Reye syndrome associated with Hemophilus influenzae infection

A case of Reye syndrome in an infant associated with culture-proven Hemophilus influenzae type d infection and probable meningitis is presented. This represents the second such reported case and the first to be described in detail. The criteria for the clinical and chemical diagnosis of Reye syndrome are reviewed. Pertinent and abnormal features of this patient's presentation are discussed. The finding of a non-visualizing liver on technetium-99m sulfur colloid isotope scan and possible mechanisms are discussed.

Spectra of radical cations of phenothiazine derivatives in solution and solid state

The UV and visible spectra of radical cations of several phenothiazine derivatives were studied using different solvents. The establishment of a relationship between these bands and the R2 and R10 substituents was attempted. The influence of the disolvents on the bands also was studied. The characteristic charge transfer band was observed in the solid state using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The R2 substituent did not appear to influence the band, while the R10 substituent influenced the band considerably, probably due to steric effects.

Pregnancies associated with sperm concentrations below 10 million/ml in clinical studies of a potential male contraceptive method, monthly depot medroxyprogesterone acetate and testosterone esters

A potential male contraceptive approach was evaluated in clinical trials involving monthly injections of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate and either subdermal implants of testosterone propionate or monthly injections of testosterone enanthate. Pregnancies occurred in partners of 9 men with recent sperm counts of 10 million/ml or below. In 5 of the 9 instances, the sperm counts were less than 1 million/ml. It appears that male contraceptive methods involving spermatogenic suppression may require attainment and maintenance of azoospermia. The pregnancy rate cannot be calculated, because the extent of other contraceptive use is uncertain. There were no spontaneous abortions. 6 pregnancies were carried to term, and all progeny were normal, based on physical examination at birth or 3 months after birth.

A radioimmunoassay for norethindrone (NET): measurement of serum NET concentrations following ingestion of NET-containing oral contraceptive steroids

A sensitive and reliable radioimmunoassay (RIA) for the measurement of norethindrone (NET) in serum has been established employing anti-11 alpha-hydroxynorethindrone 11-hemisuccinyl-bovine serum albumin serum in conjunction with norethindrone-3-(0-carboxymethyl) oximino-[125I]-iodohistamine. Of a number of ring A reduced NET metabolites, only 17 beta-hydroxy-17 alpha-ethinyl-5 beta-estran-3-one (43%) and 17 alpha-ethinyl-5 alpha-estrane-3 beta, 17 beta-diol (15.7%) cross-reacted appreciably in this RIA. Ethinyl estradiol (EE2) and mestranol (MEE2) exhibited cross-reactions of only 1.1 and 0.4%, respectively. Serum NET levels were measured in four groups of 3 women, each ingesting either 1 mg NET plus 0.05 mg MEE2 (Norinyl 1 + 50 or Ortho Novum 1/50), 0.5 mg NET plus 0.035 mg EE2 (Brevicon) or only 0.35 mg NET (Micronor) daily for 5 consecutive days. Peak serum NET levels were observed within 1/2 to 4 hours after oral intake and fell precipitously thereafter. After reaching a maximum, serum NET concentrations declined in a manner consistent with at least two disposition phases. The average half-life for the first disposition phase was 2.3, 3.4, 3.9 and 4.4 hours in subjects ingesting Norinyl 1 + 50, Ortho Novum 1/50, Brevicon and Micronor, respectively. Peak and 3-hour post-ingestion serum NET concentrations were dose-related but showed considerable subject-to-subject variations. Following discontinuation of tablet intake, serum NET levels remained detectable (greater than 0.05 ng/ml) for at least 5 days in all 3 women who had taken Ortho Novum 1/50, but in none of the other 9 volunteers. These results suggest that different preparations of identical doses and combinations of oral contraceptive steroids may yield different serum NET profiles. However, due to considerable subject-to-subject variations, larger numbers of subjects are required for a conclusive investigation.

Serum medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) concentrations and ovarian function following intramuscular injection of depo-MPA

A sensitive radioimmunoassay measuring serum medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) has been developed in order to measure and correlate serum MPA concentrations and ovarian function in women following im administration of deop-MPA (DMPA), employing goat anti-MPA-3-(O-carboxymethyl) oxime-bovine serum albumin and MPA-3-(O-carboxymethyl) imino-125I-iodohistamine. In the 3 women studied, im injection of 150 mg of DMPA yielded brief initial serum MPA concentrations ranging from 1.5 to 3 ng/ml for a few days. Serum MPA concentrations gradually declined and remained relatively constant at about 1 ng/ml for 2 to 3 months, declined gradually thereafter reaching 0.2 ng/ml during the 6th month and became undetectable (less than 0.02 ng/ml) about 7-1/2 to 9 months following administration. Serum estradiol remained at early to midfollicular phase levels for 4 to 6 months after DMPA injection and rose to preovulatory levels when serum MPA levels fell below 0.5 to 0.25 ng/ml. Ovulation, however, as evidenced by serum progesterone concentrations did not occur, apparently due to suppression of the LH peak by positive feedback inhibition. Prolonged inhibition of cyclic ovarian function following DMPA injection is caused by slow MPA absorption and persists until serum MPA levels have decreased below 0.1 ng/ml or become undetectable about 7 to 9 months after DMPA administration.

The incidence of premature contractions in coronary patients during the sleep-awake cycle

Mean heart rates and their variability indices during REM sleep and the frequency of cardiac arrhythmias during the sleep-awake cycle were determined in a group of coronary patients with disturbances of cardiac rhythm. In some patients there was a temporal relationship of atrial and ventricular premature contractions with slow-wave sleep, REM sleep or wakefulness. However, when they were considered as a group, no significant correlation could be observed. Furthermore, the sinus arrhythmia characteristic of REM sleep was not found to be exaggerated in those patients.

Effect of p-chlorophenylalanine on brain monoamines and behaviour during ethanol withdrawal in mice

The administration of p-chlorophenylalanine to mice prevents the rise in brain 5-hydroxytryptamine concentration associated with ethanol withdrawal but does not affect the increase in brain catecholamines which occurs at the same time. The locomotor excitement, piloerection, tremor and handling convulsions which occur during ethanol withdrawal were not affected. These results suggest that the increase in brain 5-hydroxytryptamine which occurs in ethanol withdrawal is a consequence of increased 5-hydroxytryptamine synthesis and that it is probably not involved in the above behavioural changes of ethanol withdrawal.

Changes in monoamine concentrations in mouse brain associated with ethanol dependence and withdrawal

1 Chronic administration of ethanol to mice by inhalation induced tolerance to ethanol and produced an increase in the concentration of brain monoamines.2 Withdrawal of ethanol from dependent mice caused behavioural changes associated with a further transient rise in brain monoamine concentrations which then declined to control levels.3 Inhibition of the withdrawal syndrome by the administration of ethanol postponed the changes in monoamines associated with withdrawal.4 Administration of inhibitors of catecholamine synthesis before withdrawal of ethanol modified the withdrawal syndrome.

A comparison of the effects of chronic administration of ethanol and acetaldehyde to mice: evidence for a role of acetaldehyde in ethanol dependence

After chronic exposure to ethanol or acetaldehyde vapour in concentrations which depress locomotor activity, mice show similar behavioural changes during withdrawal, and there is some degree of cross dependence. Mice exposed to acetaldehyde vapour had blood acetaldehyde concentrations similar to those of ethanol-treated mice, but brain acetaldehyde concentrations were apparently lower. There was no accumulation of acetaldehyde in blood or brain in either group during chronic administration. Chronic ethanol or acetaldehyde administration to mice is associated with an increase in the concentrations of the brain monoamines noradrenaline, dopamine and 5-HT. Withdrawal of ethanol or acetaldehyde is associated with a further, rapid, transient rise in the brain catecholamines, noradrenaline and dopamine. These results suggest that acetaldehyde may play a role in some of the biochemical and behavioural changes associated with ethanol dependence.

The induction of ethanol dependence and the ethanol withdrawal syndrome: the effects of pyrazole

Daily administration of an inhibitor of alcohol dehydrogenase (pyrazole, 1 m mol kg−1, i.p.) appeared to prevent the development of metabolic tolerance to ethanol administered chronically to mice by inhalation, but increased the duration and intensity of the behavioural change associated with ethanol withdrawal, despite the absence of any marked difference in blood or brain ethanol and acetaldehyde concentrations during ethanol administration in the two groups. (Pyrazole-treated mice were exposed to lower concentrations of ethanol.) Changes in brain monoamine concentrations which occur in mice during chronic ethanol administration were not prevented by pyrazole, but differed in time course under these conditions. Repeated administration of pyrazole intraperitoneally caused weight loss and hypothermia in mice, whether or not ethanol was also given. It is concluded that the combination of pyrazole and ethanol is probably not capable of separating primary effects of chronic ethanol administration from secondary (metabolic) effects, and that inhibition of alcohol dehydrogenase is unlikely to be the sole reason for the potentiation of the ethanol withdrawal syndrome by pyrazole.