The fatty acid pattern of triglycerides and FFA in serum of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR)

The fatty acid patterns of serum triglycerides and FFA in SHR and in normotensive controls aged 4, 8 and 26 weeks were estimated by gas-liquid chromatography. In serum triglycerides of SHR, the percentage of linoleic acid (C18:2) was lower and the content of arachidonic acid (C20:4) higher than in age-matched control animals. A continuous increase in palmitic (C16) and linoleic acids as well as a decrease in arachidonic acid has been found with advancing age, the most striking differences existing between 4- and 8-week-old animals, i.e. before onset of arterial hypertension in SHR. In the pre-hypertensive stage, the percentage of arachidonic acid was about 3 times as high as in later stages in SHR. This gradation was, however, even more pronounced in normotensive control rats. The C18:2/C20:4-ratio of triglycerides was lower in SHR but increased with age in both groups reaching a 5--8-fold level. Similar behavior of the FFA fatty acid pattern was less marked. Alterations in levels of linoleic and arachidonic acids are of interest because of their pathogenic role as precursors of prostaglandins in the development of genetically spontaneous hypertension in rats. The results are discussed in connection with the hypotensive effect of a linoleic acid-rich diet recently reported in hypertensive rats.

Adipose cell size in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR)

The size of adipose cells in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive controls has been evaluated at 4, 8 and 26 weeks of age. Age-matched groups showed significant differences only in 8-week-old rats, but this can be explained by the lower body weight of SHR. In both groups of animals fat cell size varies with body weight (r = 0.965 in SHR and r = 0.863 in normotensive rats) independent of the stage of hypertension. The regression lines are not significantly different. Thus, no evidence of enlarged adipocytes in SHR has been obtained.

Effects of therapy on vitreous fluorophotometry in diabetes mellitus

Quantitative vitreous fluorophotometry was used to study the alteration of the blood-retinal barrier in 116 patients with diabetes mellitus of adult onset. The patients were in good stable metabolic control on injectable insulin, oral hypoglycaemics, or diet therapy. Vitreous fluorophotometry readings were abnormally high but similar in all three groups and in those with or without early background retinopathy. A higher incidence of systemic hypertension was noted in those patients requiring oral agents compared to those on insulin or diet therapy.

Tourette's syndrome symptom onset at age thirty-five

It is apparent to the authors that the primary factors influencing this particular case of Tourette's Syndrome are psychological. The condition appeared to result from threatening environmental conditions causing repression. The repressed material manifested itself in multiple tics, echolalia and coprolalia. Because of this patients's extreme resistance to accept the true conditions of his situation, individual and group psychotherapy have been difficult modes of treatment.

[Summer holiday camps for asthmatic children--an attempted assessment (author's transl)]

118 schoolchildred (males:females = 2.5 : 1) with bronchial asthma--defined as recurrent allergic or non-allergic expiratory dyspnoea--were investigated as regards their clinical course, frequency of asthma attacks, exercise tolerance, anti-asthmatic drug requirements and spirometric changes during and after participation in specialized holiday programmes during the summer months in 1974, 1975, and 1976. Clear-cut improvement was observed with regard to asthma attack frequency (up to nearly 100%) and drug requirements (up to 76%). Steroid dependence was observed in most cases. No significant spirometric improvement was demonstrable. All data require critical evaluation and interpretation in view of seasonal variations in asthmatic manifestation and the influence of environmental factors. On reviewing the results it is concluded that treatment of the asthmatic child by supervised high altitude holidays (1400 m above seal level), combined with physical training and a respirator re-education programme, is still a justified therapeutic approach, but it cannot replace specific therapy laid down on the basis of careful diagnostic testing. Particpation of the asthmatic child in school gym classes is recommended. Abstention from physical exercis due to a misplaced protective attitude is not beneficial in most cases.

The fatty acid pattern of triglycerides in liver, adipose tissue and serum of diabetics with hyperlipoproteinemia before and during clofibrate treatment

In 20 diabetic inpatients with type IIb, III, IV and V hyperlipoproteinemia (HPL) the triglyceride fatty acid pattern (TFAP) of serum, adipose tissue and liver biopsy specimens before and after one year of clofibrate treatment has been determined by gas-liquid chromatography. Compared to previous results which revealed a correlation between fat droplet size and the TFAP in liver parenchyma cells, remarkable changes were observed after long-term therapy. In adipose tissue, only linoleic acid increased significantly from 8.6 to 11.3%. In serum, myristic and palmitic acid decreased, whereas linoleic, eicosatetraenoic (arachidonic) and eicosapentaenoic acid rose significantly. In liver fat, palmitic acid decreased, whereas linoleic, eicosatrienoic, arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acid significantly increased. After clofibrate therapy, the TFAP in diabetic subjects with HLP became similar to that of diabetics without HLP. The most pronounced changes were found in the liver, serum having an intermediate position between liver and adipose tissue. The pathophysiological relevance in view of possible relations to prostaglandins has been discussed.

[Polycythaemia as sole symptom of renal adenoma (author's transl)]

In two children, a 9 year-old boy and a 10 1/2 year-old girl, who presented with polycythaemia as the only symptom, the expected renal tumour was only found after exclusion of all other causes of polycythaemia. The delay in diagnosis was caused by technically inadequate intravenous urograms, which were erroneously passed as normal. In one child low kv X-ray exposition of the kidneys led to the diagnosis of a renal tumour. In the other child high-dose urography and tomography gave the indication for selective angiography. Normalization of the red blood count postoperatively verifies the connection between preoperative erythrocytosis and the renal tumour. Histologically both cases proved to be renal adenomas, which are extremely rare in childhood.

The fatty acid composition of triglycerides in arteries, depot fat and serum of amputated diabetics

The triglyceride fatty acid pattern (TFAP) in arterial wall, adipose tissue and serum in vivo has been estimated in amputated diabetic subjects by gas-liquid chromatography simultaneously. Besides, in some probands the fatty acid pattern of cholesterol esters of vessel walls has been obtained. In arterial wall the percental content of lauric, myristic, myristoleic, palmitoleic, stearic, oleic and linolenic acid was high and that of palmitic and linoleic acid was low, when compared to serum, whereas eicosatrienoic, arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acid were of similar magnitude. In comparison to adipose tissue myristic, palmitic and nervonic acid were decreased and eicosatrienoic, arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acid were increased in arterial wall. In view of the results the speculation is obvious that certain fatty acids have distinct metabolic positions in several tissues, such as depot fatty acids and precursors of prostaglandins, for example.

[Diagnosis of primary hyperlipoproteinemias]

The diagnostics of hyperlipoproteinaemias is essentially based on the proof of biochemical parameters. The simultaneous determination of triglycerides and cholesterol in the serum is the most important measure for establishing disturbances of the lipid metabolism. The behaviour of these two lipids, the consideration of the serum and the lipoprotein electrophoresis in most cases make possible a classification according to the distributed all over the world and clinically relevant division according to Fredrickson. Loading tests for the early recognition of hyperlipoproteinaemias - analogus to protodiabetes - are hitherto not yet known. Within the diagnostics shoude be taken into consideration that hyperliproproteinaemias are frequently associated with other metabolic diseases (obesity, gout, diabetes mellitus, hypertension) as so-called metabolic syndrome.

Advantage in management of diabetic coma by intensive care

A brief review of some therapy results in 763 episodes of diabetic coma from 1960 to 1973 reveals a significant decrease in lethality after institution of an intensive care unit. Present aspects of management are: intensification of shock therapy, potassium substitution and treatment of cerebral edema. The possibly dangerous role of hypotonic solutions is discussed. The lowering of the as yet high lethality of diabetic coma is an urgent necessity.

Physical basis of charge pairing in mitochondria

The postulate of charge pairing in the mitochondrial inner membrane is justified by applying a formula due to Fuoss to calculate the probability density for the distance between a positive and a negative charge. For dielectric constants 10 or less pairing is absolute, for 20 there is some tendency towards pairing, and at 78 it is nonexistent. Pairing, partner exchange or charge substitution, inhibition, and antiport uncoupling can be rationalized within this framework.

Population and economic development in Latin America

Latin America has been sparsely populated since colonial times. The importation of slaves during the first half of the 19th century and European immigration during the second half have provided the manpower needed for the expansion of the Latin American colonial economies. At the end of the last century, industrialization in the form of import substitution began where sufficiently large domestic markets, brought about through increasing exports, permitted it. Consumer goods industries were created near population centers of sufficient size to provide a sizeable domestic market.

After 1930, development became the driving force of economic growth in several Latin American countries. The extent to which import substitution could be accomplished depended on the size of the domestic market in each country. This is the reason that industrialization has made more headway in the three largest countries of the area. The small population size of many Latin American countries is now a constraint to their development. The enlargement of their domestic markets through the formation of free trade areas may spur development, but this cannot be achieved in the near future. For them, population growth is still important. Fertility is, however, already decreasing in Latin America and population growth is likely to diminish in the near future. In order to develop, most Latin American countries will have to integrate a larger proportion of their population into the markets, since they will not be able to continue to rely on population growth for the expansion of effective demand.