Interaction of prolactin and testosterone in the human prostate

Three experiments were performed to determine whether human prolactin (hPr) affects prostatic uptake and metabolism of testosterone (T). 1) Patients with prostatic cancer were infused twice with radio-labelled androgens, the first time with basal hPR, the second time with oral thyrotrophin-releasing hormone (TRH)-elevated hPr. In 5/7, significant increases in metabolic clearance of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and in conversion of T to DHT accompanied increased hPR. 2) The incorporation of labelled T into minced benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) tissue from subjects with high (40 ng/ml) hPR was measured and was found to be more than twice the uptake into tissue from those with low hPR (6.5 +/- 1.9 ng/ml). 3) Uptake and metabolism in vivo of a bolus of 3H-T by BPH and carcinomatous prostates was measured and was far greater in subjects whose hPR was elevated by chlorpromazine than in untreated controls. It is concluded that prolactin increases prostatic uptake and metabolism of T. It is suggested that the best management of prostatic cancer should include depletion of prolactin as well as androgen.

Frequency and significance of fungal isolations from conjunctival sac and their role in ocular infections

Five hundred conjunctival swabs, from 150 males and 100 females with no history of ocular infections, were collected and cultured for the isolations of fungi. Eighty (16%) of the total specimens yielded positive fungal isolations. The isolation rate was more from the males than the females subjects. Mycelial fungi were predominant than the yeast organisms. Aspergillus species were the commonest isolates with A. flavus taking the lead in the isolations being positive 16 of the total 24 Aspergillus species isolated. A variable rate of fungal isolations was observed in different months of the year. The percentage of the isolations increases after the local use of Efcorlin-N. Nineteen of the 20 eyes studied did not yield the same fungal species in the repeated samples.

Social interaction and neuroses (the family and the primary group): a pilot study

The present work examines the social interaction with the primary group of 30 neurotic patients and 30 matched controls. A comparison of the degree of family jointness in the two groups was also done keeping in view the nature of Indian family system and to find out the association, if any, it bears to social interaction. Evaluation instruments were Social Interaction Schedule (Henderson et al., 1978) and Khatri's Scale to Measure Jointness of Families in India (1970). The findings indicate that neurotic patients do not have a deficient primary group, as far as the numerical size and the duration and type of interaction is concerned. However, the patients appear to be less active than controls in making contacts with members of their primary group outside their household. Further, our group of patients perceived their personal lives to be deficient in some respects. Patients and controls did not differ with regard to the degree of family jointness as measured on Khatri's Scale.

Tricyclic anti-depressant induced mania

The authors report four cases of Monopolar Depressed patients who developed manic features for the first time while on tricyclic antidepressant therapy. The phenomenon is viewed as tricyclic antidepressant induced mania. The manic symptoms occurred late in therapy, with moderate doses of tricyclic antidepressants (125-150 mg per day) and were easily controlled with antipsychotic medication. Factors relating to age of patients, metabolic products of tricyclic antidepressants and central nor-adrenergic and dopaminergic systems are considered important and their role has been discussed.

Modifications at C-3 and C-4 of 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucose

Modifications at C-3 and C-4 of 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucose have been developed. A 3,4-double bond was introduced into benzyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3,4-di-O-methylsulfonyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside by treatment with NaI and Zn. Epoxidation of the double bond with m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid gave an exo-epoxide exclusively. The stereochemistry of the epoxidation product has been confirmed by an alternative synthesis. An analysis of the 1H-n.m.r. spectra indicates that both the 3,4-unsaturated derivatives and the epoxide exist in the OH1 (D) conformation. Nucleophilic reagents (F-, I-) opened the 3,4-epoxide to give 4-substituted derivatives having the D-gulo configuration. Thus, 2-acetamido-1,3,6-tri-O-acetyl-2,4-dideoxy-4-iodo-alpha-D-gulopyranose and 2-acetamido-1,3,6-tri-O-acetyl-3,4-dideoxy-4-fluoro-alpha-D-gulopyranose have been synthesized. Reduction of the double bond in the key intermediate and deprotection gave 2-acetamido-2,3,4-trideoxy-D-glucopyranose. Some of the derivatives were active as inhibitors of growth of mouse, mammary adenocarcinoma cells in culture.

Changes in load bearing in the rheumatoid foot

A study of peak force exerted under areas of the foot was made in 27 patients with rheumatoid disease and in 30 normal persons. Patients were found to exert considerably less force under their toes and under the first metatarsal head and more force under the 3 outer metatarsal heads. It was possible to correlate these changes with increasing clinical and radiological severity.

Paraplegia as a result of lightning injury

Images