti meal) for a period of 9 weeks. All the survivors developed liver tumours in the next 2 yr. Rats given the same diet plus phenobarbitone showed a much delayed appearance of tumours, the malignant characteristics of the tumours were diminished and the premalignant histological changes in the liver were reduced. We suggest that phenobarbitone induces liver hydroxylation enzymes that metabolise aflatoxins to noncarcinogenic products.