Recombination between the factor VIII gene and the DXS52 locus gives the most probable genetic order as centromere-fra(X)-DXS15-DXS52-F8C-telomere

The linkage relationship between the factor VIII gene (F8C) and the DXS52 locus was examined in 8 families. Two recombinations were identified in 35 informative meioses (Zmax = 5.67; theta = 0.05), one in a family with hemophilia A, the other in a family with the fra(X) syndrome. Based on the latter recombination, the most probable order of loci was determined to be centromere-fra(X)-DXS15-DXS52-F8C-telomere. When these data are added to those reported previously the most probable genetic distance between F8C and DXS52 is 3 cM (Z = 14.62). Identification of these and other recombinations suggests that the use of DXS52 as a genetic marker for carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis of hemophilia A has an error rate between 3-5%.

Measles immunisation rates and the good practice allowance

The recent discussion document on primary health care proposes that a good practice allowance is paid to general practitioners based in part on the uptake of immunisation by patients. The variation between and the validity of practice immunisation rates for measles as determined by one district health authority's child health computer are assessed. In areas of low population mobility district health authority rates may be sufficiently accurate to base a good practice allowance on but should not be used until the social environment of each practice can also be characterised. In areas of high mobility intermittent surveys may be a preferable method of auditing performance.

Chemical analysis of compounds extracted from the tergal "spots" of Lutzomyia longipalpis from Brazil

The chemical composition of the compounds contained in the tergal spots of Lutzomyia longipalpis was investigated. Four populations of L. longipalpis were examined, originating from: Sobral, Ceará, Brazil (one spot and two spot populations), Santarém, Pará, Brazil (one spot) and Marajó Island, Pará, Brazil (one spot). The tergal spots were dissected out, extracted in hexane and analysed on a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer. Two compounds were found, identical to compounds found in earlier studies, but there was no correlation between number of tergal spots and type of compound present. It was suggested that the number of tergal spots could not be used as a marker for reproductively isolated populations, and that analysis of the compound present within the spots might be necessary to characterize potentially good vector populations.

Separation of female Psychodopygus wellcomei and P. complexus (Diptera: Psychodidae) by cuticular hydrocarbon analysis

Psychodopygus wellcomei (Diptera: Psychodidae), vector of Leishmania braziliensis braziliensis - causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Brazil, cannot be distinguished from sympatric P. complexus either by morphometrics or isoenzyme profiles. We report here the use of cuticular hydrocarbon analysis in the successful separation of individual female P. wellcomei and P. complexus. This technique involves the use of gas liquid chromatography and discriminant function analysis.

Can the prevalence of disease risk factors be assessed from general practice records?

The result of an audit of the recording of smoking habit, alcohol consumption, blood pressure level, diet, exercise, height, weight, and occupation in patients in five general practices is reported. This audit was the first phase of a study to assess the feasibility of the exchange of information between general practice and a district health authority. The frequency with which each item was recorded varied from 3% (exercise) to 65% (blood pressure) in a five year period. The sample of patients upon whom a recording had been made was shown to be unrepresentative of the practice population: this presents a difficulty in using general practice records to estimate the prevalence of risk factors for disease in the community.

The affinity of norgestimate for uterine progestogen receptors and its direct action on the uterus

Norgestimate is a new orally active progestational agent. Studies were conducted to demonstrate that norgestimate is active pharmacologically without requiring biotransformation to an active metabolite. In in vitro studies, norgestimate exhibited a relatively high affinity for the rabbit uterine progestogen receptor. To demonstrate that norgestimate was not being degraded to a biologically active entity, which was binding to receptor sites in the cytosol preparation, the stability of 14C-norgestimate in the preparation was determined. Following the incubation of 14C-norgestimate with the cytosol fraction used in the receptor assay, the labeled material was extracted and analyzed by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography. 14C-Norgestimate was recovered from these incubation mixtures, confirming that norgestimate was available to bind to the progestogen receptor. In in vivo studies, norgestimate stimulated the endometrium in immature rabbits when applied directly to the uterus, again suggesting that bio-transformation to an active metabolite is not required for expression of norgestimate's pharmacological activity. These in vitro and in vivo studies, when considered with previously reported studies, show that norgestimate is a unique progestogen.

Effect of androgens and gonadotropins on progesterone secretion of chicken granulosa cells

A culture system has been used to study the effect of PMSG in vivo pretreatment and androgens on the in vitro secretion of progesterone from avian granulosa cells. PMSG in vivo pretreated cells secreted greater amounts of progesterone than did cells obtained from untreated hens. Testosterone and 5-alpha-dihydrotestosterone significantly increased basal progesterone secretion in PMSG pretreated cells as well as in granulosa cells harvested from non-treated hens. Testosterone or 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone in combination with FSH or LH were additive and never resulted in a synergistic stimulation of progesterone secretion.

Inhibin activity and steroid hormone levels in ovarian extracts and ovarian vein plasma of female monkeys during postnatal development

Inhibin activity, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)-suppressing substance, estrogen, progesterone, and androstenedione were measured in charcoal-treated ovarian tissue and ovarian venous and peripheral blood of eight rhesus monkeys ranging from 12 to 48 months of age. All of the monkeys demonstrated inhibin activity in ovarian tissue, which, if expressed per milligram protein, was relatively constant throughout development. However, if the activity was expressed per ovary, the amount of ovarian FSH-suppressing substance increased between 26 and 48 months; it was present in detectable amounts in ovarian venous blood only in one 26-month-old monkey. Detectable levels of estrogen were present in ovarian venous blood of the 26-month-old and the 48-month-old monkeys but not in the younger monkeys. It is possible that the secretion of inhibin activity may be in part responsible for low levels of serum FSH observed prior to puberty, because it has been observed by others that bilateral ovariectomy in the prepubertal monkey can result in a rise in FSH and that administration of charcoal-treated ovarian follicular fluid can suppress serum FSH in castrated prepubertal and adult rhesus monkeys.

Comparative effect of estriol and equine conjugated estrogens on the uterus and the vagina

Estriol has been reported to act selectively on the vagina and cervix without causing endometrial proliferations. Studies comparing this effect of estriol to that of equine conjugated estrogens after intravaginal administration have not been reported. In this study, intravaginally administered Ortho- Gynest which contains estriol, and Premarin which contains equine conjugated estrogens, were evaluated for their ability to stimulate vaginal maturation and uterine growth in rats. Approximately 15 times more conjugated estrogens than estriol was needed to induce the same degree of vaginal cornification in castrated rats. In contrast, estriol was less potent than the conjugated estrogens in causing uterine growth in immature rats after subcutaneous administration in sesame oil and in mature rats after intravaginal administration in cream preparations. In studies evaluating the vaginal irritation potential of estriol vaginal cream, the irritation exhibited by treated rabbits was found to be comparable to that of sham-treated control rabbits. Estriol was well-tolerated in an oral acute safety study in rats.

Potency and activity variation of LHRH analogs in different models and species

The LHRH agonist [D-His(Bzl)6, Pro9-NHEt]LHRH was estimated to be 3.4, 4.4 and 9.2 times more potent than LHRH as a stimulator of ovulation in Nembutal-anesthetized, androgen-sterilized and diestrus rats, respectively; and 57 times more potent than LHRH as a stimulator of uterine growth in immature mice. Higher doses of agonist were required to induce ovulation in diestrus hamsters and mice than were needed in diestrus rats. Rats and hamsters also exhibited different sensitivities to an antagonist of LHRH. The LHRH antagonist [N-Ac delta 3-Pro1, D-pF-Phe2,D-Trp3,6]LHRH was active but higher doses were required to inhibit ovulation in hamsters than were needed in rats. In addition, treatment at 1500 hr on the day of proestrus in rats, in contrast to treatment at 1000 hr in hamsters, caused the greatest inhibition of ovulation. It is clear from these data, that the estimated in vivo potencies of analogs of LHRH are greatly influenced by species and animal model, as well as route of administration and biopharmaceutic factors previously reported.

Dystrophic mutation (dy2J) affecting regulation of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and pyruvate kinase (PK) in C57BL/6J mice

The genotype difference (dystrophic vs nondystrophic) in the LDH isozymes is observed in kidney. These differences are evident only at birth and at early developmental stages (before the expression of dystrophic symptoms). The tissue specific genotype differences for PK are limited to the thigh muscle (M form) and heart (L form), after the onset of the condition. These differences may reflect the pleiotropic effect of the dy2J locus during the temporal regulation of these and other enzymes implicated in muscular dystrophy (MD).

Flat small intestinal mucosa and autoantibodies against the gut epithelium

A male infant, aged 1 year 3 months, was admitted to the hospital with protracted diarrhoea, vomiting, and weight loss. The diarrhoea and vomiting coincided with an outbreak of acute diarrhoea and vomiting affecting other family members. Biopsy showed a flat small intestinal mucosa which did not respond to a diet free of gluten, cow's milk, and eggs, or during 8 weeks of intravenous alimentation. Steroids were given, and courses of nalcrom and later cimetidine, but these did not produce any significant improvement. A rare IgG autoantibody specific for gut epithelium was found, which, when present, was associated with a cytological abnormality of crypt enteroblasts. The autoantibody disappeared after treatment with cyclophosphamide, and the cytological abnormality subsequently diminished. However, the mucosa remained severely abnormal and has been so for 23 months. It is possible that an autoimmune reaction against the patient's small intestinal mucosa has led to persistence of the enteropathy.

The effect of porcine follicular fluid on ovulation, mating and pregnancy in the rat

We have examined the effects of charcoal-treated, greater than 10,000 MW porcine follicular fluid (PFF retentate) treatment on ovulation, cyclicity, mating and pregnancy in the rat. Rats treated i.p. with PFF retentate twice on the day of metestrus and once on the day of diestrus exhibited a dose-related reduction in the mean number of ova when oviducts were checked on the afternoon of expected estrus. However, oviducts checked on the morning of expected metestrus contained a normal number of ova. To study the effects of PFF retentate on cyclicity, mating and subsequent pregnancy, rats were treated (0.2 ml, i.p.) two, three or four times a day beginning on the day of metestrus until proestrus cytology was exhibited. PFF retentate treatment resulted in a dose-related delay in the appearance of proestrus cytology and a reduction in the number of embryonic implants following cohabitation with males on the night of proestrus. However, PFF retentate had no effect on the number of implants, when given post-coitally. These results show that administration of PFF retentate to female rats delays ovulation, alters the estrous cycle and reduces the mean number of embryonic implants in a dose-related manner.

Treatment of life-threatening digitalis intoxication with digoxin-specific Fab antibody fragments: experience in 26 cases

Purified Fab fragments of digoxin-specific antibodies obtained from sheep were used to treat 26 patients with advanced, life-threatening digoxin (23 cases) or digitoxin (3 cases) toxicity. These patients had advanced cardiac arrhythmias, and in some cases hyperkalemia, which were resistant to conventional treatment. All patients had an initial favorable response to doses of Fab fragments calculated (in most cases) to be equivalent, on a molar basis, to the amount of cardiac glycoside in the patient's body. In four patients treated after prolonged hypotension and low cardiac output, death ensued from cerebral or myocardial hypoperfusion. In one case the available Fab fragment supply was inadequate to reverse a massive suicidal ingestion of digoxin, and the patient died after recurrent ventricular arrhythmias. In the remaining 21 patients, cardiac rhythm disturbances and hyperkalemia were rapidly reversed, and full recovery ensued. There were no adverse reactions to the treatment. We conclude that the use of purified digoxin-specific Fab fragments is a safe and effective means to reverse advanced, life-threatening digitalis intoxication.

Analysis of phosphate in serum with the phosphate redox electrode system

A phosphate redox electrode system (PRES) was designed, constructed, and evaluated for analysis of inorganic phosphate in serum. This system is based on the observed phosphate ion potential of a chemically treated iron wire in a turbulent flow-through cell at constant oxygen tension. We analyzed 110 clinical samples by this technique and with the Technicon SMAC. Of the specimens analyzed, 32% contained abnormal phosphate concentrations. Each was assayed two to four times with the PRES and once with the SMAC. The PRES assay rate was 60 samples/h. Mean phosphorus concentrations (and SEM) were: PRES, range of values for replicate data sets, 30.5-31.0 (0.5-1.1) mg/L; SMAC, 30.8 (1.0) mg/L. Results for the PRES (y) correlated well with those by the SMAC: r = 0.968 to 0.980, estimated slope = 0.99 to 1.03, and estimated intercept = -1.1 to 0.1 mg/L. Differences in results by the two methods were not statistically significant.