Effect of propane-1,2-diol ingestion on carbohydrate metabolism in female rat erythrocytes

This study was undertaken to assess the effect of propane-1,2-diol(PD) ingestion on carbohydrate metabolism in female rat erythrocytes. For this purpose, two different groups of adult albino female rats were treated orally with PD at two different dose levels of 73 and 294 mg 100 g-1 body wt. The blood samples drawn from the retro-orbital sinus prior to the treatment served as the controls, whereas the treated samples were collected at peak periods (1/2 and 2 h) 2 and 7 days after the treatment. A single dose of PD was found to elevate levels of blood glucose, lactate, pyruvate and the lactate/pyruvate ratio at the peak periods (P < 0.001) and after 2 days (P < 0.001) in both the groups. A significant (P < 0.05) increase in the contents of erythrocyte 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) was observed only at the peak periods. All these parameters returned to their base level after 7 days of treatment. The activities of hexokinase (HK), 2,3-diphosphoglycerate phosphatase (2,3-DPG Pase), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGD) and aldehyde reductase II (AR II) declined markedly, whereas those of pyruvate kinase (PK) and aldose reductase increased as a result of PD ingestion. The changes in the activities of 2,3-DPG Pase and LDH were persistent up to 8 days post-treatment. The [14C]glucose flux through glycolysis and the hexose monophosphate shunt pathway in erythrocytes was found to be lowered (P < 0.001) in response to PD treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Opposite polarity of virus budding and of viral envelope glycoprotein distribution in epithelial cells derived from different tissues

We compared the surface envelope glycoprotein distribution and the budding polarity of four RNA viruses in Fischer rat thyroid (FRT) cells and in CaCo-2 cells derived from a human colon carcinoma. Whereas both FRT and CaCo-2 cells sort similarly influenza hemagglutinin and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) G protein, respectively, to apical and basolateral membrane domains, they differ in their handling of two togaviruses, Sindbis and Semliki Forest virus (SFV). By conventional EM Sindbis virus and SFV were shown to bud apically in FRT cells and basolaterally in CaCo-2 cells. Consistent with this finding, the distribution of the p62/E2 envelope glycoprotein of SFV, assayed by immunoelectronmicroscopy and by domain-selective surface biotinylation was predominantly apical on FRT cells and basolateral on CaCo-2 cells. We conclude that a given virus and its envelope glycoprotein can be delivered to opposite membrane domains in epithelial cells derived from different tissues. The tissue specificity in the polarity of virus budding and viral envelope glycoprotein distribution indicate that the sorting machinery varies considerably between different epithelial cell types.

The relationship of various indices of heart size on chest x-ray to the 10-year incidence of hypertension. The Normative Aging Study

A total of 598 males (aged 30-74 years) who had baseline (1961-1970) chest radiography and baseline blood pressure less than 140/90 mmHg were observed prospectively for 10 years. Subjects were participants of the Normative Aging Study, a longitudinal study on aging initiated in 1961 at the Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic in Boston, Massachusetts. Blood pressures were taken at five- and 10-year follow-up examinations. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that the long diameter of the heart (on posteroanterior film) and the cardiac depth (on lateral film) were statistically significant predictors of subsequent hypertension after controlling for baseline body mass index, systolic pressure, and diastolic pressure. A similar model considering various composite indices of heart size indicated that the heart volume was a statistically significant and independent predictor of hypertension. Thus, increases in heart size may precede and predict the development of sustained hypertension.

Traumatic olecranon bursitis. Radiologic observations

The affected elbow of 28 patients with traumatic olecranon bursitis was radiographically compared with the homologous elbow of 28 matched controls. Olecranon spurs, amorphous calcium deposits, or both, were present in 16 patients and 4 controls (p less than 0.01). Air was injected in the bursa in 12 additional patients. Nodules in the bursal floor were noted in 10, and the bursa was partially septated in 8. Olecranon spurs, present in 6 patients, corresponded to the insertion of the triceps tendon. With elbow flexion the bursa flattened and lengthened while the olecranon process glided distally beneath the bursal floor.

Revised radiologic concepts of the Barrett esophagus

The radiologic findings in 39 cases of histologically proven Barrett esophagus are reviewed. Esophageal strictures were not found in 18% of the cases, and when present were more often distally located. Esophageal ulcers were found in only 46% of the patients. In 13% of the cases neither ulcer nor stricture was found. The majority (72%) of these cases did not fit the classic stereotype of high esophageal stricture and/or ulcer.

Bone changes in congenital cyanotic heart disease

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