Behavioral and social effects of heroin self-administration and withdrawal

Behavioral and social reactions to intravenously administered heroin were studied during a 33-day experimental addiction cycle. Three groups of four subject volunteers were allowed to self-administer heroin for a ten-day period as part of a longer study of oplate antagonists. Data relevant to sleep patterns, energy expenditure, social interaction, and other observable behaviors were collected during hourly observations. Comparison of behavioral differences before and after drug administration indicated few significant acute reactions. Reactions to long-term heroin self-administration were most pronounced in the areas of sleep behavior and social interaction. Subjects tended to sleep less, especially during the initial period of acquisition, and to withdraw more from social contact. No changes were noted in energy expenditure during waking hours. The results were interpreted in terms of physiological tolerance, central nervous system arousal, and sleep deprivation.

Treatment of hypoparathyroidism with 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol

Five patients with hypoparathyroidism (three post thyroidectomy and two idiopathic) were treated with synthetic 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25-(OH)2-D3) for up to 6 months. In each case daily oral administration of 1 microgram 1,25-(OH)2-D3, either alone or with additional calcium, raised ther serum calcium into the normal range. The serum phosphorus and the renal tubular reabsorption of phosphorus fell during treatment. None of these patients developed hypercalcaemia and no other complications of treatment have been recorded. 1,25-(OH)2D3 seems to represent a significant improvement over conventional methods for treating hypoparathyroidism.

Interpersonal behavior in a small group setting during the heroin addiction cycle

In a study of social interaction during an experimental addiction cycle, male narcotic addicts expressed more hostility after higher doses of heroin. No consistent role variations were observed in dominance, friendliness, or therapeutic-orientation.

Interactions of carbenicillin and ticarcillin with gentamicin

The in vitro inactivation of gentamicin by carbenicillin and a new semisynthetic penicillin, ticarcillin (BRL 2288), has been demonstrated. Gentamicin half-lives have been studied in eight patients with end-stage renal failure, and a 25 to 74% reduction in half-life has resulted from the concomitant administration of therapeutic doses of carbenicillin and ticarcillin.

Influence of the length of Heineke-Mikulicz pyloroplasty on the area of gastric outlet

Using agar casts of human post-mortem stomachs we have shown that (1) A 4-cm Heineke-Mikulicz (H-M) pyloroplasty increases the diameter of the narrowest area of the pylorus in every case. (2) Further increase to an 8-cm pyloroplasty leads to a further comparable increase in the size of the outlet. (3) The distortion caused by H-M pyloroplasty does not reduce the mean cross-sectioned area of the pyloric canal. (4) The narrowest area of the outlet appears to remain at the pylorus. These findings and their significance in gastric emptying are briefly discussed.

Simplified repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms using non-bifurcated (straight) inlay prostheses

The treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms by prosthetic replacement is still attended by considerable hospital mortality, particularly when rupture has already occurred. We consider that the results could be significantly improved by the more widespread use of a simplified repair which consists of the insertion of a non-bifurcated (straight) tubular inlay prosthesis within the aneurysm. No attempt is made to resect or to transect the aorta and its bifurcation is preserved.

In a series of 61 consecutive patients, from which 4 were excluded because they died before definitive surgery, there were 30 intact and 27 ruptured aneurysms. The hospital mortality for prosthetic replacement of intact aneurysms was 15 per cent using bifurcation grafts in 20 patients and nil for straight prostheses in 10 patients. The respective figures for leaking aneurysms were 64 per cent in 14 patients and 38 per cent in 13 patients.

In our experience this simplified technique has resulted in diminished hospital mortality as a consequence of reduced operating times, blood loss and postoperative morbidity. It can, moreover, be universally employed except where gross separation of the origin of the common iliac vessels has occurred, which is uncommon, or in the rare instance of coexistent acute limb ischaemia.

The effect of triton WR-1339 on the subcellular distribution of trypan blue and 125 I-labelled albumin in rat liver

1. The density-gradient distribution patterns of acid phosphatase, Trypan Blue and denatured (125)I-labelled albumin were studied by discontinuous sucrose- and isopycnic sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation on combined heavy and light mitochondrial (M+L) fractions of liver isolated from normal rats and from rats injected with Triton WR-1339. 2. The results obtained from the subfractionation of the M+L pellet of normal animals indicate that the equilibrium density of Trypan Blue and acid-insoluble radioactivity is the same as that for acid phosphatase, which suggests they are bound by a common membrane to form a distinct subcellular population of lysosomal nature. 3. In contrast, the analysis of the isopycnic gradients obtained on subfractionation of M+L pellets of liver isolated from rats treated with Triton WR-1339 show that the acid-insoluble radioactivity has an equilibrium density around 1.21, whereas the acid hydrolases, including cathepsin D, show the characteristic shift to an equilibrium density of around 1.12. Trypan Blue is distributed along the gradient with distinct peaks at densities 1.22 and 1.12. 4. Similar equilibrium-density distribution patterns were obtained with M+L pellets isolated from rats pretreated with Triton WR-1339 but not injected with Trypan Blue. 5. Treatment of the rats with Triton WR-1339 does not affect albumin digestion of isolated intact lysosomes despite the fact that most of the cathepsin D and the albumin ingested by phagocytosis are located in different vacuoles. 6. It is concluded from these experiments that in the liver of animals treated with Triton WR-1339 (125)I-labelled albumin is located within heterophagosomes which do not fuse with heterolysosomes containing the non-ionic detergent Triton WR-1339. The inability of these two lysosomal populations to fuse is not due to Trypan Blue.

The dual affinity of a mycobacterial glycopeptide for sheep erythrocyte membranes and guinea-pig gamma-globulin

Sheep erythrocytes coated with a mycobacterial glycopeptide obtained from culture filtrates were found to possess an affinity for guinea-pig anti-ovalbumin γ₂-immunoglobulin. Untreated erythrocytes did not possess this affinity.

The significance of the dual affinity of mycobacterial glycopeptide for cell surfaces and guinea-pig immunoglobulin is discussed in relation to the mode of action of mycobacterial adjuvants.