Self-mutilation and the borderline personality

As part of a larger study of pathological self-injury, 14 self-mutilators and 14 psychiatric controls matched for age, sex, and inpatient/outpatient status were administered the Diagnostic Interview for Borderlines. Consistent with Gunderson's theory of borderline personality disorder, the self-mutilators scored significantly higher on impulse-action patterns, affects, psychoticism, and interpersonal relations as well as on the total borderline index. A review of clinical records likewise revealed that self-mutilators were more likely than controls to have been diagnosed as borderline and to have received a greater number of different diagnoses during their treatment career. The results have implications for developmental theory, diagnosis, and treatment and provide support for the construct validity and clinical utility of the borderline syndrome and the Diagnostic Interview for Borderlines.

Effects of various anti-inflammatory drugs on type II collagen-induced arthritis in rats

The effects of some commonly used anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic drugs on the inflammatory and immunological manifestations of type II collagen-induced arthritis in rats were studied. Among the anti-inflammatory drugs tested at a given dosage (mg/kg/day), benoxaprofen (10), aspirin (25) and indomethacin (3) inhibited the hind paw swelling and anti-type II collagen antibody formation in type II collagen-treated rats. Benoxaprofen also inhibited the delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response to type II collagen. Phenylbutazone (30) and fenoprofen (40) partially suppressed the paw swelling, but had no significant effect on humoral and cellular responses. Among the other anti-arthritic drugs, levamisol (25), chloroquine (25) and D-penicillamine significantly suppressed the paw swelling, anti-type II collagen antibody titres and DTH response. Gold chlorophosphene (10) and colchicine (3) had no effect on any of these three parameters. Paramethasone (0.1), cyclophosphamide (1) and azathioprine (10) were very effective when dosed daily, or once (at a different dose) 72 hr prior to immunization with type II collagen.

Effect of artificial photoperiods on plasma thyroxine-binding prealbumin and retinol-binding protein in Japanese quail

Variations in thyroxine-binding prealbumin (TBPA) and retinol-binding protein (RBP) concentrations in plasma were determined in Japanese quail subjected to a shortened solar lighting cycle lasting 4 months of real time. The concentration of TBPA varied inversely with the length of daily photoperiod up to 15 h (correlation coefficient r = −0·99) when a minimum level was reached of about 50% of that obtained under short days consisting of 8 h light: 16 h darkness (8L : 16D). A slight reversal in the concentration of TBPA occurred with photoperiods in excess of 16 h. The time-lag in response of the cyclic change in TBPA after the change in the lighting cycle was 8 days. The concentration of holoRBP, on the other hand, showed little change with photoperiods <15 h, but between 15 and 17·5 h it passed through peak values which were 24% and approximately 10% higher than the initial concentrations in female and male birds respectively. Total immunoreactive RBP concentrations in plasma peaked similarly in females but in males the apparent changes were not significant. The molar ratio of the two proteins (TBPA: RBP) which form a 1:1 complex in plasma also changed inversely with photoperiod from 1·6 on short (8L : 16D) to 0·6 on long (16L : 8D) days. When the ratio declined below 1·0 it was noted that rapid growth of the gonads took place and when this ratio returned to > 1·0 regression set in. The changes in plasma TBPA concentration were examined in Japanese quail subjected to sudden changes in photoperiod from short (8L : 16D) to long (20L : 4D) days and vice versa. In the group of birds transferred from short to long days the plasma level declined significantly (P<0·05) within 3 days, whereas birds changed from long to short days were more refractory in that a significant increase was seen only after 30 days. The synthesis of TBPA in liver is closely controlled by photoperiod and it seems that this protein plays an important role in the peripheral distribution of thyroxine and perhaps also influences the cyclical supply of retinol to the gonads.

K+-evoked [3H]-5-HT release from rat frontal cortex slices: the effect of 5-HT agonists and antagonists

The pharmacological characteristics of a pre-junctional 5-HT autoreceptor have been studied by following the Ca2+-dependent, K+-evoked release of [3H]-5-HT from preloaded rat frontal cortex slices. Added 5-HT, in the presence of the 5-HT uptake inhibitor chlorimipramine, caused a dose related inhibition of the K+-evoked release of [3H]-5-HT in this system as did the 5-HT analogues 5-methoxytryptamine, N-methyltryptamine, 5-methoxy-NN'-dimethyltryptamine, N-methyl 5-hydroxytryptamine and tryptamine. The inhibitory effect of 1 microM 5-HT on the K+-evoked release of [3H]-5-HT was reversed in a dose-related manner by the 5-HT antagonist drug, methiothepin (pA10 value 6.7). At a concentration of 1 microM, the 5-HT antagonists drugs cinanserin and mianserin produced a small but significant reversal of the 5-HT induced inhibition of K+-evoked [3H]-5-HT release, but methysergide, metergoline and cyproheptadine were completely without effect at this concentration. The results are interpreted as evidence for a pre-junctional autoreceptor for 5-HT in the frontal cortex of the rat with a different pharmacological specificity for 5-HT antagonists from previously studied 5-HT receptors.

5 alpha-Dihydro-11-deoxycorticosterone: effect on blood pressure in the rat

The bioactivity of 5 alpha-reduced sex steroids such as 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone has increased interest in an analogous role for 5 alpha-reduced mineralocorticoids in hypertensive syndromes. In view of its relatively high mineralocorticoid receptor affinity despite relatively low electrolyte-altering effects, 5-alpha-dihydro-11-deoxycorticosterone, or 5 alpha DHDOC (2) was compared to 11-deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) for blood pressure-altering ability by continuous subcutaneous infusion into uninephrectomized saline-drinking Sprague-Dawley male rats, at doses selected on the basis of relative mineralocorticoid receptor affinity. After three weeks of treatment, DOCA significantly raised blood pressure, body weight, heart and kidney weight, and produced a discernible increase in fluid intake; 5 alpha DHDOC failed to affect any of these parameters commonly influenced by mineralocorticoids. We conclude that 1) the ability of 5 alpha DHDOC to affect blood pressure was not predicted by its relatively high affinity for the mineralocorticoid receptor, and 2) these data do not support a role for 5 alpha DHDOC in mineralocorticoid hypertension, although differences in protein binding and clearance could affect its blood pressure-altering activity.

Effect of sulfinpyrazone on platelet survival time in patients with transient cerebral ischemic attacks

Platelet suppressant drugs have been suggested as beneficial for patients with transient cerebral ischemic attacks and these drugs have been shown to lengthen shortened platelet survival time. In the present study platelet survival time (autologous labeling with 51Chromium) was measured in 25 patients with transient cerebral ischemia involving a carotid distribution. Platelet survival was shortened in all patients (2.5 +/- 0.10 days; AVE t 1/2 +/- SEM; Normal 3.7 +/- 0.04 days P less than 0.001). Sulfinpyrazone increased platelet survival in 9 of 19 (47%) of patients (2.4 +/- 0.10 to 2.8 +/- 0.16 days; P less than 0.01). Of the 19 treated with sulfinpyrazone, 10 had a marked reduction in the frequency of transient ischemic episodes and an increased in platelet survival (2.6 +/- 0.16 to 3.1 +/- 0.22 days; P less than 0.01) was observed in all patients. Three patients had no benefit from sulfinpyrazone and alteration of platelet survival did not occur. Results suggest that platelet survival is shortened in patients with transient cerebral ischemia, that sulfinpyrazone increases platelet curvival and may decrease the frequency of ischemic episodes, and that there may be a relationship between clinical benefit and alteration of platelet survival time.

Extensive primary lymphoma of the gastrointestinal tract

A case of extensive primary lymphocytic lymphoma (lymphosarcoma) of the gastrointestinal tract is reported. At the time of presentation the patient had diffuse involvement of the gastrointestinal tract from the stomach to the ano-rectal junction. Malabsorption was present. Pre-treatment immunologic studies showed elevated serum IgA and IgG, but impaired humoral and cellular immunity. Death occurred 13 months after diagnosis.

Studies on Effects of Certain Quinones: II. Photosynthetic Incorporation of CO(2) by Chlorella

The effects of various quinone herbicides and fungicides on the photosynthetic (14)CO(2) fixation and the incorporation of (14)C among the products of photosynthesis in Chlorella pyrenoidosa was investigated. Addition of 30 mum 2,3-dichloro-1,4-naphthoquinone (dichlone), 2-amino-3-chloro-1,4-naphthoquinone (06K-quinone), or 2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone (chloranil) inhibited CO(2) fixation, whereas 1,4-benzoquinone had no effect. Treatment with 3 mum or higher concentrations of dichlone, 06K-quinone or 1,4-benzoquinone also produced marked changes in the pattern of (14)C distribution. A noticeable effect was an increase in the proportion of (14)C in sucrose and glycine accompanied by a reduction in (14)C lipids and glutamic acid. These changes appear to occur as a result of shifts in the flow of carbon along various biosynthetic pathways of photosynthetic CO(2) fixation. It is suggested that inactivation of coenzyme A and shortage of reduced triphosphopyridine nucleotide in the quinone-treated cells inhibited the synthesis of lipids and glutamic acid, thereby diverting more carbon into sucrose and glycine.

Purification from rat liver of an enzyme that catalyses the sulphurylation of phenols

1. An enzyme (EC 2.8.2.1) that catalyses the transfer of sulphate from adenosine 3'-phosphate 5'-sulphatophosphate to phenols was purified approx. 2000-fold from male rat livers. 2. The purified preparation did not catalyse the sulphurylation of dehydroepiandrosterone, butan-1-ol, l-tyrosine methyl ester, 1-naphthylamine or serotonin. 3. At pH8.0 and 37 degrees C the K(m) values of the enzyme for p-nitrophenol and adenosine 3'-phosphate 5'-sulphatophosphate are 51 and 14mum respectively. The K(m) value for either substrate is independent of the concentration of the other. 4. The sulphurylation of phenol is inhibited by thiol compounds and glutathione at a concentration of 3mm caused an approx. 50% decrease in enzyme activity. 5. The K(m) of the enzyme for adenosine 3'-phosphate 5'-sulphatophosphate is unaffected by the presence of added glutathione but at a concentration of 5mm-glutathione the K(m) of the enzyme for its phenolic substrate is decreased.