Effects of cyclodextrins on chlorpromazine-induced haemolysis and central nervous system responses

Cyclodextrins (CyDs) protected the human erythrocytes from haemolysis induced with chlorpromazine (CPZ) in isotonic solution, depending upon the magnitude of the stability constant of CPZ-CyD complexes (beta-greater than-gamma-greater than alpha-CyD). From the observations of CPZ uptake into erythrocytes and changes in surface activity of CPZ, the protective effects of CyDs in vitro appeared to be due to the decrease in effective haemolytic concentration of CPZ through inclusion complex formation rather than the direct interaction of CyDs with the erythrocyte membrane. The effect of beta-CyD on some central nervous system (c.n.s.) actions of CPZ in rats was also investigated to see if there were any advantages in the use of beta-CyD complexes given by injection. The results suggest that beta-CyD does not after the time-course or magnitude of the effects of CPZ on the c.n.s.

Familial aggregation of abnormal ventilatory control and pulmonary function in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

A sex-, age-, obesity, and protease inhibitor-matched study of pulmonary function and ventilatory control was performed on 26 sons of 19 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and 26 control subjects. Mean values for FEV1/FVC and V25 were significantly lower and CV/VC was significantly higher in sons of patients than in the controls. VC, airway resistance, static pulmonary compliance. delta N2, arterial blood gases and pH were not different between sons and controls. When the sons of patients were divided into two groups according to the arterial blood gases of their parents, sons of hypoxemic, hypercapnic parents showed significantly lower hypoxic ventilatory responses than sons of normoxemic, normocapnic parents. Hypercapnic ventilatory responses were not different between sons and controls. Abnormal pulmonary function and low ventilatory responses were more frequently detected in sons than in controls. The association of smoking with abnormalities of pulmonary function was not clearly seen in sons. These results suggest that familial factors (either genetic or environmental) play a significant role in determining the pathogenesis and clinical types of COPD.

Protective effects of cyclodextrins on drug-induced hemolysis in vitro

beta-Cyclodextrin (beta-CyD) significantly protected the human erythrocytes from hemolysis and shape changes induced with chlorpromazine and flufenamic acid in isotonic solution. A good correlation between the stability constants of inclusion complexes (beta- greater than gamma- greater than alpha-CyD) and the inhibitory effects on drug-induced hemolysis was found. From the observations of drug uptake into erythrocytes and changes in surface tension, the protective effects of CyDs appeared to be due to the decrease in effective concentration of drug through inclusion complexation rather than the direct interaction of CyDs with erythrocyte membrane.

[Clinical study of adrenal imaging with 123I-labeled-6 beta-iodomethyl-19-norcholesterol (author's transl)]

Although adrenal scintigraphy with 131I-6 beta-iodomethyl-19-norcholesterol (NCL-6-131I) was used for the first noninvasive imaging of the adrenal glands, it has the disadvantages. These are: (i) relatively high radiation dose to patients, (ii) the long time required for completion of the scan. To solve these problems, 123I-labeled 6 beta-iodomethyl-19-norcholesterol (NCL-6-123I) was synthesized and was used for adrenal scintigraphy in 6 cases. Successful images were obtained with 185 MBq (5 mCi)-260 MBq (7 mCi) of NCL-6-123I, and optimal time required for the satisfactory scan was 2-3 days after the administration. The estimate radiation dose was reduced by using 185 MBq (5 mCi) of NCL-6-123I instead of 18.5 MBq (0.5 mCi) of NCL-6-131I. From the result of this clinical study, NCL-6-123I was preferred for the adrenal scintigraphy.

Comparison between pulmonary emphysema and chronic bronchitis: an assessment by selective alveolo-bronchography

In order to elucidate the interrelationship between pulmonary emphysema and chronic bronchitis, 23 adult patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were examined during life by selective alveolo-bronchography. They were classified according to radiologic criteria as centrilobular or panlobular emphysema or chronic bronchitis and according to clinical criteria as A, B or X types. A and B clinical types proposed by Burrows and Fletcher were almost in agreement respectively with emphysema and chronic bronchitis based on x-ray criteria. However, no correlation between A-type and panlobular emphysema or between B-type and centrilobular emphysema were observed. Centrilobular emphysema was diagnosed in 4 patients who had no history of findings of bronchitis. This suggests that inflammation of airways is not necessarily a cause of centrilobular emphysema. As a result, selective alveolo-bronchography was thought to be useful method to diagnose the type and severity of emphysema.

Transthoracic electrical impedance: artifacts associated with electrode movement

The applicability of transthoracic impedance measurements for estimating thoracic fluid volume and tidal volume is limited by large variations associated with electrode movement, repeated application of electrodes and inter-individual differences. These sources of variation were studied with a four-electrode impedance-measuring device in anaesthetized dogs. Electrode movement artifacts affecting both the resting expiratory value of impedance (Zo) and the respiratory change of impedance (deltaZ/VT) could be largely eliminated by rigidly fixing the distances between the current-supplying and the potential-sensing electrodes. The reproducibility of Zo and deltaZ/VT was found to be affected adversely by local conductivity changes in the skin induced by repeated removal of the glued electrodes. Inter-individual variations in Zo and deltaZ/VT correlated with the thickness of thoracic subcutaneous fat (r = 0.86) and thoracic circumference (r = -0.95) respectively. Correction for these sources of inter-individual variation allowed the standard deviations of Zo and deltaZ/VT to be reduced from 18% to 7% and from 51% to 17% of their respective mean values.

Changes in potassium content of erythrocytes during exercise in man

Factors affecting erythrocyte K+ content and plasma electrolytes during light exercise were examined in 8 normal subjects and 27 patients with chronic obstructive lung disease. The patients were classified into bronchitis, emphysema and intermediate groups. Arterial blood was obtained during rest, after 2, 5, and 7 min. of exercise on a bicycle ergometer (30 km/h without mechanical brake), and at 10 and 20 min. during recovery for analysis of PO2, PCO2, plasma H+, Na+, K+, and Cl(-), erythrocyte K+ content and whole blood lactate. Plasma H+ increased significantly in all subjects after 2 min. of exercise and PCO2 rose in normal, bronchitis, and emphysema groups during exercise, whereas PO2 did not change significantly. Plasma K+ rose promptly after the beginning of exercise and remained at high values during exercise. The rapid rise in PCO2 was associated with a significant decrease of calculated erythrocyte K+ in patients with chronic bronchitis. Although changes in plasma H+ were dependent on both PCO2 and lactate, erythrocyte K+ changes were significantly related only to changes in PCO2. These results indicate that the decrease in erythrocyte K+ is mainly controlled by changes in arterial PCO2 during light exercise in patients with chronic bronchitis.