Corticotropin releasing factor produces increases in brain excitability and convulsive seizures in rats

Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) is a 41-residue peptide, capable of stimulating the secretion of corticotropin (ACTH)-like and beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity from the adenohypophysis. Low doses of CRF (0.0015-0.15 nM) given intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) produced changes in electrographic activity suggestive of increased arousal. Higher doses of CRF (1.5-3.75 nM) induced, over a period of 3-7 h, electrographic and behavioral signs of seizure activity indistinguishable from those which occur following electrical 'kindling' of the amygdala.

Multiple acyl-Co A dehydrogenation deficiency (MADD) in a boy with nonketotic hypoglycemia, hepatomegaly, muscle hypotonia and cardiomyopathy. Detection of N-isovalerylglutamic acid and its monoamide

A boy, aged 7 months, of consanguineous parents presented with an acute onset of vomiting, fever, nonketotic hypoglycemia and acidosis and died from cardiac arrest after ventricular fibrillation. He had hepatomegaly and echocardiographically a non-obstructive cardiomyopathy. Autopsy was not allowed. After birth the child had suffered from a severe respiratory distress syndrome, transient metabolic acidosis and had a sweaty feet odour. Later on, development was retarded with a severe muscular hypotonia. Post mortem, numerous unusual organic acids were found in high concentrations in urine, e.g. dicarbonic acids, 2-hydroxyisobutyric, isovaleric, 3-hydroxyisovaleric acid, N-acyl glycines, isovalerylglutamic acid and sarcosine. This pattern indicated deficiencies of several acyl-Co A dehydrogenases in the metabolism of leucine, isoleucine, valine, lysine, short-chain fatty acids and sarcosine. This could be confirmed using cultured skin fibroblasts which were shown to degrade the corresponding labeled substrates insufficiently to 14CO2. It is assumed that the functional multiple acyl-Co A dehydrogenation deficiency is caused by a deficiency of a common link in the electron transfer system of these dehydrogenases which is inherited autosomal recessively in this family. Among the 12 patients reported, 7 died within the first 5 days of age.

The results of radiation therapy in advanced carcinoma of the lung in the Beijing region of China

From 1958 to 1973, 682 patients with lung cancer were treated by radiation therapy in the Cancer Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China. The clinical presentation, sex, age, histology and stage and palliative effects of radiation therapy were reported. The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 40.62, 8.94 and 3.81%, respectively. The prognostic factors such as staging, histology, combination with chemotherapy and response of tumours are discussed. The causes of failure are also analysed. It is suggested that improving the local control rate of squamous cell carcinoma would increase the survival rate.

Atypical phenylketonuria with defective biopterin metabolism. Monotherapy with tetrahydrobiopterin or sepiapterin, screening and study of biosynthesis in man

Administration of a single dose of tetrahydrobiopterin dihydrochloride, 10--20 mg/kg orally, to a patient with dihydrobiopterin deficiency led to disappearance of clinical symptoms for 4 days, normalization of urinary phenylalanine and serotonin and decrease of elevated neopterin for 2--3 days. A dose-dependent stimulation of serotonin production was observed. A similar effect was noted with even lower doses of L-sepiapterin. The patient is now under monotherapy with tetrahydrobiopterin . 2 HCl, 2.5 mg/kg daily. Other patients with this disease may not respond as well. Results of screening for tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency in 228 cases with hyperphenylalaninemia, including 140 newborns, are reported. There is evidence that biopterin biosynthesis in human kidney and liver proceeds via a dioxo compound and L-sepiapterin.

Atypical phenylketonuria due to biopterin deficiency. Early treatment with tetrahydrobiopterin and neurotransmitter precursors, trials of monotherapy

This report presents the first case where an infant with tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency has been identified by screening of newborns with hyperphenylalaninemia for tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency. Therapy with L-Dopa, 5-hydroxytryptophan, Carbidopa and tetrahydrobiopterin was started at the age of seven weeks while the child received a normal diet. At that time already muscular hypotonia was observed. The girl, now 2 1/2 years old, shows slight muscular hypotonia and hypomotility, short periods of hypertonic extension of the limbs, and retardation of sensomotor and mental development of about 6-8 months. Monotherapy with tetrahydrobiopterin dihydrochloride, 20-40 mg/kg b.w., diminished the muscular hypotonia. The effect lasted however for only about 1 day. While urinary serotonin and phenylalanine remained normal for at least 3 days and neopterin was only slightly elevated, urinary free dopamine however remained low. Similar results were obtained after 1',2'-diacetyl tetrahydrobiopterin dihydrochloride administration, 20 mg/kg b.w.

Influence of protein intake on S-adenosyl methionine decarboxylase activity in normal and chronically uremic rats

The activity of S-adenosyl methionine decarboxylase (SAM decarboxylase), an enzyme mediating polyamine biosynthesis, was measured in liver and kidney of chronically uremic rats and their pair-fed controls. Effects of protein intake were assessed in groups of rats fed either 8 or 18% casein or switched from 18 to 70% casein for 14 hours. In control rats, both hepatic and renal SAM decarboxylase activities increased with the higher levels of dietary casein. In uremic rats, SAM decarboxylase activity was not responsive to alterations in protein intake. Hepatic and renal SAM decarboxylase activity was significantly higher in control rats than in uremic rats, but this was due to increases in activity that occurred with diets containing higher amounts of protein (18 and 70% casein versus 8% casein).

The effect of copper and protein on iron metabolism in rats fed a cereal diet

Weanling male white rats were fed a diet containing a commercially available breakfast cereal. In 28 days they developed a mild anemia coupled with an increased amount of iron in the liver. In parallel work, this same diet was supplemented in a factorial fashion with casein, iron, copper and zinc. The zinc had no effect. Copper supplementation increased the hemoglobin level. Casein decreased liver iron. The copper and casein, when fed together, produced results approaching normal control levels. Supplementation of the diet with additional iron did not increase the hemoglobin or hematocrit but it did further increase iron storage in the liver. It is suggested that cereal enrichment programs might do well to consider copper and protein rather than focus total attention to additional iron and zinc.

Dietary aluminum and Alzheimer's disease--a review

Current evidence suggests that dietary aluminum is neither an essential nutrient nor a toxic element causing neurological damage. The phosphate and fluoride salts of aluminum are very insoluble. When fed in excess, aluminum increases the dietary needs for these anions. Aluminum hydroxide is used as an antacid that can prevent the phosphatemia seen in severe kidney damage. In Alzheimer's disease there is progressive decrease in brain mass with the accumulation of phospholipid-rich cell debris. These membrane tangles tend to accumulate aluminum and are easily stainable with silver.

Metabolism of 1-14C-ornithine and 1,4-14C-putrescine in chronically uremic and control rats

The metabolism of ornithine and putrescine was studied in vivo in chronically uremic and control rats. Rats were injected intraperitoneally with 1,4-14C-ornithine or 1,4-14C-putrescine and expired 14CO2 was collected for 4 hr. After injection of 1-14C-ornithine. 14CO2 expiration was decreased in uremic rats as compared to controls. Conversely, after 1,4-14C-putrescine injection, expiration of 14CO2 was increased in uremic rats as compared to controls. Four hours after the injection of 1-14C-ornithine, there was more radioactivity in liver and muscle and less radioactivity in kidney of uremic rats as compared to the respective sources in control rats. In uremic rats, 4 hr after 1,4-14C-putrescine injection, the radioactivity retained in the muscle and plasma was greater than in corresponding sources in control rats; whereas the radioactivity retained in uremic liver and kidney was similar to that of control rats. The greater putrescine-derived radioactivity retained in uremic tissues reflects either the retention of injection racer compounds, or retention or decreased catabolism of putrescine metabolites. From 14CO2 expiration data obtained, it appears that ornithine catabolism is reduced while putrescine catabolism is increased in uremia.

Formation of carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds in corn-bread inoculated with fungi

DMNA, DENA and MBNA are formed in corn-bread which has been inoculated with the most common species of fungi found in foodstuffs of Lin Xian County, Henan Province, such as F. moniliforme, A. flavus and others, and then, added with small amount of NaNO2 after a few days of incubation. These carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds can induce cancer of the liver or/and esophagus in experimental animals. Results of the present study show the capability of some fungi to produce chemical carcinogens as well as mycotoxins in contaminated food, and thus, open a new field of research in cancer etiology.

Diamine oxidase activity in plasma and urine in uremia

Diamine oxidase activity was measured in plasma or urine in 12 normal men, 4 men with chronic liver or heart disease, 13 men with chronic renal failure, and 12 men undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. Also in five studies in 4 patients, plasma diamine oxidase activity and total amine levels were measured at hourly intervals during a hemodialysis treatment. Plasma diamine oxidase activity was normal in patients with liver or heart disease and was at least three times normal in chronically uremic patients and in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. Plasma diamine oxidase activities before and after a hemodialysis therapy were similar and did not change during dialysis until the 4th hour when they fell transiently; plasma total amine levels, which were elevated initially, tended to rise during the 4th hour of dialysis. Urinary diamine oxidase activity was reduced in the chronically uremic patients as compared to normal subjects. These observations are consistent with three alterations in diamine oxidase in patients with renal failure: activity (a) is increased in plasma of chronically uremic patients and those undergoing maintenance hemodialysis, (b) does not increase normally in response to heparin administration during dialysis therapy, and (c) is reduced in urine of chronically uremic patients.

Internal fixation of slipped femoral capital epiphyses

The problems related to internal fixation for the treatment of slipped femoral capital epiphyses were reviewed in 164 cases and by a questionnaire of 59 orthopedic surgeons. Significant problems were reported with all fixation devices. With Trifin nails, the main difficulty was getting them to stay in in place. With threaded pins, there was difficulty removing them. The best fixation was obtained with the cast Vitallium Knowles pin, but it requires additional modification and improvement.