[Intra-partum ethamsylate (dicynone) administration in the prevention of cerebral hemorrhage in premature infants]

Dicynone has been in use in all premature births prophylactically since 1987 by the authors. The administration of the drug begins before or during delivery. The diagnoses of cerebral haemorrhage was established on autopsy and the cases were compared with the previous years when Dicynone was not administered. During prophylactic use of Dicynone the cerebral haemorrhages significantly reduced among premature babies. It is well known, that the etiology of the cerebral haemorrhages are multifactorial. Their favourable experiences confirm the literary communications, whereas use of Dicynone can be one of the efficacious preventive drug against palsy of the premature babies.

[The incidence of iron deficiency in Hungary among children aged 4-6 years]

The authors found, that the incidence of hypochromic, microcytic anaemia was 4 percent, and more than half of the children were suffered from iron deficiency. The causes are the inadequate daily iron uptake and/or increase iron requirement. It is very important to increase the iron content of the food and/or the prophylactic or therapeutic iron treatment.

The osteogenic response to distant skeletal injury

We tested the hypothesis that when one bone of the skeleton is injured, others experience an osteogenic response. Although similar or related phenomena have been observed previously, the purposes of the study were to determine if this response was reproducible, to characterize it in terms of its magnitude and duration, and to show how it is related to the type of injury sustained. To obtain this information, a model was used in which an intramedullary nail was implanted in the femur and a standard closed fracture was subsequently produced. The osteogenic response was measured by histomorphometry. Eight-four nine-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into seven groups of twelve animals each. Groups I and II consisted of control animals in which no injury was produced. In Group-III rats, cortical drilling of the intercondylar notch and piriformis fossa of the right femur was performed, without intramedullary nailing. In Groups IV through VII, half of each group received intramedullary nails only, and in the other half intramedullary nailing was done and a closed transverse diaphyseal fracture was produced. With two different fluorochrome labels, rates of mineral apposition were measured in the left and right tibiae of all animals. The labeling periods differed in each group and were designed to determine when the peak response occurred, how long it lasted, and whether aging during the course of the experiment affected the response.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Sensitive solid-phase immune electron microscopy double-antibody technique with gold-immunoglobulin G complexes for detecting rotavirus in cell culture and feces

A new solid-phase immune electron microscopy double-antibody colloidal-gold technique (SPIEMDAGT) was developed and compared with direct electron microscopy, direct immune electron microscopy, and enzyme immunoassay for detecting rotavirus. Guinea pig and rabbit antirotavirus antisera were used as capture and detector antibodies, respectively, and goat anti-rabbit immunoglobulin G-gold complexes were employed as a label. Animal rotavirus in cell culture media and human virus in stool specimens were detected by this method. On average, SPIEMDAGT detected 800 times more virus particles than direct electron microscopy and 45 times more particles than direct immune electron microscopy and yielded 20% more positives than enzyme immunoassay. SPIEMDAGT could detect not only viral antigen associated with morphologically recognizable particles but also antigen present when whole virus particles were not visible.

Expression of interleukin 2 receptors by monocytes from patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and induction of monocyte interleukin 2 receptors by human immunodeficiency virus in vitro

A population of circulating mononuclear cells from patients with AIDS was identified which expressed interleukin 2 receptors (IL-2R). By dual-fluorescence flow microfluorometry, the patients' IL-2R+ cells were further identified as Leu M3+ monocytes (29.4 +/- 5.2% of the Leu M3+ cells were IL-2R+, n = 15), whereas Leu M3+ monocytes from normal subjects were IL-2R negative (2.0 +/- 0.42%; P less than 0.001). By Northern analysis, monocytes from AIDS patients, but not control subjects, constitutively expressed steady-state levels of IL-2R mRNA. Functionally, the IL-2R+ monocytes were capable of depleting IL-2 from culture supernatants, suggesting a mechanism for the reduced IL-2 levels commonly seen in AIDS patients. IL-2R+ monocytes also expressed increased levels of surface HLA-DR which may favor monocyte T-cell interactions and the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In additional studies, normal monocytes were infected with a macrophage-tropic HIV isolate in vitro and monitored for IL-2R and HLA-DR expression. Within 24-48 h after exposure to HIV in vitro, but before evidence of productive infection, greater than 25% of the monocytes became IL-2R+ with increasing numbers of IL-2R+ cells and HLA-DR levels through day 6. These early signaling effects of HIV could be mimicked by adding purified HIV envelope glycoprotein gp120 to the monocytes. This stimulation of monocytes before or independent of productive infection of the cells by HIV is consistent with in vivo observations of activated and/or abnormal functions by monocytes that do not appear to be infected with HIV in AIDS patients.

Alpha adrenergic drugs inhibit [3H]-QNB binding to muscarinic receptors of rat heart, brain and parotid gland membranes

Alpha adrenergic agonists and antagonists as clonidine, guanfacine, yohimbine, phenylephrine and prazosin inhibited the [3H]-QNB binding to rat brain cortex muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR, M-1 subtype), heart (M-2 subtype) and parotid gland homogenate (M-3 subtype) in a dose-dependent competitive fashion. Ki values were between 10(-6) and 10(-3) M. Hill coefficients were about 1. No correlation was found between mAChR inhibiting capacity of these drugs and their activity on alpha adrenergic receptors. In contrast, other transmitters, as dopamine, GABA, glutamic acid, histamine, serotonin, isoproterenol and platelet activating factor (PAF) did not affect the QNB binding.

Les diasporas maghrébines et la construction européenne

"The term 'diaspora' evokes both the idea of dispersal and the idea of solidarity between immigrants, or, in other words, their continued attachment to their country of origin. The case of North Africans in Western Europe illustrates the role of these new 'diasporas'. Their role is vital, though as yet unrecognised, and consists in furthering the development of relations between the host country and their country of origin. However, in the immediate future, a problem will become apparent in the EEC [European Economic Community], as there will undoubtedly be repercussions for immigrants from outside of the EEC when the principle of free movement between member countries comes into force in 1993." (SUMMARY IN ENG AND SPA)

[5-fluorouracil treatment of acute pancreatitis and of pancreatic and duodenal fistulae]

In acute pancreatitis the mechanism involved in the auto-amplification of morbid phenomena can be suppressed in most of the cases by inhibiting the pancreatic secretion. This can also enhance the repair of pancreatic, duodenal and jejunal fistulae. On the basis of experimental studies carried out by Johnson, and on the clinical studies of Guttmann, as well as on original studies done by the authors, Ftorafur was included in the complex therapy of acute pancreatitis, and of pancreatic and duodenal fistulae. A group of 14 cases of acute pancreatitis, were treated. These included 5 necrotic-haemorrhagic pancreatitis, and 9 oedematous pancreatitis. The drug was given by continuous intravenous perfusion in doses of 1,200-1,600 mg per day, for a period of 6-12 days. In all the cases the clinical improvement of the patients as well as recovery of normal values of blood amylase were spectacular, and full recovery was achieved in all the cases. Ftorafur was also used in 3 cases of pancreatic fistulae, and in 2 cases of duodenal fistulae, and recovery was also achieved in a very short time. On the basis of this experience, although small, the authors recommend the introduction of Ftorafur in the complex therapy of acute pancreatitis, as well as in that of pancreatic and duodenal fistulae. Following administration of Ftorafur no adverse effects were noted, and in the doses mentioned above this drug did not delay the repair of surgical wounds.

[Computer survey of the rehabilitation data and social conditions of children with motor disabilities in Györ-Sopron and Baranya Counties]

To investigate the occurrence of motor disability a pilot study was carried out in the total children's population of Györ-Sopron county and in 57% of the children of Baranya county by computer-based questionnaires. The data of the 492 motor handicapped children were analysed by 55 computer programs. These programs are constructed for the analysis of the somatic and mental health, schooling, rehabilitation possibilities, social background, care of these children and their further needs for specialists and institutions. This procedure is suitable for national and longitudinal data collection and for the complex registration of the status of these children.

[An experimental study of the action of 5-fluorouracil on the function and cytomorphology of the exocrine pancreas]

The authors have taken up previous studies by Martin (1969), and by Johnson (1973), and carried out an experimental study on white rats aimed at evaluating the morpho-functional changes of cells from the exocrine pancreas under the influence of 5-fluorouracil (Ftorafur), a cytostatic drug which is a general inhibitor of protein synthesis by cells. Ftorafur was injected in amounts of 2.3 mg/100 g of body weight, and a significant reduction was noted in the secretion of bicarbonates, amylase and lipase by the pancreas of the animals. Cytologic changes were also noted in the pancreatic tissue of these animals, indicating, on the one hand, a deficient protein and enzyme synthesis by the pancreatic cells, and a blocking of the mechanism of discharge of zymogen granules, on the other hand. The most intensive morpho-functional changes were noted following repeated administration of Ftorafur, probably due to the cumulative effects of this substance at the level of secretory pancreatic cells. The authors consider that 5-fluorouracil inhibits to a considerable degree the synthesis of pancreatic enzymes, and as such it can be used as a therapeutic means for the reduction of the external secretion of the pancreas.

Transcriptional activation of homologous and heterologous genes by the hepatitis B virus X gene product in cells permissive for viral replication

The potential of the hepadnavirus X gene product to activate gene expression in trans was tested through a series of cotransfections of X expression vectors with a variety of potential targets for transactivation. The X gene products from human hepatitis B virus (HBV), woodchuck hepatitis virus, and ground squirrel hepatitis virus are all equally active in augmenting the expression of a wide array of target promoters in both permissive and nonpermissive cells. Using the HBV genome itself as the source of X protein, we demonstrate that transactivation of HBV and heterologous genes occurs when X protein is expressed in its native state during productive infection of permissive cells. Run-on transcription analysis indicates that this transactivation occurs at the level of primary transcription.

Different cation transport inhibitor in malignant renal hypertension and in uraemia

1. We investigated whether the previously reported circulating frusemide-like factor in rats with malignant renal hypertension was specific to this syndrome, or was also present in rats with chronic uraemia. 86Rb uptake (K+ transport) of monolayers of vascular smooth muscle cells was measured in the plasma of rats with malignant one-kidney, one-clip hypertension and of uraemic rats (60-70% nephrectomy). 2. Compared with control plasma, ouabain-insensitive 86Rb uptake of cells was reduced and ouabain-sensitive 86Rb uptake was unchanged in the plasma of rats with malignant hypertension. The reverse was found in the plasma of uraemic rats. 3. Inhibition of ouabain-sensitive 86Rb uptake of cells occurred in the plasma of rats with malignant hypertension when an angiotensin II antagonist was added to the reaction mixture. 4. The findings confirm the presence of a frusemide-like plasma factor in malignant hypertension and a ouabain-like plasma factor in uraemic. The presence of a ouabain-like plasma factor in malignant hypertension is camouflaged by an elevated circulating angiotensin II level, which stimulates K+ transport.

Relationship between dog saphenous vein reactivity and Na content

The physiological significance of the wide range of spontaneous variation in the total Na content of the dog saphenous vein (SV) was investigated. The SV of pentobarbital-anesthetized male mongrel dogs was perfused in vitro with the dogs' own venous blood, and its reactivity to acetylcholine (ACh) and norepinephrine (NE) was measured. The contralateral SV was removed for measurements of total and intracellular (Li exchange at 4 degrees C) Na and K content, DNA content, and muscle width. Reactivity to ACh correlated directly with total and extracellular SV Na content, and reactivity to NE correlated directly with total and intracellular K content. Reactivity to NE was unrelated to ACh reactivity, plasma NE concentration, or venous wall DNA content or muscle width. ACh-mediated venoconstriction was approximately 10 times more sensitive to inhibition by amiloride, an inhibitor of Na-entry pathways, than NE-mediated venoconstriction. The finding that extracellular Na content is a marker of reactivity to ACh is compatible with experimental evidence that the mode of action of ACh may be the stimulation of Na influx. The positive correlation between the K content and reactivity of veins to NE suggests that there is a link between intracellular K content and the release of Ca from the sarcoplasmic reticulum in response to NE.