Distribution of toxaphene, DDT, and PCB among lipoprotein fractions in rat and human plasma

The distribution of 14C-toxaphene, 14C-DDT, and 14C-PCB among lipoprotein fractions was studied in vitro and in vivo using rat and human plasma. The association of these substances with rat plasma fractions was similar in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. Thirty-seven to fifty-two per cent of the total radioactivity was associated with the cholesterol-rich high density lipoproteins (HDL2, d = 1.075-1.21 g/ml) and 18-52% was recovered in the albumin-rich bottom fraction (BF, d greater than 1.21 g/ml). A time-dependent redistribution of the radioactivity from the lipoprotein fractions to the BF was also observed in the in vivo studies. In human plasma, the distribution of the three compounds was different and uncorrelated to the cholesterol level of the individual lipoprotein fractions. Toxaphene was almost equally distributed between BF (d greater than 1.21 ml), HDL (d = 1.063-1.21 g/ml) and low density lipoproteins (LDL, d = 1.006-1.063 g/ml) (26%, 27% and 29%, respectively), while only 18% appeared in the very low density lipoprotein (VLDL, d less than 1.006) fraction. In contrast, a large proportion of DDT and PCB radioactivity was recovered in the BF (52% and 62%, respectively) while only 38-48% was present in lipoprotein fractions. The complex nature of the interaction between xenobiotics and plasma lipoproteins is discussed.

Contraceptive steroids as a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma: a case/control study in South African black women

The role of contraceptive steroids in the etiology or pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma in urban South African black women was investigated in a hospital-based case and control study. Participating were 46 women, 19 to 54 yr old, with carcinoma, and 92 matched controls. South African blacks have a high incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma, and urban black women have used contraceptive steroids fairly widely for a number of years. Use of contraceptive steroids for longer than 6 mo (mean duration 46.7 mo) was not found to pose a risk for development of hepatocellular carcinoma in this population--relative risk 0.8 (95% confidence interval [C.I.] 0.4 to 1.7). This was also true of use for longer than 8 yr--relative risk 0.6 (95% C.I. 0.2 to 2.5), and if a combination of an estrogen and a progestogen or a progestogen alone was used (relative risk 1.7 [95% C.I. 0.7 to 4.2] and 0.4 [95% C.I. 0.1 to 1.2], respectively). Chronic hepatitis B virus infection was confirmed to have an etiological association with hepatocellular carcinoma, but there was no evidence that contraceptive steroids acted as a co-carcinogen with the virus or, conversely, that they played a causal role in patients negative for hepatitis B surface antigenemia. We cannot, however, exclude the possibility that contraceptive steroids may play a causal role in hepatocellular carcinoma in black women who have never been infected with the hepatitis B virus. Nor was there evidence that contraceptive steroids acted in concert with either cigarette smoking or chronic alcohol abuse in hepatocarcinogenesis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cardiovascular lipid accumulation with Coxsackie B virus infection in mice

The authors used a myocarditic coxsackievirus B3 infection in Balb/c mice to investigate cardiovascular lipid accumulation and whether a cholesterol-enriched diet influences the development of the myocardial inflammatory reaction. It was found that, seven days after CB3 infection, the accumulation of 14C-cholesterol increased by 75% (P less than 0.001) in the heart and by 92% (P less than 0.001) in the aorta. This infection also caused extensive inflammatory lesions (4.5% of tissue section area) and lipid accumulation in the myocardium seven days after inoculation. Seven weeks on a 1% cholesterol-enriched diet did not affect the myocardial area damaged (3.9%), the lethality, or immune cell activity (T, B, and natural killer [NK] cells). The response pattern of myocardial lymphocyte subpopulations was studied with an immune histochemical staining technique. The number of Mac 2+ (macrophages), class II expressing cells, or the T cytotoxic, suppressor/T helper cell ratio was not changed by the cholesterol diet. The number of class II cells tended to increase (38%) with cholesterol and was positively correlated (P less than 0.001) with the Mac 2 expression regardless of the cholesterol diet. Although moderate diet-induced hypercholesterolemia did not alter host response to viral infection, these results support the idea that virus and immune cells may cooperate and play a role in arterial and myocardial lipid accumulation, possibly acting as initiating factors for atherosclerosis.

Tissue accumulation of lipoprotein associated toxaphene in normo- and hypolipidemic mice

Normo- and hypolipidemic mice were given a single i.v. injection of 14C-toxaphene associated with low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL) or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The tissue distribution of radioactivity was studied 20 min and 4 h after the application. In the normolipidemic mice at 20 min postinjection there was high uptake of the 14C-toxaphene preparations in the liver and adrenals followed after 4 h by a redistribution to the adipose tissues. In the hypolipidemic mice, proportionally less label accumulated initially in the liver and adrenals while more radioactivity was seen in the kidneys and heart. The radioactivity then redistributed to the liver with a very small uptake in the adipose tissue compared to the normolipidemic mice after 4 h. The results indicate that changes in the lipid pattern, e.g. hypolipidemic conditions, may influence the tissue distribution of lipophilic xenobiotics.

Neonatal acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)

The number of cases of perinatally acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) may increase as the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive women increases. Physicians involved in the care of neonates must therefore be aware of the modes of transmission, clinical manifestations, and methods of diagnosis of neonatal AIDS. We report the first case of congenital AIDS in a premature infant admitted to our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). In this report, we highlight some atypical clinical manifestations of the disease and discuss modes of transmission, epidemiology, preventive measures and some controversial aspects of management of the mother and infant.

The effect of age on tooth movement and mineral density in the alveolar tissues of the rat

A comparison of tooth movement cycles and changes in alveolar tissue mineral densities was made between young (21 to 28 days old) and adult (90 to 100 days old) rats. An initial 60-g mesial tipping force was applied to the maxillary first molars; tooth movement was estimated by measuring the opening between first and second molars, and tissue mineral density by sample ash weight per cubic centimeter. A characteristic three-part tooth movement cycle was found in both groups of rats. This cycle consists of an early "instantaneous" movement that is a function of the viscoelastic properties of the tissues, a delay period during which little tooth movement occurs due to hyalinization and undermining resorption, and a late period during which bone remodeling and tooth movement occur. Compared with the adult group, the amount of "instantaneous" movement in the young rats was greater (P less than 0.001), the delay period was shorter, and the rate of late tooth movement was faster (P less than 0.001). The young rats had significantly lower (P less than 0.05) mineral densities before orthodontic treatment. Both groups experienced a slight but insignificant increase in density followed by rapid declines to a nadir that was not different between the groups. The young rats reached this point by day 5 and the adults by day 7. The point of lowest mineral density occurred in the treated alveolar tissues toward the end of the delay period for each group and was followed by a return to control values at rates that were not significantly different between the groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The child requiring transport: lessons and implications for the pediatric emergency physician

A retrospective review of the charts of all patients transported by our emergency transport team was done to determine the following characteristics: age, presenting problem, and outcome of patients and utilization of transport team personnel. Eighty-five percent of patients were under six years of age; central nervous system pathology accounted for 53% of patients transported, followed by respiratory problems (30%), cardiac problems (4.2%), and major trauma (2.7%). Sixty patients survived with normal neurologic examination at discharge. A statistically significant difference in retrospectively assigned PSI score (17.0 +/- 6.02 in nonsurvivors versus 5.8 +/- 6.02 in survivors) was observed. Utilization of the transport team was deemed appropriate. Comparison of our data with other available sources, as well as suggestions for emergency physicians and continuing medical education programs, is outlined.

Chronic treatment with antidepressant drugs and ECT differentially modifies the hypothermic action of clonidine and guanfacine

The hypothermia inducing action of clonidine and guanfacine was abolished by yohimbine and idazoxan pretreatment which suggests an alpha 2-adrenoceptor involvement in this effect. The effects of acute and chronic treatment with the antidepressant drugs desipramine (DMI), amitriptyline (AMI), maprotiline (MAP), mianserin (MIAN), iprindol (IPR), alaproclate (ALA) and electroconvulsive treatment (ECT) on the hypothermic action of the alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists clonidine and guanfacine were studied. Acute administration of MIAN potentiated clonidine induced hypothermia whereas acute MIAN, IPR and ALA potentiated guanfacine induced hypothermia. Repetitive DMI, AMI and MAP treatment attenuated clonidine-induced hypothermia whereas guanfacine-induced hypothermia was potentiated by chronic treatment with DMI, AMI, MAP and MIAN, ECT applied without anaesthesia attenuated both clonidine and guanfacine hypothermia, however, under ethyl ether anaesthesia ECT was effective only towards guanfacine hypothermia. This discrepancy is discussed in terms of the relative selectivity of the agonists used, the reliability of agonist studies for indexing receptor function, and possible pharmacokinetic interaction.

The tissue localization of m-AMSA and its effect on thymidine incorporation in various tissues in vivo

The distribution of 14C-labelled m-AMSA was studied in rats and pigmented mice using whole body autoradiography. The agent rapidly disappeared from the blood, accumulating in significant amounts in large parenchymal organs, certain endocrine tissues, and the retina of the pigmented mouse eye. The hemopoietic and lymphoid tissues showed a moderate uptake of radioactivity with the highest concentration observed in the thymus. The autoradiograms indicated a rapid excretion of radioactivity via the liver, kidney and the glandular part of the gastric mucosa. The distribution pattern of label from 14C-m-AMSA remained unaffected by pretreatment of animals with high dose (500 mg kg-1 b.w.) of cytosine arabinoside. Injection of unlabelled m-AMSA (7 mg kg-1 b.w.) to growing rats 24 h before sacrifice resulted in a highly significant (P less than 0.001) inhibition of 3H-thymidine incorporation into the DNA of thymus and spleen. A less pronounced reduction was observed in the kidney, adrenal, lung and testes. The thymidine incorporation into the DNA of bone marrow was markedly suppressed when calculated per dry weight, but increased when related to the DNA content, suggesting early regeneration of the remaining cells. In contrast, no significant effects were observed on the DNA synthesis in small intestine and liver.

Individual Xenopus histone genes are replication-independent in oocytes and replication-dependent in Xenopus or mouse somatic cells

We have assessed the response of many histone H3 mRNAs and an H1C mRNA in Xenopus tissue culture cells after treatment with the DNA synthesis inhibitor hydroxyurea. The amount of the histone mRNAs falls rapidly in response to the inhibitor. This response is prevented by cycloheximide. Cloned Xenopus histone genes were transfected into mouse cells and a cell line was obtained in which the Xenopus genes were actively expressed giving rise to mRNA with correct 5'-termini. The Xenopus genes were correctly regulated at the level of mRNA amounts in the mouse cell line. Nuclear microinjection experiments with Xenopus oocytes and S1 nuclease analysis of normal ovary RNA showed that the H1C gene, and probably also two H3 genes, which are replication-dependent in somatic cells are expressed in oocytes and are therefore replication-independent in this cell type. The same promoters are used in both replication-dependent and independent expression.

Toxaphene: accumulation in the adrenal cortex and effect on ACTH-stimulated corticosteroid synthesis in the rat

Uptake and distribution of [14C]toxaphene was studied in the adrenals of rats using whole-body autoradiography. An accumulation of radioactivity was seen in the adrenal cortex (zona fasciculata) 1-24 h after a single gavage of [14C]toxaphene (16 mg/kg b.w.). In in vitro studies toxaphene was found to inhibit ACTH-stimulated corticosterone synthesis in the cultured rat adrenocortical cells (IC50 2.8 X 10(-5) M). Moderate but significant inhibition (P less than 0.001) of ACTH-stimulated corticosterone synthesis was also observed in the adrenocortical cells isolated from rats after a prolonged exposure (5 weeks) to low levels (1.2 ppm) of toxaphene in feed. The results indicate a direct adrenotoxic effect of toxaphene.

Uptake of radiolabelled alpha-linolenic, arachidonic and oleic acid in tissues of normal and essential fatty acid-deficient rats--an autoradiographic study

Rats fed diets with a low (0.3% of total energy) or normal (3%) essential fatty acid (EFA) content were injected intravenously with a single dose of 14C-labelled alpha-linolenic, arachidonic or oleic acid and the distribution of radioactivity in the tissues was compared 5 min, 1 h and 18 h after the application using whole-body autoradiography. The highest levels of labelling with all fatty acids were observed in the liver, brown fat and adrenal cortex. Specific for arachidonic acid was a high and consistent concentration of radioactivity in the myocardium at all times and for oleic acid in the white fat after 18 h. The tissue uptake of arachidonic acid was similar in both dietary groups, whereas a higher accumulation of alpha-linolenic was seen in most of the tissues in the low EFA group after 18 h compared to the normal EFA group. The uptake of oleic acid was higher in some tissues in the low EFA than in the normal EFA group after 1 h, but after 18 h these differences had disappeared almost completely.

Recurrences after irradiation in early vocal cord cancer with literature review

Radiation therapy in early glottic cancer offers an excellent cure rate with preservation of voice. This study is an analysis of 25 (18%) patients who had failures after irradiation. Ten patients were in stage I (T1N0M0) and 15 patients in stage II (T2N0M0). All patients received megavoltage irradiation with an average dose of 6600 rad, 180 to 200 rad per day, 5 days in a week. Of the failures, 15 patients had the tumor controlled by salvage surgery, laryngectomy being the most common surgical procedure. The median time to recurrence was 23 months. A detailed analysis of the failures, along with a literature review, is done in this paper.

Disposition of some sulphur-containing hexachlorobenzene (HCB) metabolites: affinity of methylsulphonylpentachlorobenzene for the gray matter of brain, the lungs and the adrenal zona reticularis

The distribution of methylsulphonylpentachloro-[14C]benzene (I), methylthiopentachloro-[14C]benzene (II), 1,4-bis(methylthio)tetrachloro-[14C]benzene (III) and 1,2,4-tris(methylthio)trichloro[14C]benzene (IV) was studied after intravenous injection in mice. The administration of I resulted in a rapid and selective accumulation of radioactivity in the gray matter of the brain, the lung and the zona reticularis of the adrenal cortex. In mice pretreated with metyrapone, or with high dose of unlabelled I, the radioactivity in the tissues was increased, whereas pretreatment with diethyl maleate did not change the disposition of I. In mice injected with II-IV no site of selective accumulation in the tissues was observed. Similarly to I, compounds II-IV were rapidly excreted in bile/faeces and urine. It is proposed that the sulphone group is essential for the high affinity of I for the brain, lung and adrenal cortex.

Fate and specific tissue retention of toxaphene in mice

Series of female virgin and pregnant albino mice were i.v. injected with 14C-labelled- or unlabelled toxaphene (16 mg/kg b.w.). After survival times ranging from 1 min to 32 days the toxaphene distribution in the body was studied using whole-body autoradiography and capillary gas-chromatography. Autoradiographic studies have shown that after an initial accumulation in the liver, brown fat, lung, brain, kidney, and ovaria (corpora lutea) there was a gradual redistribution of radioactivity to the white fat within 4 h postinjection. The labelling was then decreasing rapidly and only negligible amounts of the radioactivity were present in the adipose tissue after 32 days. In the fetus only the liver and adrenals showed a distinct labelling. A specific and persistent accumulation of the label was detected in some zones of the adrenal cortex suggesting a possible direct interference of toxaphene with adrenal steroid hormone synthesis. The gas chromatographic pattern of toxaphene-derived residues in the tissue samples resembled that of the technical toxaphene, but was changing in different tissues with the time. The liver chromatograms indicated more extensive formation of metabolites.

Studies on the tissue disposition and fate of [14C]toxaphene in Japanese quail

The disposition and the fate of a [14C]toxaphene preparation was studied in adult and juvenile female Japanese quail. The distribution of [14C]toxaphene in the body is dominated by high concentrations of radioactivity in the adipose tissue and the egg yolk, and, especially in juvenile birds, in the bone marrow. The [14C]toxaphene compounds present in the fat tend to be less polar than the parent [14C]toxaphene. More than half of the radioactive dose is excreted via the droppings, eggs, and preen gland within a few days, with biliary excretion playing a major role. The main part of the radioactivity in feces and urine consists of water soluble compounds, a part of which is indicated to be glucuronide and sulfate conjugates, but other metabolites are probably also present. A possible connection between the toxaphene residues in the bone and the known toxaphene induced osteomalacia in birds is discussed.

Enzyme immunoassay of gentamicin with the Abbott ABA-100 analyzer

The enzyme immunoassay of gentamicin using "EMIT" reagents was adapted to take advantage of the small reagent volume required by the Abbott ABA-100. The method increases fourfold the maximum number of tests per kit. The correlation with the bacterial inhibition method was 98%.

Management of early glottic cancer

A detailed retrospective analysis of 136 patients with early glottic cancer treated at the University of Louisville, Radiation Center from October, 1953 to December, 1975 was done. Majority of the patients were in the age range of 55 to 74 years. Of them, 89% were male and 85% were Caucasian. The most common histological type was squamous cell carcinoma. The adjusted 5-year survival rate was 84%, with a standard error of 3%. Of these patients, 18% had local failures, and 68% of which were salvaged by surgery. The overall local control rate was 93%. The median time to recurrence was 23 months. There was no case of laryngeal necrosis, and a good function of larynx was achieved in a majority of the patients. Eighteen second cancers were diagnosed in 17 patients during the follow-up. A brief review of the literature is also done in the paper.

Persistence of 2,3,6-substituted pentachlorobiphenyls in the lung parenchyma: a new structure-dependent tissue localization of polychlorinated biphenyls in mice

Whole body autoradiograms of mice injected with 2,2',3,3',6-[14C]pentachlorobiphenyl (I), 2,3,3',4',6-[14C]pentachlorobiphenyl (II), 2,2',3,5',6-[14C]pentachlorobiphenyl (III) and 2,3',4,5,5'-[14C]pentachlorobiphenyl (IV) showed a specific accumulation of I-III in the lung parenchyma, whereas IV did not accumulate in the lung tissue. The results suggest that chlorobiphenyls with chlorine atoms in the positions 2,3,6 possess a specific affinity for the lung parenchyma. These chlorobiphenyls differ in chemical structure from those which are accumulated in the bronchial mucosa and those which are not taken up in the respiratory tract. The importance of in vivo metabolism in the determination of structure activity relationships is stressed.

Automated determination of urine and cerebrospinal fluid proteins with Coomassie Brilliant Blue and the Abbott ABA-100

We have evaluated the use of Coomassie Brilliant Blue (CBB) dye to measure the protein of urine and cerebral spinal fluid. The method was automated and compared with the turbidimetric method and with Ponceau S dye. With both the manual and automated procedures the CBB method could be used to protein concentrations of 160 mg/dl. Comparing this method to the method measuring the turbidity produced by trichloracetic acid (TCA) we found a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.96. The regression line was CBB = 0.84 TCA + 4.97. A similar comparison to the method using Ponceau S (PS) produced an r = 0.98 and the regression line, CBB = 0.91 P-S + 3.2. The CBB method was not as affected by turbidity in the samples or by xanthochromia as was the TCA Method. It is simpler to perform than the P-S method, since it does not require decantation. With the manual method, the coefficient of variation (CV) at 40 mg/dl for within-day determinations was less than 2% and, for between-day determinations, less than 4%. While the CV was somewhat higher with the ABA than with the manual method at 40 mg/dl, it was below 5% for both within-day and between-day determinations at the concentrations between 70 and 170 mg/dl. The method using CBB is useful as both a manual and automated procedure to measure protein in urine and cerebral spinal fluid.

Radiation therapy of glottic carcinoma stage I

A detailed retrospective analysis of 81 patients with a diagnosis of glottic carcinoma stage I (T1N0M0) from 1953 to 1975 has been done. Eighty-eight per cent of the patients were male and 80 per cent of the total number were white. The majority of the patients received a dose of 64 Gy in 6 1/2 weeks. The crude 5-year actuarial survival rate was 69 per cent and the adjusted 5-year actuarial survival rate was 86 per cent. Local recurrence occurred in 12 per cent and of these 80 per cent were cured by surgery. The median time of recurrence was 25.5 months. No case of laryngeal necrosis occurred, and 10 second malignant tumors were diagnosed in the follow-up.

Use of Beckman BUN analysers to determine urine urea

In this paper we report a method to enable the Beckman BUN analyser to be used for urine urea nitrogen determinations. Satisfactory urine samples could be obtained by diluting the urine with 10 volumes of 0.85% saline. We also report our experience with the use of reagent prepared in house and with a modified pipette, to reduce the cost of using the instrument.

Enzyme immunoassay of theophylline with the Abbott ABA-100

The enzyme immunoassay of theophylline using the "EMIT" reagents was adapted to the Abbott ABA. The method greatly increases the maximum tests per kit. The correlation with high pressure liquid chromatography was 99%. No interference with bilirubin was found at 15 mg/dl. of total bilirubin. The method is useful for pediatric patients including newborns.