Secretion of alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor by cultured rat alveolar macrophages

Alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor, metabolically labeled with 35S, was detected in concentrated culture medium of rat alveolar macrophages by immunoelectrophoresis autoradiography. The metabolically labeled macrophage alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor had the same electrophoretic mobility as did pure rat serum alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor. Moreover, monospecific antiserum to rat serum alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor precipitated a 35S-labeled protein from macrophage culture supernates, and this protein was shown by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to have a molecular weight close to that of rat serum alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor. Cycloheximide (an inhibitor of protein synthesis) at a concentration of 0.50 micrograms/ml, inhibited secretion of labeled inhibitor. This, cultured rat alveolar macrophages secrete detectable concentrations of a proteinase inhibitor believed to play a major role in lung defense.

Psychotic exacerbation with haloperidol

A case illustrating the worsening of a patient's schizophrenic symptoms following haloperidol dosage increases in presented. This case is remarkable in that few cases of psychotic exacerbation with haloperidol dosage increases have been reported in the world literature. The possibility exists that, like certain tricyclic antidepressants, neuroleptic medication may possess a "therapeutic window,". The concept of a therapeutic window and its relationship to the phenomenon of psychotic exacerbation is reviewed. In evaluating this condition, the clinician should consider other causes of psychotic exacerbation, such as akathisia and anticholinergic psychosis.

Volvulus of the transverse colon

Volvulus of the transverse colon is rare. Seven cases, 6 acute, are presented. Early diagnosis and prompt surgical management prevented complications. At laparatomy, extended right hemicolectomy or end colostomy and distal mucous fistula are the procedures of choice. Non-resection was associated with recurrence in three cases.

Performance evaluation of image-intensifier tubes

A series of image quality measurements were obtained over a two-year period for eight image-intensifier tube fluoroscopic units used in clinical practice. The measurements were in agreement with a radiologist's opinion of the image quality for each tube. The results showed that some systems did not change significantly over the two-year period, while others deteriorated from acceptable to unacceptable image quality during this time. For this reason, it is recommended that measurements be obtained for all diagnostic fluoroscopic equipment at least semiannually to monitor image quality and remedy any changes before diagnostic accuracy is severely affected.

The management of acute sigmoid volvulus

One hundred and thirty-four patients with acute sigmoid volvulus are analysed. When the diagnosis is made preoperatively, decompression per rectum is effective in 85 per cent of cases, and should be the initial treatment of choice unless gangrene of the bowel is suspected. In this situation emergency laparotomy should be performed and where gangrenous bowel is confirmed a Hartmann resection appears to be associated with a low mortality and least complications. When the sigmoid loop is found to be viable, it should still be resected. The merits and pitfalls of various procedures in this situation are discussed.

Non-uniform swelling properties of the corneal stroma

The swelling properties of the anterior and posterior stroma of bovine and rabbit corneas were examined by three different methods. The results show that the posterior stroma can swell more than the anterior stroma. Also, at a given swelling pressure, the posterior stroma is more hydrated than the anterior stroma. In a third experiment it is demonstrated that the posterior stroma is also more hydrated in the living eye. It is concluded that the stroma is not a homogeneous structure. The superficial stroma has different physiological properties from the deep stroma. These differences must be taken into account in theoretical models of corneal deturgescence.

Gastric pseudolymphoma

Six histologically proved cases of gastric pseudolymphoma are described. This uncommon benign condition often simulates ulcerated gastric carcinoma radiologically, and pathologically it may cause considerable confusion with malignant lymphoma. Recognition of this condition is important to prevent unnecessary and often hazardous treatment whether by surgery or radiotherapy and to prevent inclusion in series of malignant gastric lymphoma, so that falsely high survival rates are not recorded.

Later stages of development of the periotic duct and its adjacent area in the human fetus

The later stages of development (16-40 weeks in utero) of the periotic duct and its adjacent areas in the human fetus indicate that the critical stages of development occur in four specific time related stages over a six-week period (20-26 weeks). First, the petrous apex ossifies to separate th inferior cochlear vein into the canal of Cotugno and forms the medial wall of the cochlear aqueduct (22 weeks); second, the canalicular otic capsule fuses with the cochlear otic capsule to obliterate Hyrtl fissure and forms of the lateral wall of the cochlear aqueduct (24 weeks); third, progressive bone deposition to the medial surface of the membranous labyrinth and cochlea at the petrous apex elongates the periotic duct and cochlear aqueduct (32 weeks in utero); and fourth, active arachnoid tissue ingrowth into the periotic duct occurs at 20-24 weeks and 34-40 weeks in utero. The terminal event is widening of the CNS opening of the periotic duct at 32 weeks in utero. The periotic duct and cochlear aqueduct length increase with gestation from 25 weeks until term. The periotic duct width remains the same throughout the gestation. The cochlear aqueduct width diminishes with gestational age. The periotic duct remains patent throughout 16-40 weeks in utero.

Influence of fibrinogen levels in dogs on mortality from hemorrhagic and traumatic shock

1) Fibrinogen levels appear related to the outcome of hemorrhagic shock in dogs. 2) Fibrinogen levels can vary with different animals based on location, disease, stress, nutrition, or other factors. 3) Any experiments in hemorrhagic shock (or anything else) should utilize simultaneous and paired controls of animals from the same source or they may be subject to major error.

High perfusion pressure damages the sieving ability of sinusoidal endothelium in rat livers

Fenestrated endothelium lining liver sinusoids forms an ultrastructural sieve between blood and hepatocytes which at physiological perfusion pressures has previously been shown to shield hepatocytes from large triglyceride-rich chylomicrons. In the study reported in this paper, enlargement of endothelial fenestrae at high perfusion pressures has been confirmed and a concurrent increase in trapping of large chylomicrons by the liver noted. These findings suggest the importance of employing physiological perfusion pressures in studies designed to examine hepatic lipoprotein metabolism and also suggest a possible mechanism in the pathogenesis of fatty change seen in the "nutmeg" liver of chronic venous congestion.