The effect of anaesthesia of the airway in dog and man: a study of respiratory reflexes, sensations and lung mechanics

1. The effect of breathing an anaesthetic aerosol of 5% bupivacaine hydrochloride has been assessed in dog and man. 2. In the dog, the cough reflex was abolished and the Hering-Breuer inflation reflex severely impaired or abolished; breathing became slower and deeper; no pathological changes were found in the lungs of these dogs. 3. In man, no untoward effects resulted from a 10 min period of aerosol inhalation; there were no systematic effects on airway resistance or lung volumes and the cough reflex in response to either tactile or chemical (citric acid aerosol) stimulation was invariably abolished. The Hering-Breuer inflation reflex was impaired, but this was not associated with any change in resting ventilation. The Ve/CO2 response was enhanced after aerosol anaesthesia; subjects felt an exaggerated dyspnoea. The aerosol anaesthesia abolished the afferent pathway of a reflexly elicited bronchoconstriction in one subject. There was no effect on the ability to hold the breath, or on the quality of the associated sensation. 4. Control aerosols of sodium chloride solution or phosphate buffer produced no effects. Control experiments with intravenous infusions of bupivacaine proved that none of the effects could have been produced by systemic effects of the absorbed anaesthetic. 5. Plasma concentrations of bupivacaine in man did not exceed a recognized toxic level. The experiments demonstrate a safe reversible anaesthesia of the airways in man lasting for a period of 10-20 min.

Difference in the number of insulin binding sites between cortisol-sensitive and cortisol-resistant lymphoma P1798 cells

Cortisol-sensitive and cortisol-resistant lymphoma P1798 cells specifically bind [25I]insulin. Resistant lymphocytes bind 40% less insulin than sensitive cells. These results suggest that insulin (or insulin-like substances) may play a role in growth regulation and/or response of this tumor to glucocorticoid therapy.

Sequential irreversible, actinomycin D-sensitive, and cycloheximide-sensitive steps prior to cortisol inhibition of uridine utilization by P1798 tumor lymphocytes

Events preceeding the cortisol inhibition of uridine utilization by corticoid-sensitive P1798 lymphocytes have been investigated. When tumor cells were incubated with 1 muM cortisol for 15 min and then washed free of steroid and reincubated in the absence of hormone, the expected decrease of uridine uptake failed to appear 1.5 hr later. In contrast, the removal of cortisol after 30 or 60 min did not prevent subsequent development of the steroid effect. Addition of actinomycin D with cortisol, or 15 min after hormone treatment was started, blocked steroid action. However, when actinomycin D was added 30 or 60 min after the initial exposure to cortisol, hormone-induced depression of uridine uptake was no longer prevented. To study the role of protein synthesis, cycloheximide was added to the tumor cell suspensions at various times after cortisol treatment was started. Cortisol suppression of uridine utilization was blocked when cycloheximide was added with the hormone or 30 min after the start of hormone treatment. Cycloheximide added together with cortisol and washed out with the steroid after 30 min did not prevent subsequent appearance of decreased nucleoside uptake. Hydroxyurea, an inhibitor of DNA synthesis, did not prevent cortisol action, even when present throughout a 2 hr exposure to the steroid. Hormone removal or actinomycin D addition after 1.5 to 2 hr (when uridine uptake was already inhibited about 25%) did not prevent intensification of the steroid effect during a subsequent 1.5- to 2-hr incubation period, while addition of cycloheximide at this time completely prevented its progression. These results suggest aht: (a) cortisol inhibition of uridine uptake by P1798 lymphocytes involves an early irreversible step and appears to require continuing RNA but not protein synthesis during the first 15 to 30 min of hormone action; (b) protein synthesis but not RNA synthesis is required between 30 and 60 min; and (c) continuing protein synthesis but not RNA synthesis or hormone presence is necessary for the preestablished cortisol effect to progress.

Cortisol-induced lymphocytolysis of P1798 tumor cells in glucose-free, pyruvate-free medium

Exposure of corticoid-sensitive P1798 tumor lymphocytes to cortisol resulted in progressive cell dissolution either with or without exogenous glucose and pyruvate. Therefore, inhibition of glucose transport is not required for cortisol-induced lymphocytolysis.

Estriol concentrations in plasma of normal, non-pregnant women

Using a rabbit antisera directed against estriol-3-0-carboxy methyl ether complexed to BSA, an immunoassay for estriol (1) was developed. The mean plus or minus SE concentration of estriol in 18 women in days 5-7 of their cycle was 7.9 plus or minus 0.6 pg/ml which was significantly (P less than 0.01) less than the mean value of 11.1 plus or minus 0.8 pg/ml in 15 women in days 20-22 of the cycle. In 3 of 6 women in whom plasma samples were drawn frequently during their cycle, an estriol peak occurred coincident with the estradiol peak. In 3 women from whom plasma was obtained several times during the course of a day estriol levels did not appear to vary significantly. In 8 women who were on oral contraceptives the mean level of estriol was 7.6 plus or minus 1.5 pg/ml. In 8 post-menopausal women the mean level was 6.0 plus or minus 1.2 pg/ml which is significantly (P less than 0.01) less than the mean luteal phase value but not less (P greater than 0.1) than the follicular phase or oral contraceptive user values. We conclude that some of the circulating estriol is directly secreted by the ovary of normal women.

Organ-specific and cross-reacting isoenzymes in human alkaline phosphatases

The results obtained in these studies indicate presence of four major isoenzymes of alkaline phosphatase in preparation from liver, bone, intestine and placenta. Evidence is also presented for the presence of a few cross-reacting isoenzymes. These isoenzymes were demonstrated by immunodiffusion techniques which were based on the ability of specific enzyme-antienzyme precipitates to catalyze chromogenic substrates.

A general practice experiment: technical aid to developing Africa

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