The influence of calorie source on water and sodium balances during intravenous refeeding of malnourished rabbits

34 New Zealand rabbits were starved until a mean weight loss of 15% to 20% was achieved and then were parenterally re-fed with four different total parenteral nutrition (TPN) formulae for 6 days. Regimens were isocaloric (85 kcal/kg/day) and isonitrogenous (0.52 gN/kg/day) with the following formulae: group S-GLU-70 (water 100 ml/kg/day, Na 7 mEq/day and 70 30 % of calories as glucose/lipids, n = 9), group S-GLU-50 (water 100 ml/kg/day, Na 7 mEq/day and 50 50 % of calories as glucose/lipids, n = 9), group L-GLU-30 (water 70 ml/kg/day, no sodium and 30 70 % of calories as glucose/lipids, n = 8) and group L-GLU-50 (water 70 ml/kg/day, no sodium and 50 50 % of calories as glucose/lipids, n = 8). The group S-GLU-70 showed the highest water and sodium balances (p = 0.001 respectively, ANOVA test). Group S-GLU-70 showed also a greater weight gain (p = 0.0001) and, although not statistically significant, the lowest albumin at the end of the TPN. Glucose load appears to be responsible for the rapid weight gain and positive water and sodium balances during TPN in depleted non-stressed animals.

[Comparative cytotaxonomy of 3 species of Cichlasoma (Pisces: Cichlidae) native of Costa Rica]

The karyotype of three species of Cichlasoma: C. dovii, C. managuense and C. friedrichstali were studied. The number of diploid chromosomes is 2n = 48 in the first two species. Their karyotypes are composed of four pairs of meta-submetacentric chromosomes. The arms fundamental number (NF) is 56. C. friedrichstali has three pairs of meta-submetacentric chromosomes and 21 pairs of subtelocentric-telocentric chromosomes. This species presents two different diploid numbers, 2n = 48 and 2n = 47.

[Parathyroid function in hypertrophic myocardiopathy]

It has been suggested that hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) may be associated with hyperparathyroidism. We evaluated parathyroid function in 15 patients with HCM and 14 patients with primary dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), measuring different parameters of calcium metabolism (total serum calcium, ionized calcium, PTH, vitamin D metabolites, alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin). As a group PTH levels were normal in HCM (intact PTH 3.9 +/- 1.6 pmol/l, midmolecular PTH 59 +/- 13 pmol/l and carboxyterminal PTH 0.6 +/- 0.4 ng/ml), but in 3 patients carboxyterminal PTH levels were persistently higher than normal, while all other parameters of calcium metabolism were normal. We conclude that parathyroid function is normal in patients with HCM, although some of them may have an abnormal secretion and/or metabolism of carboxyterminal PTH fragments, or a circulating substance the interferes with this PTH assay. Parathyroid function in DCM patients was normal, except in a patient who had hyperparathyroidism secondary to vitamin D deficiency.

[The transcutaneous treatment of superficial thrombophlebitis with the exogenous nitric oxide donor: nitroglycerin]

Nitroglycerin (glyceryl trinitrate) is a substance that is metabolized to nitric oxide in the cell. Its action is not dependent of the endothelium derived nitric oxide, but imitates those of this biological mediator. We thought that nitroglycerin should have the same in vivo actions as the endogenous nitric oxide in vitro has. We report and discuss the first patient with superficial thrombophlebitis successfully treated with transdermal nitroglycerin.

The Multiple Forms of alpha-Amylase Enzyme of the Araucaria Species of South America: A. araucana (Mol.) Koch and A. angustifolia (Bert.) O. Kutz : A Comparative Study

alpha-Amylase is one of the major enzymes present in the seeds of both Araucaria species of South America and it initiates starch hydrolysis during germination and early seedling growth. The pattern of the multiple forms of alpha-amylase of the two Araucaria species was investigated by electrophoresis and isoelectrofocusing of the native enzyme in polyacrylamide gels. The enzyme forms were compared in the embryo and megagametophyte of quiescent seeds and of seeds imbibed for 18, 48, and 90 hours. Specific alpha-amylase enzyme forms appear and disappear during these imbibition periods showing both similarities and differences between tissues and species. Before imbibition, there are five alpha-amylase forms identical in both tissues, but different between species. After 18 hours of imbibition, there are two enzyme forms in both tissues of Araucaria araucana seeds, only one form in the embryo of Araucaria angustifolia but two forms in the megagametophyte of this specie. After 48 hours of seed imbibition, most of the enzyme forms present in quiescent seeds reappear. At 90 hours of imbibition different enzyme forms are detected in the embryo with respect to the gametophyte. The changes in form patterns of alpha-amylase are discussed according to a possible regulation of gene expression by endogenous gibberellins.