Pharmacological study of uzarigenin-glucoside-canaroside

Uzarigenin-glucoside-canaroside (UGC) is a steroid glycoside isolated from the leaves of ISOPLEXIS CHALCANTHA whose pharmacological properties have not been so far studied. In this paper the effect of UGC on isolated auricle of rabbits, urinary excretion of rats, isolated jejunum of rabbits, (86)Rb (+) uptake by erythrocytes as well as its emetic effect in pigeons are presented, using digoxin as standard. The pharmacological activity of UGC was similar to that of digoxin, UGC possessing, however, a lesser vomiting action.

Microsurgical anatomy of the superficial veins of the cerebrum

The microsurgical anatomy of the superficial cortical veins was examined in 20 cerebral hemispheres. The superficial cortical veins are divided into three groups based on whether they drain the lateral, medial, or inferior surface of the hemisphere. The veins on the three surfaces are further subdivided on the basis of the lobe and cortical area that they drain. The superficial cerebral veins collect into four groups of bridging veins: a superior sagittal group, which drains into the superior sagittal sinus; a sphenoidal group, which drains into the sphenoparietal and cavernous sinuses on the inner surface of the sphenoid bone; a tentorial group, which converges on the sinuses in the tentorium; and a falcine group, which empties into the inferior sagittal or straight sinus or their tributaries. The superior sagittal group drains the superior part of the medial and lateral surfaces of the frontal, parietal, and occipital lobes and the anterior part of the basal surface of the frontal lobe. The sphenoidal group drains the parts of the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes adjoining the sylvian fissure. The tentorial group drains the lateral surface of the temporal lobe and the basal surface of the temporal and occipital lobes. The falcine group drains an area that includes the cingulate and parahippocampal gyri and approximates the cortical parts of the limbic lobe of the brain. The relationship of these veins to the venous lacunae was also examined.

Amino acid sequence around the cysteine residues of pigeon egg-white lysozyme: comparative study with other type c lysozymes

The cysteine-containing tryptic peptides of pigeon egg-white lysozyme have been purified by reverse-phase chromatography and thin-layer chromatography and electrophoresis on cellulose plates. They contain the eight cysteine residues of the protein. The amino acid sequence of these peptides reveals the existence of 24 differences in comparison to the homologous regions in hen egg-white lysozyme, among the 53 sequenced residues. The sequence data are compared to the corresponding ones in other type c lysozymes. According to this study, the pigeon lysozyme exhibits ten substitutions not observed in any other type c lysozyme. Pigeon lysozyme is the most different type c lysozyme from birds, according to the data on primary structure.

A death from fentanyl overdose

A case of death from self-injection of fentanyl and a method for its detection in autopsy specimens are reported. Fentanyl was measured by extraction of biological samples with ethyl acetate, partitioning into 0.1N HCl, then reextracting into ethyl acetate after alkalinization of the acid phase. After reducing to a residue, the fentanyl was measured by selective ion monitoring gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Concentrations of 4.8, 6.3, and 4.7 micrograms/L were found in blood, urine, and bile, respectively.

Isolation, characterization, and amino acid sequence of a ubiquitin-like protein from insect eggs

A protein with a primary structure identical to that of human and bovine ubiquitin has been purified from insect eggs. The isolation, secondary structure, and amino acid sequence of this ubiquitin-like protein are reported. The sequence was determined by automatic Edman degradation of the intact molecule as well as by the manual sequence analysis of the enzymatic cleavage products. The polypeptide has 74 amino acid residues and internal homology regions. Interactions of the protein with peptides results in protective effects against proteolysis. This paper reports for the first time the presence of the ubiquitin molecule in invertebrates.

CT cholangiography: multiplanar reconstruction in obstructive jaundice

The value of multiplanar reconstruction (MR) in coronal and sagittal planes from axial transverse computed tomography (CT) slices was investigated in cases of obstructive jaundice. The clinical application for this technique lies in its potential to depict the dilated bile duct to the point of obstruction providing a "map" of the biliary tree. We call the technique "CT cholangiography." The images obtained were of good quality in 77.5% of the cases. Coronal planes proved better than sagittal in demonstrating the bile duct. Furthermore, MR added information concerning the cause of obstruction in 27% of the cases. Improvements in technique will refine the method and likely eliminate the need for invasive cholangiography in many cases of obstructive jaundice.

Computed tomography in obstructive jaundice. Part I: The level of obstruction

Computed tomographic (CT) scans of 67 cases of obstructive jaundice were analyzed to determine the value of CT in detecting the level of obstruction. The cases were divided into four groups by anatomical segments, according to the number of visualized hypodense ringlike structures produced by the dilated bile duct, as seen in axial sections made 1 cm apart. Gallbladder size, dilatation of intrahepatic biliary radicals and the pancreatic duct, visualization of tumor masses, and condition of the bile duct below the obstruction were other variables used to determine the level of obstruction. The overall accuracy of CT in determining the exact level has been 97%. The most reliable indicator is the number of rings, which has excellent correlation with the results of direct cholangiography. The diagnostic value of all other variables is limited to specific cases.