A multicomponent analysis of amino acid transport systems in human lymphocytes. 1. Kinetic parameters of the A and L systems and pathways of uptake of naturally occurring amino acids in blood lymphocytes

We have determined the kinetic parameters of natural and system-specific synthetic amino acid transport by human blood lymphocytes, using a multi-component computer analysis that separates carrier-mediated uptake from diffusion. These studies were initiated in order to provide the basis for studies of human blood T and B lymphocytes and malignant lymphocytes. Methylaminoisobutyric acid (methyl-AIB) and 2-amino-2-carboxy-bicyclo (2,2,1) heptane (BCH) uptakes into lymphocytes were measured as prototypes of A- and L-system amino acid transport. The Michaelis constant for methyl-AIB uptake was 540 microM; the maximal velocity of uptake was 28 mumol/L cell water/min, and the diffusion coefficient was .004 min-1. In contrast, the Michaelis constant for BCH uptake was 63 microM; the maximal velocity was 969 mumol/L cell water/min, and the diffusion coefficient was .141 min-1. The transport of the naturally occurring amino acids, alanine, proline, and leucine was defined by studies of: (1) competitive inhibition with the system-specific synthetic amino acids, methyl-AIB and BCH, (2) the effect of the transcellular sodium gradient on transport, and (3) evaluation of the time-dependent increase of transport in amino acid-deficient medium (adaptation). Alanine was transported principally (approximately 70%) by the ASC-system, and leucine was transported principally (70%) by the L-system in lymphocytes. The analysis of proline transport was more complex because of a large component of uptake by diffusion even at low amino acid concentrations. Taken together, the kinetics of sodium-sensitive uptake and the results of competitive inhibition studies indicated that proline was transported by the A-system (30%), the ASC system (30%), and also by the L-system (15%).

Cutaneous ureterostomy as last resort treatment of intractable haemorrhagic cystitis following radiation

Sixteen patients with severe intractable haemorrhagic cystitis following radiotherapy, two of them with bleeding tumours, were treated surgically by cutaneous ureterostomy with or without contralateral nephrectomy. They had undergone various forms of conservative treatment and were treated by surgery only when conservative therapy had failed. In these poor risk patients a cutaneous ureterostomy was employed as a lesser procedure than an ileal loop. Of the 16 who underwent urinary diversion 11 were completely free of haemorrhage and three continued to have slight intermittent haematuria.

Potentiometry of Na+ in undiluted serum and urine with use of an improved neutral carrier-based solvent polymeric membrane electrode

We present an improved Na+-selective liquid membrane electrode for measurement of Na+ concentrations in both undiluted serum and urine. The values for urinary Na+ obtained with the ion-selective electrode agree well with those obtained with the flame photometer. The correlation gives a standard residual deviation of +/- 2.7 mmol/L over the Na+ range of 25-280 mmol/L. In serum, this direct potentiometry yields Na+ concentrations 5.4% (SD 1.1%) higher than those obtained by atomic spectrometry and a standard residual deviation of +/- 1.1 mmol/L. Correction of these values for the volumes of protein and lipid leads to potentiometric values 1.2% (SD 0.7%) lower than those by flame photometry (residual standard deviation: +/- 1.0 mmol/L). Other factors that possibly contribute to this discrepancy are discussed.

Potentiometry of Na+ in undiluted serum and urine with use of an improved neutral carrier-based solvent polymeric membrane electrode

We present an improved Na+-selective liquid membrane electrode for measurement of Na+ concentrations in both undiluted serum and urine. The values for urinary Na+ obtained with the ion-selective electrode agree well with those obtained with the flame photometer. The correlation gives a standard residual deviation of +/- 2.7 mmol/L over the Na+ range of 25-280 mmol/L. In serum, this direct potentiometry yields Na+ concentrations 5.4% (SD 1.1%) higher than those obtained by atomic spectrometry and a standard residual deviation of +/- 1.1 mmol/L. Correction of these values for the volumes of protein and lipid leads to potentiometric values 1.2% (SD 0.7%) lower than those by flame photometry (residual standard deviation: +/- 1.0 mmol/L). Other factors that possibly contribute to this discrepancy are discussed.

Applicability of available ion-selective liquid-membrane microelectrodes to intracellular ion-activity measurements

The equations that govern the behavior of ion-selective electrodes are evaluated for the composition ranges of Li+, Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Cl-, and HCO-3 encountered in living cells. Various cause-effect relations are detailed, especially those pertaining to calibration procedures. The relation of the accuracy of measurement to the expected signal range, particularly in connection with the uncertainty of interpolation, is emphasized. Relevant numerical parameters are given for all ISE's discussed, the selectivity characteristics being those of the most advanced membrane systems. Figures are provided for the calibration curves in the vicinity of the typical cytosol composition.

[Is there good correlation between findings in lumbar myelography and surgery? (author's transl)]

Report on 1177 lumbar myelograms performed in 1977 - with comparison of the surgical findings (in 854 patients operated on for herniated disc) with those of myelography. The results are: 86% correct and 9.5% incorrect preoperative myelographic diagnosis; in 4.5% an evaluation was not possible because of scars from previous surgery. Additionally, our technique of lumbar myelography is being described.

Attenuation correction in gamma emission computed tomography

A method of computing tomographic images from single photon radionuclide emission data is presented. The method takes into account attenuation of gamma rays inside the source and makes use of an iterative technique, based on the difference between the projection data obtained from the source and computed projections, called reprojections, from successive reconstructions of the sources. The method has been tested both by computer simulations and reconstruction of plastic phantoms imaged with 99mTc radionuclides. Substantial improvement in reconstruction accuracy over algorithms uncorrected for internal attenuation is demonstrated. Since the technique is iterative, it can be used with a variety of reconstruction algorithms or combined with other first approximation techniques of attenuation correction.

Enkephalin effects on blood pressure, heart rate, and baroreceptor reflex

The cardiovascular effects of opioid peptides have been studied. Leucine-enkephalin (Leu-ENK) produced blood pressure (BP) increases following administration into the lateral brain ventricles (i.v.t.), into the cisterna magna (i.c.i.), and following intravenous (i.v.) administration. Heart rate (HR) increases were observed following all routes of administration (threshold for BP and HR effects at 0.3 nmole, maximum at 360 nmoles). The cardiovascular effects were independent of generalized seizures, which may occur at higher doses of enkephalins (ENK). D-alanine-enkephalin (D-Ala-ENK) attenuated the vagal component of the baroreceptor reflex in cats. This was indicated by the findings that HR did not decrease following D-Ala-ENK-induced BP increases and that the compensatory decreases in HR following i.v. pressor doses of angiotensin II (ANG II) were markedly attenuated in cats treated with i.v.t. D-Ala-ENK. Naloxone inhibited the BP and HR effects following i.c.i. and i.v., but not following i.v.t., administration of Leu-ENK. The i.v.t. Leu-ENK effect were inhibited by beta-adrenergic receptor blockade. Bratteboro rats homozygous for hereditary diabetes insipidus with total absence of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) synthesis responded with BP decreases following i.v.t. Leu-ENK, while BP increases were observed in control Long-Evans rats. Blood pressure increases to i.v.t. Leu-ENK were markedly greater in spontaneously hypertensive rats of the stroke-prone strain (SHR-sp) than in normotensive control rats; SHR-sp exhibit a humoral pattern of increased ADH, ACTH, and catecholamines, presumably due to central peptidergic stimulation. The known effects of opioid peptides on these hormones and the observed cardiovascular responses suggest a possible participation of this peptide system in the maintenance of high BP in the SHR-sp.

Avoiding megamouse experiments

A method is described whereby large numbers of individually innocuous substances can be tested for combinations that are carcinogenic or otherwise toxic. The method substantially reduces the number of test animals required to a number far less than would be required for pairwise cross testing.