Acute and chronic cardiocirculatory effects of oral prazosin in chronic refractory heart failure

The acute hemodynamic effects of oral prazosin were investigated in 7 patients with chronic refractory heart failure. A single dose of 1 to 3 mg prazosin produced a significant increase in cardiac index (+17.6%, p less than 0.01) associated with substantial decreases in pulmonary arterial diastolic pressure (-31.6%, p less than 0.02), systemic vascular resistance (-29.7%, p less than 0.01), and double product (-24.1%, p less than 0.02). Plasma renin activity was significantly elevated (+42.4%, p less than 0.02). These effects were found maximum at 2 hours and persisted for 8 hours. The chronic hemodynamic effects in 5 patients with chronic refractory heart failure were evaluated by administration of 1 to 2 mg prazosin 3 times daily for 8 weeks, and ventricular function was assessed by echocardiography and carotid pulse recording. All the patients showed improvement in the clinical symptoms of heart failure. Peripheral venous pressure decreased slightly (-12.5%). ET/PEP increased (+24.5%) without any significant changes in EF and mVcf. Plasma renin activity also slightly increased (+17.8%). Thus, prazosin possesses sustained nitroprusside-like actions, and is effective in the management of chronic congestive heart failure refractory to conventional therapy. While, further investigation is necessary to define the effect of prazosin on plasma renin activity.

Trophic effect of tetragastrin on the stomach, duodenum and pancreas in rats

Subcutaneous injections of a large dose of tetragastrin (2 mg/day) into a rat for 4 weeks caused hypertrophy of parietal cells of the stomach, intestinal glandular cells of the duodenum, and pancreatic acinar cells. Ths histometrical analysis revealed that these trophic effects of tetragastrin were produced in varying degrees in different sites.

Effectiveness of a new drug, bredinin, on canine kidney allotransplant survival

BR has remarkable effectiveness on canine kidney allograft survival. Its effectiveness in suppression of the immune responses is dependent on the dosage. Atrophy of the spleen and the mesenteric lymph nodes is prominent in treated dogs. Septic complications are slight, with no reduction in the number of peripheral white blood cells. Erosive changes of the mucosa in the entire bowel are the major side effects of the drug treatment. Liver functional abnormality has not been observed.

Experimental study of measurement of regional bone blood flow in the adult mongrel dog using radioactive microspheres

To date, no one has conclusively accurately measured the regional bone blood flow mainly due to the lack of a proper investigative method. In this study, regional blood flow in the femur and tibia in adult mongrel dogs were studied using 85Sr-and 141Ce-labeled microspheres with a diameter of 15 +/- 5 microns. The blood flow rates were calculated by relating the radioactivity from tissue samples that from sample blood with a known flow. The highest rate of blood flow, 48.7 ml/min/100 g, was found in the femoral marrow and the lowest, 3.0 ml/min/100 g, in the diaphyseal cortex of the tibia. Flow rates in the metaphyseal regions, about 15 or 20 ml/min/100 g, were one and a half or 2 times greater than those in the epiphyseal regions. These values were mostly within the range of values reported by other investigators. Radioactive microspheres can be applied not only to physiological conditions but also to various pathological conditions if their size and the dose, the site and method of injection and tissue sampling are investigated further.

Dissociation of visual and auditory language comprehension capacity in aphasia

Visual language comprehension capacity was compared with auditory language comprehension capacity in 26 aphasic subjects. The Token Test was used for both modalities. By the means of the difference in scores on the two tests three groups were separated, that is (1) a group with no essential difference between the two capacities, (2) a group with superior reading capacity and (3) a group with superior auditory capacity. Particular attention was directed to the second group. Seven subjects showed this type of dissociated comprehension. The group was found to be heterogeneous in their linguistic characteristics. The clinical type of aphasia included not only Wernicke's aphasia but also Broca's aphasia. A possible psychological explanation underlying this phenomenon was attempted. Anatomical correlation was also attempted. The hypothesis of sparing the left inferior parietal lobe is proposed as an explanation of why visual comprehension was better preserved than auditory comprehension.

Reaction mechanisms of beta1H globulin

The reaction mechanisms of beta1H were studied. The generation of alternative pathway C3 and C5 convertases on the cell surface as well as in the fluid phase was inhibited by beta1H globulin. The cell preparation bearing the C3b site could bind beta1H with little effect on the C3b hemolytic activity. Bound beta1H was dissociated by the action of C3bINA and C3bINA-treated C3b bearing cell did not bind beta1H anymore. Cell-bound beta1H was also dissociated by the action of B (or Bb). From these and other results, the following conclusions were obtained. The C3b site-bearing cell could bind beta1H on the C3c region of C3b molecules facilitating the C3bINA action on C3b, and beta1H shared the same binding site with B (or Bb) inhibiting the generation of the alternative pathway convertases competitively.

Cellular immunity in systemic lupus erythematosus as evidenced in vitro by leucocyte migration inhibition tests

A leucocyte migration inhibition test was performed on 26 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and on 35 control subjects using three different antigens, fetal calf thymus DNA, baker's yeast RNA, and calf thymus extractable nuclear antigen (ENA). Leucocyte migration was inhibited by DNA in 17 out of 26 SLE patients (65-3%), and in only 2 of the 35 controls (5-7%). When RNA or ENA was added none of the patients or controls showed inhibition. In SLE patients migration inhibition by DNA was significantly correlated with the presence of proteinuria and/or granular casts in urinary sediment. When the migration inhibition test was positive, immunofluorescence verified active histology of the glomeruli obtained by a percutaneous renal biopsy.

Preservation of singing in Broca's aphasia

Twenty-four right-handed, right hemiparetic patients with Broca's aphasia were examined for their singing capacity. Twenty-one (87.5%) produced good melogy. Twelve of these (57%) produced good text words while singing. It is speculated that the right hemisphere is dominant over the left for singing capacity. The relationship between melodic and text singing was also discussed.

Dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity after acute myocardial infarction

After acute myocardial infarction, serial serum dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) activity was elevated in both high and low DBH subgroups. The observed increase in DBH activity on the first, second, and third days after acute myocardial infarction suggests an augmentation in sympathetic nervous system activity after acute myocardial infarction.