Evaluation of circulating Fasciola antigens in specific diagnosis of fascioliasis

Ninety-eight individuals were included in this study, 60 of them were passing Fasciola eggs, 20 were infected with other parasites but not Fasciola (infected control group) and 18 individuals were free from parasite infection (normal control group). Circulating Fasciola antigens (CFAg) and anti-Fasciola IgG were estimated by ELISA technique among all groups. Highly significant increased level of CFAg was observed among Fasciola-infected cases when compared with normal control group. The percentage positivity of CFAg was 95% among Fasciola-infected cases. Solid specificity was observed by the test. Moreover, a highly significant increase in the antigen level was detected among moderately infected patients compared with lightly infected group. The level of CFAg was significantly higher in the hepatomegalic cases than those without organomegaly. Anti-Fasciola IgG antibodies were detected in only 35% of Fasciola infected cases, which indicates much lower sensitivity of the antibody detection than antigens. No correlation between the level of the circulating antibodies and either the intensity of infection or the clinical presentations was observed.

Contribution of different sources to the pollution of wet weather flows in combined sewers

Experiments performed on "Marais" catchment, in central Paris, aimed to follow up the quality of wet weather flows from the entry to the exit of a combined sewer network. SS, VSS, COD, BOD5, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn concentrations were measured for an important number of rain events in roof, yard, street runoff, as well as in dry and wet weather flows at the catchment outlet. Mass entry-exit totals, at the scale of the catchment, were calculated over 31 rain events in order to evaluate the contribution of different types of runoff, of sanitary sewage and of sewer sediments to the total wet weather pollutant loads at the catchment outlet. The erosion of in-sewer pollutant stocks was found to be the main source of particles and of organic matter in wet weather flows, whereas heavy metal loads mainly originated from roof runoff, due to the corrosion of metallic roofs. Particles eroded inside the sewer during rain events were found to be quite different from the particles constituting the main part of sewer sediments: they are organic and biodegradable, with rather important settling velocities and seem to accumulate during dry weather periods. A change of the chemical form of heavy metals was noticed during the transport in the sewer and it is suspected that a fraction of the dissolved metals from the runoff is adsorbed on sewer sediments.

Usefulness of the response of flow velocity in the left anterior descending coronary artery to the cold pressor test for evaluating endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation in the coronary microvasculature by transesophageal echocardiography in subjects with angiographically normal coronary arteries

Measurement of flow velocity in the left anterior descending coronary artery by transesophageal echocardiography in subjects without risk factors for coronary artery disease (group 1) and in subjects with normal coronary arteries but conditions associated with endothelial dysfunction (group 2) revealed that there was a significantly impaired coronary flow velocity response to the cold pressor test in group 2 subjects. Thus, transesophageal echocardiography provides a minimally invasive tool for the functional assessment of endothelium and can be valuable in evaluating endothelial dysfunction and recovery in a variety of disease states.

Mutations in NEUROD1 are associated with the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus

The helix-loop-helix (HLH) protein NEUROD1 (also known as BETA2) functions as a regulatory switch for endocrine pancreatic development. In mice homozygous for a targeted disruption of Neurod, pancreatic islet morphogenesis is abnormal and overt diabetes develops due in part to inadequate expression of the insulin gene (Ins2). NEUROD1, following its heterodimerization with the ubiquitous HLH protein E47, regulates insulin gene (INS) expression by binding to a critical E-box motif on the INS promoter. Here we describe two mutations in NEUROD1, which are associated with the development of type 2 diabetes in the heterozygous state. The first, a missense mutation at Arg 111 in the DNA-binding domain, abolishes E-box binding activity of NEUROD1. The second mutation gives rise to a truncated polypeptide lacking the carboxy-terminal trans-activation domain, a region that associates with the co-activators CBP and p300 (refs 3,4). The clinical profile of patients with the truncated NEUROD1 polypeptide is more severe than that of patients with the Arg 111 mutation. Our findings suggest that deficient binding of NEUROD1 or binding of a transcriptionally inactive NEUROD1 polypeptide to target promoters in pancreatic islets leads to the development of type 2 diabetes in humans.

NACOB presentation to ASB Young Scientist Award: Postdoctoral. The impact of boundary conditions and mesh size on the accuracy of cancellous bone tissue modulus determination using large-scale finite-element modeling. North American Congress on Biomechanics

The apparent properties of cancellous bone are determined by a combination of both hard tissue properties and microstructural organization. A method is desired to extract the underlying hard tissue properties from simple mechanical tests, free from the complications of microstructure. It has been suggested that microCT voxel-based large-scale finite element models could be employed to accomplish this goal (van Rietbergen et al., 1995, Journal of Biomechanics, 28, 69-81). This approach has recently been implemented and it is becoming increasingly popular as finite element models increase in size and sophistication (Fyhrie et al., 1997, Proceedings of the 43rd Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society, San Francisco, CA, p. 815; van Rietbergen et al., 1997, Proceedings of the 43rd Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society, San Francisco, CA, p. 62). However, no direct quantitative measurements of the accuracy of this method applied to porous structures such as cancellous bone have been made. This project demonstrates the feasibility of this approach by quantifying its best-case accuracy in determining the trabecular hard tissue modulus of analogues fabricated of a material with known material properties determined independently by direct testing. In addition we were able to assess the impact of mesh size and boundary conditions on accuracy. We found that the assumption of a frictionless boundary condition in the parallel plate compression loading configuration was a significant source of error that could be overcome with the use of rigid end-caps similar to those used by Keaveny et al. (1997 Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 15(1), 101-110). In conclusion, we found that this approach is an effective method for determining the average trabecular hard tissue properties of human cancellous bone with an expected practical accuracy level better than 5%.

Distribution of cholinergic neurons in cell group K of the rabbit brainstem

The cell bodies of efferent neurons supplying the masseter and digastric muscles of the rabbit are located in two brainstem nuclei: the trigeminal motor nucleus and cell group k. The latter also contains neurons innervating muscles of the middle ear and Eustachian tube, as well as neurons that project to the cerebellum and the oculomotor complex. As part of an attempt to identify the functional subpopulations within the three cell divisions (kl-k3) that make up cell group k, we have investigated the distribution of neurons containing choline acetyltransferase, because these are likely to be motoneurons. Five rabbits anaesthetized with sodium pentobarbital (90 mg/kg, i.v.) were used in this study. They were perfused with 4% paraformaldehyde and 0.1% glutaraldehyde in phosphate buffer (0.1 M, pH 7.4). Two animals were used for preliminary studies. In the other three cases, serial Vibratome coronal sections of the brainstem were cut at 50 microm and two series of alternating sections were collected. The first was stained with a monoclonal antibody (code AB8, Incstar) directed against choline acetyltransferase, using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase method. The other was stained with Cresyl Violet. Cell counts and three-dimensional reconstructions were made for both series to determine positions and ratios of cholinergic and non-cholinergic neurons within the trigeminal motor nucleus and the subdivisions of cell group k. The results showed that the numbers of choline acetyltransferase- and Nissl-stained neurons within the trigeminal motor nucleus were almost identical. In cell group k, significantly fewer choline acetyltransferase-stained cells were counted in all three animals (ratios of choline acetyltransferase/Nissl=0.53-0.71). In addition, the distribution of cholinergic neurons was not uniform throughout cell group k. Subdivisions kl and k3 contained proportionately fewer choline acetyltransferase-positive cells (ratios of choline acetyltransferase/Nissl=0.23-0.64) than did k2 (ratios choline acetyltransferase/ Nissl=0.75-0.88). Within each subdivision, there were significant differences in the spatial coordinates of Nissl- and choline acetyltransferase-positive neurons. We conclude that cell group k contains at least two populations of neurons which are unevenly distributed between and within the three subdivisions. While the majority of neurons in subgroup k2 contain choline acetyltransferase and thus are likely to be motoneurons, more than half of the neurons in subgroups k1 and k3 are not cholinergic. It remains to be determined whether these are the neurons that project to the cerebellum and to other CNS regions.

Intensity and amount of physical activity in relation to insulin sensitivity: the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study

CONTEXT

Exercise training is associated with improved insulin sensitivity (SI), but the potential impact of habitual, nonvigorous activity is uncertain.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether habitual, nonvigorous physical activity, as well as vigorous and overall activity, is associated with better SI.

DESIGN

A multicultural epidemiologic study.

SETTING

The Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study, conducted in Oakland, Calif; Los Angeles, Calif; the San Luis Valley, Colo; and San Antonio, Tex.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 1467 men and women of African American, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic white ethnicity, aged 40 to 69 years, with glucose tolerance ranging from normal to mild non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Insulin sensitivity as measured by an intravenous glucose tolerance test.

RESULTS

The mean SI for individuals who participated in vigorous activity 5 or more times per week was 1.59 min(-1) x microU(-1) x mL(-1) x 10(-4) (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39-1.79) compared with 0.90 (95% CI, 0.83-0.97) for those who rarely or never participated in vigorous activity, after adjusting for potential confounders (P<.001). When habitual physical activity (estimated energy expenditure [EEE]) was assessed by 1-year recall of activities, the correlation coefficient between SI and total EEE was 0.14 (P<.001). After adjustment for confounders, vigorous and nonvigorous levels of EEE (metabolic equivalent levels > or = 6.0 and <6.0, respectively) were each positively and independently associated with SI (P< or =.01 for each). The association was attenuated after adjustment for the potential mediators, body mass index (a measure of weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters), and waist-to-hip ratio. Results were similar for subgroups of sex, ethnicity, and diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased participation in nonvigorous as well as overall and vigorous physical activity was associated with significantly higher SI. These findings lend further support to current public health recommendations for increased moderate-intensity physical activity on most days.

Anatomical organization of efferent neurons innervating various regions of the rabbit masseter muscle

Previous studies have shown that the masseter muscle is supplied by motoneurons located in the anterodorsal region of the trigeminal motor nucleus and by an additional group of efferent neurons located in cell group k. The present experiments were performed on nine rabbits and were designed to establish the locations of neurons innervating the different regions of this muscle. Retrograde labeling with two fluorescent tracers (FluoroGold and Fast Blue) was applied to the central ends of cut branches of the masseter nerve. Serial coronal sections of the brainstem were viewed with fluorescence microscopy. The labeled cells were counted in all animals, and three-dimensional reconstructions of their distribution were made in five cases. In each successful experiment, labeled neurons were seen in the anterodorsal region of the trigeminal motor nucleus and in the two dorsal cell columns of cell group k (k1 and k3). Within-animal comparisons of the median position of populations innervating two distinct muscle regions in five rabbits showed that there were no significant differences in either the dorsoventral or rostrocaudal axes. However, in each case, there was a small but significant difference (83-173 microm) in the mediolateral axis within the motor nucleus but not within cell group k. Even in this axis, there was a 94-99% overlap of the two populations. Comparisons of the neuronal cross-sectional area showed that the deep regions were innervated by a larger proportion of small neurons from both nuclei than were the superficial and intermediate regions. Our results suggest that there is no simple topographical arrangement of motoneurons that corresponds to the peripheral pattern of nerve supply to the different regions of the masseter muscle.

Study of neuromyopathy in amyloid kidney transplant patients

Neuromuscular status of amyloid and control groups of kidney transplant recipients was assessed through complete neurological examination, assay for serum levels of muscle enzymes (CPK and LDH), electromyography and nerve conduction velocity studies. Neuromyopathic findings were detected in both groups but without severe disabling clinical manifestations. These findings were more prominent in the amyloid group, evidenced by a more significant increase in polyphasicity detected by electromyography and longer prolongation of terminal latency measured in the median nerve. From this study, we concluded that amyloid kidney transplant recipients are more prone to neuromyopathy than the general kidney transplant population, which is mostly due to the amyloidosis itself and/or the colchicine therapy.

Effect of age, comorbidity and type of surgery on perioperative complications and mortality of prostatectomy

OBJECTIVE

To study the effect of age, type of surgery and comorbidities (cardiovascular diseases, chronic lung diseases, diabetes mellitus and renal impairment) on the peri-operative complications and mortality of prostatectomy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A series of 236 consecutive patients who underwent prostatectomy (171 by transurethral resection, TUR, and 65 by open procedure) were reviewed. Ninety patients at risk with one or more of the comorbidities were grouped together and compared with the remaining 146 fit patients. Also, 148 patients aged < or = 70 years were compared with 88 patients aged > 70 years. The peri-operative morbidity variables compared were haemorrhage, > or = 3 units of blood transfusion, bacteriuria, orchitis, pyrexia, uraemia and bed-stay.

RESULTS

Mean post-operative bed-stay for patients at risk was significantly longer than that for fit patients (12 +/- 7 and 9.7 +/- 6 days, respectively). Mortality and the other morbidity variables, apart from post-operative bacteriuria which was more frequent in diabetics, were not significantly different between the groups. Similarly, comparing age groups revealed no significant differences. However, open surgery was associated with more haemorrhage, blood transfusion, post-operative pyrexia and a longer bed-stay.

CONCLUSION

The comorbidities studied and age did not significantly influence the complications and mortality of prostatectomy. However, comorbidities prolonged post-operative bed-stay. Open surgery was associated with more bleeding and pyrexia and a longer bed-stay than TUR.

Causes and consequences of esterase 6 enzyme activity variation in pre-adult Drosophila melanogaster

We report heritable threefold differences in both larval and pupal esterase 6 activity among 17 isoallelic lines of D. melanogaster extracted from a natural population. The activity differences in the two stages are only weakly correlated with each other or with previously determined values for esterase 6 activity in adults of these lines. The pre-adult activity variation is also unrelated to polymorphisms among the lines for six esterase 6 allozymes and six restriction sites in a region encompassing the esterase 6 coding DNA and the first kbp of 5' flanking DNA. However, two insertions, of 8.0 and 6.8 kbp, located about 1.4 kbp 5' of the esterase 6 coding region are associated with low activity in larvae and, to a lesser extent, in pupae, albeit not in adults. Restriction mapping reveals similarity between the 8.0 kbp insert and the 7.4 kbp retrotransposon 17.6. The differences in larval activity among lines are positively correlated with fitness as assessed from assays of pre-adult viability and development time but no significant associations between pupal esterase 6 activity and these measures are detected. Some effects of esterase 6 allozyme differences are also found for viability and development time but these effects could be explained by linkage disequilibrium between the 8.0 kbp insert and the EST6-9 allozyme.

Acute variceal hemorrhage: the persistent bleeder. A plea for management

A group of 1910 patients with acutely bleeding esophagogastric varices were managed in the Kasr El Aini sclerotherapy project; 458 of the patients (24%) were lost to follow-up. The remaining patients were studied in five groups: group I (294/401 patients), rigid versus flexible sclerotherapy; group II (254/336 patients), intravariceal versus paravariceal sclerotherapy; group III (174/227 patients), timing of initial sclerotherapy and the optimum frequency of sclerotherapy sessions; group IV (80/99 patients), splenectomy devascularization operation alone versus combined surgery with sclerotherapy; group V (650/847 patients), management of failures of and recurrences after sclerotherapy. The mean period of follow-up was 72 months. Rigid sclerotherapy was significantly superior to flexible sclerotherapy for emergency control of acute bleeding but was associated with significantly more morbidity. Paravariceal injection achieved insignificantly better initial control of bleeding and had more morbidity than intravariceal injection, which obliterated the varices in a significantly larger proportion of patients. Emergency injection of the acute bleeder should be carried out soon after admission, with sclerotherapy sessions repeated every 2 weeks. Combined sclerotherapy with splenectomy and devascularization was significantly more effective for controlling bleeding than surgery alone. Surgery should be done without delay for continued bleeding after the second attempt of sclerotherapy and in patients who rebleed after their third sclerotherapy session. Survival, however, was not significantly improved by the different modalities of sclerotherapy.

Associations of esterase 6 allozyme and activity variation with reproductive fitness in Drosophila melanogaster

Previous studies have shown that the esterase 6 (EST6) enzyme of D. melanogaster is mainly produced in the sperm ejaculatory duct of the adult male and comparisons of wild-type males with laboratory null mutants have suggested that the enzyme plays a role in reproductive fitness. In this study we have compared 18 field-derived lines each isoallelic for Est6 for differences in five components of male reproductive fitness. No consistent fitness differences were found among lines differing in respect of the two major allozyme classes EST6-F and EST6-S, despite other evidence that these two classes are not selectively equivalent in the field. However, differences in reproductive fitness were found among lines differing in the minor mobility variants that segregate within EST6-F and EST6-S. A failure to distinguish among these minor forms may explain the discrepancies in previous studies on the effects of the major EST6 allozymes on reproductive fitness. The most significant associations we have found between EST6 and reproductive fitness were due to variation in EST6 activity levels. Male EST6 activity levels were found to be positively correlated with their time to first mating, negatively correlated with the numbers of eggs laid and progeny produced by their mates, and negatively correlated with the frequency with which their mates remate. We conclude that some EST6 variants differ in components of male reproductive fitness operative in laboratory cultures. However, the evidence for fitness differences is stronger for variants affecting the amount, rather than the structure of the enzyme, and the direction of the differences varies between some of the fitness components tested.

[Risk of dislocation and cataract formation in 240 IOGEL lenses. 4 years experiences]

Following planned extracapsular cataract extractions we implanted 240 IOGEL lenses into the capsular bag and noticed 5 dislocations into the vitreous cavity, 2 after an Nd-YAG capsulotomy, 4 postoperatively and 1 after surgical repositioning. Postoperatively, one lens was subluxated into the anterior chamber. Thirty-three patients required a 4- to 5-mm Nd-YAG capsulotomy because of a fibrotic or regenerative secondary cataract. Two lenses dislocated 2 and 6 weeks after the YAG capsulotomy into the vitreous cavity; the capsulotomy was performed 5 and 6 months, respectively, after the implantation. In 4 patients the IOGEL lens dislocated 3 times within the first 3 days and once within the first 3 months after implantation. Primary stable placement in the bag could be achieved, however. One patient required repositioning of the lens because of decentration 3 months after implantation. The lens dislocated on the following day. Late dislocation of the flexible and soft IOGEL lens can be due to the fact that the lenses do not adhere to the capsular sheets. Furthermore, postoperative capsular shrinkage enlarging a posterior capsular opening leads to lens dislocation. Eight patients underwent a secondary anterior chamber lens implantation. In three patients the IOGEL lens was explanted, in two of them without and in one of them with serious complications. The other five patients still have their IOGEL lens deep in the vitreous without complications. We suggest that if a YAG capsulotomy is necessary, it should not be performed before the 6th postoperative month. It should also not exceed 4 mm in diameter and no IOGEL lens should be implanted if a capsular rupture occurs intraoperatively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Schistosoma mansoni nephropathy in Syrian golden hamsters: effect of dose and duration of infection

In this work, 180 golden hamsters were infected with Schistosoma mansoni and 30 hamsters matched for age and sex served as controls. According to the number of injected cercariae, infected hamsters were divided into six main groups (20, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 cercariae). Each group was divided into five subgroups, according to the duration of infection after which animals were sacrificed (4, 6, 8, 12 and 24 weeks). Control and infected hamsters were subjected to laboratory evaluations (serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, cholesterol, albumin, total protein and urine protein concentration) and histopathologic examinations of kidney and liver tissues. A significant proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia and hypercholesterolemia was observed in schistosome infected (50 cercariae or more) but not in the controls and the group infected with 20 cercariae. There was significant correlation between these changes and duration of infection and the number of adult worm recovered from the mesenteric circulation at the end of the experiments. Histopathologic evaluation showed appearance of the circulating schistosome antigens, circulating anodic antigen (CAA) and circulating cathodic antigen (CCA), and of IgG glomerular deposits by the 6th week following infection; mesangial hypercellularity appeared early after infection (6-8 weeks), renal amyloid deposition appeared later (8-12 weeks). Egg antigens were not detected in the renal glomeruli. There was a significant correlation between the pathologic changes and duration of infection and the number of recovered adult worms from the mesenteric circulation. No histopathologic lesions were detected in controls and the group injected with 20 cercariae. A significant correlation was found between hepatic periportal fibrosis, amyloidosis and immune complex, deposition in the renal glomeruli. Hamsters did not tolerate infection with 150 cercariae or more for more than 12 weeks, and 20 cercariae caused no detectable glomerular disease. From this study, we concluded that S. mansoni infection causes nephropathy in the Syrian golden hamster. The disease became biochemically and histopathologically manifest by the 6th week following infection. Both immune complex deposition and renal amyloidosis stand as major pathogenic mechanisms. CAA and CCA are the major responsible antigens. Hepatic disease has an impact on the kidney lesion. 50 cercariae are the best dose to produce disease without early death of the animal. There is a significant correlation between the kidney disease and the duration and the load of S. mansoni infection.

The effect of postnatal development on the adherence of nonfimbriated and fimbriated Salmonella typhimurium to isolated small intestinal enterocytes

The adherence of radiolabeled fimbriated (S 7471 OF) and nonfimbriated (S 7471 N) Salmonella typhimurium to small intestinal rat enterocytes was examined during postnatal development. The fimbriated strain invariably adhered in higher numbers than the nonfimbriated strain during all periods of development. The capability of enterocytes to bind Salmonella increased significantly during postnatal development and reached adult levels at weaning time (21 days of age). Bacterial adherence to enterocytes was similar if the cells were isolated from the proximal or the distal small intestine. Early weaning of pups did not affect the capability of enterocytes to bind Salmonella. Pretreatment of isolated enterocytes from adult animals with rat's milk before exposure to Salmonella had no effect on the level of bacteria that adhered per enterocyte. Conversely, pretreatment of Salmonella with rats' milk before binding to enterocytes from adult animals also did not alter the level of bacteria adhered per enterocyte. These results suggest an age-dependent, postnatal development of available receptors for S. typhimurium on rat enterocytes. The acquisition of these receptors is not affected by mother's milk and is unaltered by early weaning.

Genito-urinary complications of brucellosis

Twelve cases of genito-urinary complications of brucellosis are presented. Ten patients had epididymo-orchitis, 1 presented with right hydronephrosis and 1 with haematuria and dysuria. The 10 cases of epididymo-orchitis were compared with 15 cases of acute non-specific epididymo-orchitis. The former were of longer duration and were not associated with lower urinary tract symptoms; almost all of these patients had ingested unpasteurised milk. Non-specific epididymo-orchitis had a more acute onset, shorter duration and was associated more frequently with pyuria, lower urinary tract symptoms, higher leucocyte counts and insignificant brucella titres. The distinction between these two types of epididymo-orchitis is essential, since the treatments are entirely different.

Dual regulation of neutrophil adenylate cyclase by fluoride and its relationship to cellular activation

1 Fluoride stimulated (1-10 mM) and inhibited (10-100 mM) adenylate cyclase of neutrophil membranes in a GTP-independent manner. The latter fluoride concentration range corresponded to that shown previously to induce cellular responses. 2 Dual regulation of cyclase activity was also exhibited by a nonhydrolysable GTP analogue, guanosine 5'[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP gamma S). Inhibition was observed at 0.1-10 nM GTP gamma S while stimulation occurred at greater than 10 nM GTP gamma S. 3 Relatively high levels (greater than microM) of formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine inhibited adenylate cyclase in the presence of GTP (10 microM). 4 Pertussis toxin pretreatment abolished adenylate cyclase inhibition mediated by GTP gamma S and formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine but did not influence fluoride-induced inhibition.

Specific binding of leukotriene B4 to guinea pig lung membranes

We have demonstrated binding sites for LTB4 in guinea pig lung membranes. Binding of [3H]-LTB4 was of high affinity (Kd = 0.76 nM), saturable and linear with protein concentration (0.2-1.2 mg/ml). Scatchard and Hill's plot analysis indicated a single class of binding site with a Hill's coefficient of 0.99 +/- 0.08 (n = 4). [3H]-LTB4 was unmetabolized during incubation with membrane preparations, as indicated by high performance liquid chromatography. Divalent cations such as Mg2+ and Ca2+ enhanced binding capacity without changing the Kd. Na+ ions decreased binding in a concentration-dependent manner. Guanine nucleotides, GTP, GTP gamma S and Gpp(NH)p also decreased the number of binding sites. Finally, competition experiments demonstrated the following order of potency for displacement of [3H]-LTB4 from its receptor site: LTB4 greater than 20-OH-LTB4 much greater than 20-COOH-LTB4 = 6-trans-12-epi-LTB4 greater than LTC4 = LTD4 = 5-HETE. These data indicate that a specific LTB4 receptor, in addition to the previously documented LTC4 and LTD4 receptors, exists in guinea pig lung.

In vivo platelet activity and lipoprotein patterns in coronary artery disease

In order to determine the effect of hyperlipoproteinemia on the in vivo formation of circulating platelet aggregates (CPA) in patients with coronary artery disease, CPA ratios, lipoprotein pattern, serum cholesterol and triglycerides were determinated in 80 male patients with stable coronary artery disease and hyperlipoproteinemia. Similar studies were performed in 30 male age-matched patients with stable coronary artery disease without hyperlipoproteinemia and 60 male age-matched healthy volunteers; the latter group served as controls. CPA ratios were significantly lowered; i.e. an increase was observed in circulating platelet aggregates in 24 patients without hyperlipoproteinemia as compared with the values in the control group. All the cardiac patients with hyperlipoproteinemia had a significantly lower CPA ratio than the patients without hyperlipoproteinemia. Moreover, the lowering in CPA ratio was more marked among patients with type II a hyperlipoproteinemia than in those with type IV. We think that this in vivo test for platelet function may throw more light on the effect of hyperlipoproteinemia on the in vivo aggregation of circulating platelets in patients with coronary artery disease.