Naloxone in shock and toxic coma

In summary, naloxone has proved to be effective and safe during its years of use for narcotic antagonism. Its usefulness in non-narcotic coma and shock remains controversial, although some encouraging but inconclusive evidence exists. The final answer lies on the horizon of medicine; it awaits further delineation of the role of endogenous opioids in health and disease and clear statistical verification of naloxone's efficacy in such disease states.

Breed and swine lymphocyte antigen haplotype differences in agglutination titers following vaccination with B. bronchiseptica

Genetic differences in immune response to B. bronchiseptica after vaccination with a commercial B. bronchiseptica bacterin were investigated in 1,069 8-wk-old pigs. These pigs were from 65 litters born in the spring and 66 litters born in the fall of 1982 and were purebreds from the Chester White (n = 128), Duroc (n = 281), Hampshire (n = 143), Landrace (n = 309) and Yorkshire (n = 208) breeds. Each litter was raised separately. Individual pigs were vaccinated im at 4 and 6 wk of age with 2 ml of B. bronchiseptica bacterin. At 8 wk of age, 8 ml of blood were collected from each animal and serum prepared to determine agglutinating antibody titers against B. bronchiseptica bacterin by a bacterial agglutination method. In addition, lymphocytes were separated from 1 ml of heparinized blood and used to determine Swine Lymphocyte Antigen (SLA) haplotypes by using cytotoxic antibodies against the SLA complex. Antisera for 3 SLA haplotypes were made available by the National Institutes of Health. Results indicated that breed of pig (P less than .01) and dam of pig (P less than .01) affected the immune response of the pig after B. bronchiseptica vaccination. Higher immune response was also associated (P less than .05) with one of the SLA haplotypes tested. Heritability estimates for immune response following vaccination were .10 +/- .12 (half-sib) and .42 +/- .19 (full-sib). Results suggest that the relationship of the SLA complex to immune response in the pig and nonadditive genetic and maternal effects on immune response should be further investigated.

Molecular cloning of cDNA sequences for rat M2-type pyruvate kinase and regulation of its mRNA

Rat M2-type pyruvate kinase mRNA was enriched from total polysomes isolated from AH-130 Yoshida ascites hepatoma cells, which contain a very high concentration of the M2-type enzyme, by immunoprecipitation with a specific antibody and Staphylococcus aureus cells. Double-stranded cDNA synthesized from the enriched mRNA was inserted into the PstI site of pBR322, and the resultant recombinant DNA molecules were used to transform Escherichia coli. Three clones containing DNA complementary to M2-type pyruvate kinase mRNA were identified by colony hybridization, hybrid-arrested translation, and hybrid-selected translation. A partial restriction map was constructed covering about 1.44 kilobase pairs. The cloned region of the M2-type mRNA showed a high degree of sequence homology with the M1-type mRNA and some homology with the L-type mRNA as determined by dot blot hybridization. The molecular size of the M2-type mRNA, which was estimated to be 2.35-2.65 kilobases on denaturing gel, was the same as that of the M1-type mRNA. The level of hepatic M2-type pyruvate kinase mRNA measured by hybridization assay using cloned cDNA as a probe was increased 2.5-fold 1 day and 3.9-fold 2 days after partial hepatectomy and then started to decrease. This induction was followed by similar changes in the enzyme activity. AH-130 hepatoma cells contained 100-150 times more M2-type isozyme mRNA than regenerating liver. These results suggest that the increased levels of M2-type isozyme in regenerating liver and hepatoma cells are primarily due to elevation of hybridizable M2-type mRNA concentration.

Molecular cloning of DNA complementary to rat L-type pyruvate kinase mRNA. Nutritional and hormonal regulation of L-type pyruvate kinase mRNA concentration

Rat liver L-type pyruvate kinase mRNA was enriched from total polysomes by immunoprecipitation with a specific antibody and Staphylococcus aureus cells. Double-stranded cDNA synthesized from the enriched mRNA was inserted into the PstI site of pBR322, and the resultant recombinant DNA molecules were used to transform Escherichia coli. Three clones containing DNA complementary to L-type pyruvate kinase mRNA were identified by colony hybridization, hybrid-selected translation, and dot blot hybridization. A partial restriction endonuclease map of cDNA inserts was constructed covering about 1.86 kilobase pairs. The cDNA insert of recombinant plasmid pLPK-14 was used as a hybridization probe to quantitate L-type pyruvate kinase mRNA in rat liver after various treatments. The level of hybridizable L-type enzyme mRNA was markedly increased by a high carbohydrate diet. Diabetes greatly reduced the mRNA level in the liver of rats maintained on a high carbohydrate diet, but insulin administration resulted in restoration of the mRNA level to normal within 24 h. These changes were approximately proportional to the changes in the level of translatable L-type pyruvate kinase mRNA. Thus, we conclude that nutritional and hormonal regulation of synthesis of hepatic L-type pyruvate kinase occurs at the pretranslational level.

Cloxacepride and related compounds: a new series of orally active antiallergic compounds

4-[[(p-Chlorophenoxy)acetyl]amino]-5-chloro-2-methoxy-N-[2-(diethylamino)ethyl]benzamide (cloxacepride, 1), exhibited substantial oral antiallergic potential in a reaginic PCA test in rats over a wide range of antigenic challenge times. Available reference compounds with oral activity, such as doxantrazole and 7-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-9-oxoxanthene-2-carboxylic acid (AH 7725, 4), were active only when administered 15 min before challenge: 4, in particular, was not consistent in effect. Oral ED50 values for cloxacepride of 46-49 mg/kg were comparable to that of theophylline and to an intravenous injection of 2 mg/kg of disodium chromoglycate (DSCG) followed by immediate challenge. Following oral ED50 doses, 1 showed slower onset and longer duration of action than theophylline. The absence of inhibition of systemic anaphylaxis and of antihistaminic activity suggests specific effect or reaginic antigen antibody reactions. Structure-activity relationships of various chemical modifications were investigated and discussed in terms of essential substituents.

Four cases of t(4;11) acute leukemia and its myelomonocytic nature in infants

Four cases of acute infantile leukemia with translocation (4;11) (q21;q23) are reported. Although leukemia with this chromosomal abnormality has been classified as L2 acute lymphoblastic leukemia by the FAB classification, two of our cases appeared to be of myelomonocyte origin as demonstrated by cytochemical, immunologic, and electron microscopic studies and differentiation induction by 12-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate and methylformamide. This chromosomal change is associated with poor prognosis.

[The value of serum salicylate determination in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (author's transl)]

Thirty-one patients with rheumatoid arthritis in the Veterans General Hospital from July 1978 to June 1979 were treated with acetylsalicylic acid. The serum salicylate level was determined twice a week. The dose of acetylsalicylic acid was adjusted to keep the serum salicylate level around 15-30 mg%. All patients were started with an initial dose of 65 mg/kg/day. The serum salicylate levels at the 4th day varied greatly from 5.6 to 29.5 mg%. Tinnitus was noted in 24 patients. It occurred when the serum salicylate level reached 28.41 +/- 1.84 mg%. Abnormal liver function was noted in 19.35% (6/31) patients during treatment. It returned to normal after withdrawal of acetylsalicylic acid in 3 cases, after decrease of the dosage in 2 cases and on the same dosage in 1 case. Patients with positive FANA and RF were more prone to develop abnormal liver function during treatment. Monitoring of serum salicylate level may decrease the incidence of hepatic toxicity and maintain the dosage of acetylsalicylic acid in optimal range.