Reference intervals for serum lipids, lipoproteins, and apoproteins in the elderly

We measured total cholesterol, high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, apoprotein A, and apoprotein B in serum. The subjects were a volunteer group of 145 white people (50 men and 95 women) ranging in age between 65 and 95 years, who were not receiving medical treatment and had no disease that could influence lipid metabolism. Before further categorization, we saw no significant sex-related difference in any of these lipid constituents. The mean age of the group was about 80 years, and we compared results for those older and younger. For the women, the only significant difference was a decrease in low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol for those older than 80 years. In men over 80 there was a significant decrease in triglycerides and in apoprotein B and an increase in high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol. The only sex-related difference for persons under and over 80 was in values for high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol, which were higher for men over 80, whereas triglycerides were higher for women over 80.

[Pathology of catecholaminergic innervation of the cerebral cortex in Alzheimer's dementia]

Changes in cerebral catecholaminergic pathways in Alzheimer type dementia would appear to involve both the noradrenergic and the dopaminergic system in their sub-cortical and cortical distribution, but the essential information currently available involves the noradrenergic innervation of the cerebral cortex. Involvement of this system was first detected by the authors using fluorescence histochemistry on biopsy specimens. In addition to the notable decrease in noradrenergic axons, three types of changes were seen: irregular axonal swelling with neurotransmitter diffusion phenomena, appearances of axonal interruption and, specific to the three cases of pre-senile form of Alzheimer's disease which were studied, the presence of large spherical or fusiform dilatations on the axonal endings, close to senile plaques. Thus histochemical study indicates the possibility of complex involvement, not only of synthesis of the neurotransmitter, but probably also of other properties of the noradrenergic axons: axonal flow, membrane permeability and hence, possibly liberation, uptake and storage of the mediator. These histochemical findings have been confirmed by other teams, who have demonstrated a neuronal loss of 20 to 80% in the locus coeruleus, a nucleus providing the cortical noradrenergic bundle. In addition, biochemical estimations have revealed either a severe reduction of the order of 90% in endogenous noradrenaline (3 personal cases), or a fall of 20 to 45% (cases from the literature), in relation with the method of biopsy or autopsy specimen and the form of pre-senile or senile dementia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of L-thyroxine treatment on pituitary GH content of adult rats with neonatal thyrotoxicosis

Rats receiving large doses of thyroxine (30 micrograms/5 doses) during their first days of life develop an apparently permanent alteration of the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid complex. This neonatal thyrotoxicosis has been called neo-T4 syndrome. A state of permanent but not very severe hypothyroidism seems to be induced, accompanied by a decrease in pituitary GH content at least until day 22. In this work, growth hormone content has been measured by a specific radioimmunoassay in the anterior pituitary of 45 and 78 day old neo-T4 and control (saline-injected) rats. GH content of the adult neo-T4 treated animals was significantly lower than that of the adult controls. Administration of different doses of T4 (1.7 micrograms/100 g body weight/3 doses or 2.5 micrograms/100 g body weight/8 doses, to 70 day old rats, and 5 micrograms/100 g body weight/3 doses to 42 day old rats) to adult neo-T4 rats did not alter these decreased pituitary GH levels. This differs from hypothyroid rats, in which T4 administration has been shown to increase pituitary GH content. A third approach was to thyroidectomize neo-T4 and control rats and administer 5 micrograms T4/100 g body weight, which produced the same increase in pituitary GH in both groups of animals. These results seem to indicate that changes in pituitary GH content of neo-T4 rats are not due to hypothyroidism. Thus, it would appear that treatment with large T4 doses during the early perinatal period not only deranges the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis but other pituitary functions as well.

High resolution radioautography of central dopaminergic fibers labelled in vitro with [3H]dopamine or [3H]norepinephrine

An original method is reported for the radioautographic visualizing of dopaminergic axons terminals in the rat central nervous system. This method is based on an in vitro labelling with either tritiated norepinephrine or dopamine under conditions of specificity previously established by fluorescence histochemistry. The immobilization of [3H]catecholamines in their sites of uptake and storage during post-fixation for electron microscopic processing was ensured by the use of osmic acid vapours instead of osmic acid solution. Selective labelling of the dopaminergic fibers may be achieved throughout large brain sections and the technique should be applicable to human biopsy material.

Effect of topically-applied solutions of iodine, sodium fluoride, or chlorhexidine on oral bacteria and caries in rats

Antibacterial levels of iodine, chlorhexidine or sodium fluoride were topically applied to the molar teeth of rats. The effect of these agents on buccal and sulcal caries, as well as on certain oral bacterial populations was assayed. All three agents exerted a significant cariostatic effect which was site specific. Buccal caries incidence and reductions appeared correlated to S. mutans counts, while sulcal caries was better correlated to total cultivable counts. These studies suggested that the simultaneous application of iodine and NaF might exert an additive cariostatic effect.

[Radioautographic identification of dopaminergic axons in the rat CNS. In vitro marking with tritiated dopamine or noradenaline]

A new radioautographic technique for the visualization of central dopaminergic fibers is described. This technique is based upon in vitro uptake of triatiated norepinephrine or tritiated dopamine in the presence of monoamine oxidase inhibitor and specific uptake inhibitor in noradrenergic fibers. After a short step in glutaraldehyde, the use of osmium vapours as a fixative, instead of osmic acid immersion, allows a satisfactory retention of triatiated amines within dopaminergic fibers.

Reticular dysgenesis: report of two brothers

We describe two brothers with marked leucopenia, lymphopenia, no immunologicl response to infections (no Ig production, negative PHA response and very low number of T and B lymphocytes in peripheral blood) and hypocellular marrow. They died at 12 and 8 days of life with infection (E. coli and Klebsiella, respectively).

Double labelling of blanched neurons in the central nervous system of the rat by retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase and iron dextran complex

The retrograde axonal transport of an iron-dextran complex leads to a labelling of neural cell bodies in the central nervous system (CNS) of the rat. This tracer and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) can both be demonstrated histochemically in same cell bodies of intralaminar thalamic neurons in the central lateral nucleus, after injection of iron-dextran in the striatum and injection of HRP in the motor cortex. This is made possible by processing the sections first for HRP and then for ferric ions by Perl's reaction. This method allows an accurate demonstration of divergent axonal projections and is compatible with cytoarchitectonic studies on the same sections.

Fluphenazine enanthate in the outpatient treatment of late paraphrenia

Fluphenazine enanthate parenterally was compared to an antipsychotic drug (haloperidol) given orally for the "crisis intervention" treatment of elderly outpatients with late paraphrenia. In the fluphenazine group, 11 of 13 patients improved, compared to only 3 of 13 in the oral drug group (p less than 0.01). The superiority of fluphenazine probably was attributable to improved compliance with the prescribed regimen by patients receiving parenteral depot medication. Despite the advanced age of the subjects, significant adverse drug effects were uncommon.

Bromide intoxication in the elderly

Four patients with dysfunction of the central nervous system secondary to bromide intoxication are reported. Three of them were referred because of symptoms of "senility," which appeared to preclude further independent living. After diagnosis and treatment of the bromism, they were able to continue living at home. The development of bromide toxicity with relatively low serum bromide levels in the elderly is discussed. The importance of a home visit to establish the diagnosis of drug-induced cognitive dysfunction is emphasized.