[Urinary incontinence caused by sacral agenesis]

A rare cause of urine incontinence is sacral agenesis based on genetic or teratogenic disturbances. Abnormalities of the gluteal region can help in diagnosis. The sacral agenesis may be demonstrated by using anteroposterior X-ray examination. The early diagnosis is very important for the therapy and for the prevention of late complications.

[Experience with the surgical management of childhood fractures and epiphyseal injuries]

Authors analyse 1792 fractures in children, treated during 10 years in their Department and distributed in age groups. They take the part of conservative treatment of the majority, about two third, of fractures in childhood. They consider as operative indication certain forms of epiphyseal injuries, the dislocated intraarticular fractures, the unstable fractures, certain cases of polytrauma and the open fractures.

Endogenous scavenger levels (vitamin E and A) of patients with chronic alcoholic liver disease under different environmental conditions

Serum level of endogenous scavengers (E and A vitamin) was studied in groups of patients with various chronic alcoholic liver diseases and in a healthy control group on polluted and non-polluted areas. Vitamin levels in patients with chronic liver disease are diminished in comparison to the healthy in general, but mainly in the cirrhotic group. Diminution of vitamin E levels was observed in earlier phase of liver disease than that of vitamin A levels. Patients and healthy control on polluted area showed more expressed diminution of vitamin levels than the same groups on non-polluted area. Free radical parameter (RBC diene conjugate content) and characteristic alcoholic parameters (serum GOT, gamma-GT, cholesterol level and liver GOT, gamma-GT content in biopsy specimen) were used to explain the differences between the same investigated groups on polluted and non-polluted areas. As conclusion can be supposed that industrial pollution of environment has a worsening effect in diseases with free radical mechanism.

Analysis of unmodified endotoxin preparations by 252Cf plasma desorption mass spectrometry. Determination of molecular masses of the constituent native lipopolysaccharides

Nine unmodified endotoxin preparations constituted of Re-, Rd-, and Rc-type lipopolysaccharides (2 to 5 glycoses), representing four species of enterobacteria were analyzed by 252Cf plasma desorption mass spectrometry. The constituent lipopolysaccharides were characterized by the ion pair: (M-H)- and its corresponding lipid fragment ion. The lipid fragment ion is produced by cleavage of the glycosidic bond of the 3-deoxy-D-manno-oct-2-ulosonic acid unit that substitutes O-6' of the glucosamin beta 1'-6glucosamine ("lipid A backbone") disaccharide of the lipid A moiety. These lipid fragment ions were identical to the (M-H)- ions seen in the spectra of homologous isolated lipid A preparations that were obtained by hydrolysis (pH 4.5, 100 degrees C) promoted by sodium dodecyl sulfate. Since the molecular components present in the endotoxin preparations analyzed are known, the ion pair (M-H)(-)-lipid fragment ion defines the molecular compositions of each individual lipopolysaccharide. Heterogeneity of the R-type endotoxin preparations analyzed was due almost exclusively to differing lipid A moieties. In three Salmonella minnesota 595 Re endotoxin preparations 10 different lipopolysaccharides were identified, only two of which were common to all three preparations. Of the nine lipopolysaccharides identified in two S. minnesota R7 endotoxin preparations, only two were present in both.

Synthesis of 2-deoxy-4-O-alpha- and -beta-D-mannopyranosyl-L-erythro-pentonic acids

The title compounds, required for the identification of structural features of the Bordetella pertussis endotoxin, have been synthesised by condensation of benzyl 3-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-beta-L-erythro-pentopyranoside with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl bromide and with 4,6-di-O-acetyl-2,3-O-carbonyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl bromide, respectively, thus affording the fully protected alpha- and beta-linked disaccharides 7 and 12. Hypoiodite oxidation of the reducing disaccharides 9 and 14, obtained by conventional deprotection of 7 and 12, yielded the title compounds.

Vasodilator and angioprotective activity of 1-ethyl-1-hydroxyalkyl-octahydroindolo[2,3a]quinolizine derivates

The blood flow enhancing activity of the homologue series of "trans" racemic 1-ethyl-1-hydroxyalkyl-1,2,3,4,6,7,12,12b-octahydroindolo[2, 3a]quinolizine (1) was studied in anesthetized dogs. It was found that the femoral vasodilator activity is the strongest for 1b, and decreases if the carbon chain is shortened (1a) or lengthened (1c). Also, a breakdown of vasodilation was observed with the racemic "cis" derivative (2). After resolution of 1b the optically active compound 3 retained the dilator capacity while 4 isomer lost it. Hence 3 (RHG-2981, vintoperol, CAS 106498-99-1) was selected for detailed pharmacological study. Dose-response studies performed in anesthetized dogs showed that vintoperol 0.03 mg/kg (i.v.) was more potent as peripheral vasodilator than buflomedil or pentoxifylline at doses ranging from 1 to 15 mg/kg. Similar results were observed during a 4-week cross-over test of maximal running distance of femoral ligated mice. The running performance, as measured by the rotating drum, showed a linear increase in the untreated control group (UCG) as a consequence of every day testing (= intensive endurance training). After bilateral femoral occlusion the maximal running distance of the mice fell off, and despite daily training it stagnated. If 0.3 or 1 mg/kg/d vintoperol or 10 mg/kg/d pentoxifylline was administered orally 4 days after the bilateral femoral occlusion, the maximal running distance increased. In the case of 1.0 mg/kg of vintoperol applied daily, the rate of enhancement approached, or even overtook, that of the UCG. 0.3 mg/kg/d of vintoperol showed less activity, however, this result is still about twice better than the effect of 10 mg/kg/d pentoxifylline.

[Maternal Bartter syndrome and pregnancy]

The course of pregnancy, the parturition and postpartal period of a 19-year-old caucasian woman with Bartter syndrome was described. The pathogenesis, diagnosis, complications and the prenatal course of the autosomal recessive condition was also described by reviewing literary and own data. Analysis of amniotic fluid and ultrasound measurements showed unaffected fetus. The purpose of the paper was to summarize the suggested and recently applied prenatal care, maternal and fetal diagnostic and therapeutic measures in case of Bartter syndrome. Special emphasis was made on the prevention of fetal intrauterin growth retardation which frequently occurs in this condition.

Effect of ethyl apovincaminate on the utilization of 14C-glucoses by rat brain in vitro

The effect of the presence of 500 micrograms ethyl epovincaminate (Cavinton) on the aerobic metabolism of 14C-labelled glucoses was studied in vitro. The drug tested increased the metabolism of [1-14C]-D-glucose first of all, which indicated a significant activation of pentose-phosphate shunt.

Variations in the carbohydrate regions of Bordetella pertussis lipopolysaccharides: electrophoretic, serological, and structural features

Structural and immunological differences between the two components that are usually present in unequal quantities in Bordetella pertussis endotoxin preparations and are visualized by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis have been studied by using strains 1414, A100, and 134, all in phase I. According to analyses by both sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and thin-layer chromatography, the minor (8%) component of the endotoxin of strain 1414 (endotoxin 1414) appeared to be the predominating component of endotoxins A100 and 134. The masses of the carbohydrate chains isolated from endotoxin A100 and from the major component of endotoxin 1414 were 1,649 and 2,311 atomic mass units, respectively, as determined by 252Cf plasma desorption mass spectrometry. Comparison of the 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of these chains established that four N-acetyl groups, an N-methyl group, and a 6-deoxy function, which characterize the nonreducing, distal trisaccharide of the glycose chain of strain 1414, were absent from that of strain A100. The antigenicity of endotoxin 1414, as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, was higher than that of endotoxin A100, but fell below it when the glycose chain of endotoxin 1414 was deprived of seven sugars by treatment with nitrous acid. This observation suggests that at least three (distal, proximal, and intermediate) regions of the glycose chain of endotoxin 1414 carry antigenic determinants. One of these, located in the distal trisaccharide, is absent from both endotoxins A100 and 134.

[Ultrasonic detection of a tumor of the posterior cranial fossa in an infant]

The sonographic diagnosis and surgical treatment of the ependymoblastoma of a 9,5-month old infant is reported. The tumor originated from the posterior scale and caused obstruction in the aquaeductus cerebri and hydrocephalus. The modern radiological diagnosis of tumors in the posterior scale is reviewed.

Detergent-accelerated hydrolysis of bacterial endotoxins and determination of the anomeric configuration of the glycosyl phosphate present in the "isolated lipid A" fragment of the Bordetella pertussis endotoxin

Due to the formation of micelles, severance of the hydrophilic (poly- or oligosaccharide) and hydrophobic ("Lipid A") domains of bacterial lipopolysaccharides at pH 3.4 or 4.5 and 100 degrees is slow and sometimes does not proceed at all; partially degraded fragments are usually formed. At pH 3.4 (100 degrees) in aqueous 1% sodium dodecylsulphate (SDS), both lipopolysaccharides of the Bordetella pertussis endotoxin are cleaved within 20-30 min, but 80% of the glycosidically bound phosphate present in the hydrophobic domain is lost. Other endotoxins behave similarly. At pH 4.5 (100 degrees) and in the absence of detergent, hydrolysis of the glycosidic bonds of 3-deoxy-D-manno-2-octulosonic acid residues of the B. pertussis endotoxin is negligible but, in aqueous 1% SDS, severance of the two regions of LPS 1 is complete within 1 h (that of LPS-2 requires 3-4 h), and the glycosidically bound phosphate of the isolated hydrophobic region is preserved. Comparison of the rate of acid-catalysed hydrolysis of the glycosidically bound phosphate present in this "isolated Lipid A" preparation with that of 2-deoxy-2-[(3R)-3-hydroxytetradecanamido]-alpha- and -beta-D-glucopyranose 1-phosphates established that the former 1-phosphate was the alpha anomer.

Do endotoxins devoid of 3-deoxy-D-manno-2-octulosonic acid exist?

After treatment with aqueous, 50% hydrofluoric acid, a well-known dephosphorylating agent, the presence of 3-deoxy-D-manno-2-octulosonic acid (KDO), an essential and characteristic constituent of endotoxins, can be readily demonstrated in reportedly KDO-deficient bacterial lipopolysaccharides.

Paraquat as an agent affecting antioxidant enzymes of common carp erythrocytes

The effects of paraquat on the superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathionine peroxidase activities and lipid peroxidation at different times of paraquat exposure of Cyprinus carpio morph L. erythrocytes were studied. Typical characteristics were observed in the changes of the enzyme activities of the erythrocytes after exposure to paraquat. The haemoglobin concentration of common carp haemolysates was decreased by exposure to paraquat.

The search for ideal antidote treatment in Gramoxone intoxication

The herbicide Gramoxone (the active ingredient is paraquat) actively accumulates in the lung in the mammalian organism, where it exerts its toxic effect through the generation of oxygen radicals. Efforts were made to counteract the toxic effect in experiments in mice. Its penetration into the cells was blocked with the diamines putrescine and cadaverine. The synthesis of the prostaglandins, which are supposed by responsible for the acute symptoms, was inhibited with Aspisol. Accumulation inhibition with biogenic amines is considered the most effective.

Synthesis of the tetrasaccharide repeating-unit of the lipopolysaccharide isolated from Pseudomonas maltophilia

The title tetrasaccharide having the structure 3-O-Me-beta-L-Xylp-(1----4)- alpha-L-Rhap-(1----4)-alpha-L-Rhap-(1----2)-L-Rhap was obtained by reaction of the alpha-acetobromo derivative of 4-O-(3-O-methyl-beta-L-xylopyranosyl)-L-rhamnopyranose and benzyl 3,4-di-O-benzyl-2-O-(2,3-O-isopropylidene-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl)- alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside, followed by removal of the protecting groups. The synthesised compounds were characterised on the basis of n.m.r. data.

Lipid peroxidation in lung of rats exposed to hyperoxic, hypoxic and ischemic effects

Rat experiments were undertaken to describe the range of the endogenous lipid peroxidation (measured by formation of malondialdehyde [MDA] in lung tissue) and to analyze the effects of hyperoxic, hypoxic and ischemic influences. The acute hyperoxia caused a moderate increase in lipid peroxidation. The MDA formation in lungs of rats was perceptibly higher in low oxygen environment, while the highest values were found in ischemic lungs. The cytotoxic metabolites cause unfavourable influences on the lung structure (perivascular, interstitial and alveolar edema, destroyed epithelial lining with disintegration of lamellar membranes of the type II-pneumocytes). The findings suggest that potential danger of the oxygen free radicals is an increased lipid peroxidation of lung tissue causing alveolocapillary destruction and extensive exudation with pathologic dwindling of lung function.