Urinary ascites in the newborn

Seven cases of neonatal urinary ascites secondary to obstructive uropathy are reported. In 2 the bladder had perforated; in 4 there was perirenal extravasation; in 1 the site of leakage was not determined. A localised parenchymal perforation was found in 3 kidneys. Treatment was by temporary urinary diversion followed by operative relief of the obstruction. Six patients survive in good health; 1 infant died from causes unrelated to the ascites or the urinary tract. It is suggested that spontaneous urinary tract perforation with the development of ascites is often beneficial in the long term since it decompresses the obstructed system and lessens renal parenchymal damage.

Importance of time-related parameters of pre-optic electrical stimulation in the release of LH in the pentobarbital-blocked pro-oestrous rat

The effectiveness of pre-optic stimulation in overcoming the pentobarbital blockade of ovulation in the rat has long been recognized and employed in neuroendocrine investigations. Although some reports have appeared comparing certain aspects of electrical stimulation in effectiveness in releasing LH, no complete study in female rats has been reported. The present study utilized regularly cycling rats of the Charles River CD strain in which ovulation was blocked by the injection of sodium pentobarbital on the afternoon of pro-oestrus. Electrical stimulation was delivered through bipolar platinum electrodes stereotaxically positioned in the preoptic area, and LH was measured in plasma samples obtained at the onset of stimulation and 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, 80, 120 and 150 min thereafter. LH release was established in response to a baseline set of parameters: 15 HZ, 1.5 mA and 1.5 ms per phase, 30 s on/off for 60 min. Stimulations employing equi-coulombic increments of 1/3 introduced in each parameter in turn were compared in groups of 4-6 animals. Use of small increments in each parameter allowed the detection of those parameters to which the pre-optico-hypothalamo-pituitary system is most sensitive over the range studied, namely duration: of each pulse and of the overall stimulation period. This observation may be explained in terms of characteristics of the pituitary responsiveness.

Modification of cell membrane lipids in Micrococcus lysodeikticus induced by pantoyl lactone

Growth of Microccoccus lysodeikticus in the presence of pantoyl lactone brings about both qualitative and quantitative changes in cell membrane lipids. Significant amounts of the two major phospholipids (phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol) are converted to lyso forms; the largest conversion occurs in the phosphatidylglycerol. In addition, amounts of several phospholipid fatty acids are changed. Physical alteration of the call membrane can be demonstrated using differential scanning calorimetry. Although growth and transport are significantly inhibited when pantoyl lactone is present, cells possessing altered call membrane phospholipds and phospholipid fatty acids, brought about by growth in the presence of pantoyl lactone, transport D-alanine, L-glutamic and L-aspartic acid normally when washed free of the pantoyl lactone.

Inhibition of lactate transport in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells and human erythrocytes by a synthetic anhydride of lactic acid

The synthesis and some of the physical and biological characteristics of a new inhibitor of lactate transport are described. The inhibitor is isobutylcarbonyl lactayl anhydride (iBCLA). It is formed by the condensation of lactic acid and isobutylchloroformate. It inhibits lactate transport 50% at 0.5 microgram/mg of protein in both Ehrlich ascites tumor cells and human erythrocytes. In contrast, 15 microgram of iBCLA/mg of protein is required for 50% inhibition of phosphate transport in erythrocytes, and phosphate transport in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells is unaffected at levels as high as 50 microgram of iBCLA/mg of protein. A time-dependent and concentration-dependent reversal of lactate transport inhibition took place on exposure of iBCLA-treated Ehrlich ascites cells to hydroxylamine or dithiothreitol. These data, along with the observed sensitivity of the lactate transporter to sulfhydryl reagents [Spencer, T. L., & Lehninger, A. L. (1976) Biochem. J. 154, 405-414], suggest that iBCLA acylates an essential sulfhydryl group on the transporter. When glycolyzing Ehrlich ascites tumor cells were treated with concentrations of iBCLA sufficient for complete inhibition of lactate transport, intracellular lactate levels increased, intracellular pH and extra-cellular lactate levels decreased, and overall lactate production was inhibited.

Lithium toxicity in cattle

Eighteen mixed-breed beef cattle died as the result of consuming "tacky lithium grease" discarded from a rubber reclaiming plant. Four experimental groups of mature cattle were given oral doses of a lithium salt at levels of 0, 20, 500, and 700 mg/kg body weight. Although all animals in the 250 mg/kg group showed signs of intoxication, the signs were mild and transient. Doses of 500 and 700 mg/kg proved toxic and fatal. Signs, serum levels, and tissue-organ deposition were dose and time-related. Signs of intoxication were salivation, depression, anorexia, hypodipsia, anuria, and diarrhea. The high dose group also showed severe depression and ataxia. The highest mean lithium serum values were 19, 40, and 54 ppm for the 250, 500, and 700 mg/kg groups, respectively. Postmortem and histopathologic examinations revealed dose-related gastroenteritis, slight interstitial nephritis, and hepatic cirrhosis. Tissue residues of lithium were in striated muscle (86.8 ppm), heart (79.3 ppm), liver (68.7 ppm), kidney (67.1 ppm) , and brain (51.8 ppm), in the high dose group. Since serum levels of cattle consuming the "tacky lithium grease" were 0.49 ppm of lithium, we believe other contaminants in this discarded grease may have caused or enhanced the toxic effect of lithium.

Cell membrane phospholipids and their constitutent fatty acids in dividing and nondividing cells of Micrococcus lysodeikticus

Changes occurring in the cell membrane of nondividing cells of Micrococcus lysodeikticus disIIp+ grown in the presence of the mucopeptide synthesis inhibitor D-cycloserine include (a) an increae in the relative amount of diphosphatidylglycerol with a concomitant decrease in the relative content of phosphatidylglycerol, (b) a small increase in the relative palmitic acid content of phosphatidylinositol, and (c) leakage of membrane components into the growth medium. Growth of the organism in the presence of both D-cycloserine and D-alanine (which prevents the effects of D-cycloserine on cell division and mucopeptide synthesis) prevents the above changes in the cell membrane, demonstrating that secondary damage to the cell membrane can occur as a rsult of inhibition in mucopeptide synthesis. Growth of the organism in the presence of D-cycloserine and pantoyl lactone prevents the leakage of membrne components and cell division inhibition. Possible relationships of these changes to cell division are discussed.

The reliability of diagnoses by technician computer, and algorithm

Described a computer-assisted system for intake assessment. Previous evaluation studies are reviewed. Two experiments (N = 30; N = 35) are reported that compared the reliability of a diagnostic procedure that involves technicians, a structured interview schedule, and a computerized diagnostic program with diagnoses made by clinicians. Results show that the computer-assisted technician approach is as reliable as the conventional method.

Blockade of ovulation by methadone in the rat: a central nervous system-mediated acute effect

Morphine blocks ovulation in the rat and is associated with irregular menstrual cycles in humans. Methadone, the synthetic narcotic used to treat heroin addiction, was tested in rats for its ability to block ovulation. Equal doses of methadone were administered subcutaneously at 13:00, 14:00 and 15:00 hr on proestrus. Three different total (cumulative) doses were tested: 6, 9 and 15 mg/kg, in Wistar and Sprague-Dawley rats. The 6 mg/kg dose was ineffective, 9 mg/kg affected by Sprague-Dawley, whereas the 15 mg/kg dose blocked ovulation in both strains. Injection of saline at 13:00, 14:00 and 15:00 hr, or of the narcotic antagonist naltrexone at 12:00 had no effect on ovulation. Naltrexone prevented the blockade of ovulation by methadone, implicating narcotic receptors in the mediation of this action of methadone. Electrochemical stimulation of the medial preoptic area of the brain, or administration of exogenous luteinizing hormone overcame methadone's blockade of ovulation suggesting that the drug is acting via the central nervous system. The results of these studies suggest that menstrual dysfunction may not be a major problem in the clinical application of methadone.

Demonstration of a pancreatic proelastase 2-alpha 1-protease inhibitor complex in normal human plasma

A peak of immunoreactive pancreatic elastase 2 with a molecular weight consistent with that of a complex of elastase 2 and alpha 1-protease inhibitor (also referred to as alpha 1-antitrypsin) can be detected by radioimmunoassay in normal human serum or plasma (Geokas et al., J. Biol. Chem. 252:61-67, 1977). This material has been purified by gel filtration on Sephadex G-200 and by ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. The alpha 1-protease inhibitor-bound immunoreactive elastase 2 has been dissociated by incubation with hydroxylamine, and the resulting immunoreactive product isolated by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100. The dissociated immunoreactive elastase 2 was shown by affinity chromatography on turkey egg white inhibitor-bound agarose, before and after activation by bovine trypsin, to consist only of proelastase 2. A second peak of immunoreactive material associated with the high molecular weight fraction of plasma has been shown to result from a specific interaction of the 125I-labeled phenylmethanesulfonyl-elastase 2 employed as tracer in the radioimmunoassay with alpha 2-macroglobulin, resulting in apparent immunoreactivity. These results demonstrate that all of the detectable immunoreactive pancreatic elastase 2 in normal human plasma is proelastase 2 bound to alpha 1-protease inhibitor.

Molecular forms of immunoreactive pancreatic cationic trypsin in pancreatitis patient sera

The molecular forms of immunoreactive pancreatic cationic trypsin in sera of patients with acute pancreatic inflammation have been characterized using a radioimmunoassay technique that is capable of detecting trypsinogen as well as trypsin bound to alpha 1-antitrypsin. Trypsin bound to alpha 2-macroglobulin is not immunoreactive under normal assay conditions. However, alpha 2-macroglobulin-bound trypsin can be detected after gel filtration of serum on Bio-Gel A-0.5 m and acid treatment of column fractions. The average serum level of immunoreactive cationic trypsin from 20 patients with acute pancreatic inflammation was 1,590 ng/ml. An average normal value of 26 ng/ml has been obtained previously. Serum samples from 14 patients with pancreatic inflammation were chromatographed under conditions that resolve trypsinogen, alpha 1-antitrypsin-bound trypsin, and alpha 2-macroglobulin-bound trypsin. In each case, the major portion of the immunoreactive material eluted at a position corresponding to free trypsinogen, while a minor fraction of the immunoreactive material appeared to be trypsin bound to alpha 1-antitrypsin. The zymogen nature of the major peak was confirmed in one case by activation with human enteropeptidase. In 11 of 14 patients, acid treatment of the alpha 2-macroglobulin peak yielded immunoreactive trypsin.

Syringomyelia presenting as a mass lesion of the conus medullaris

A case is presented of a young girl with syringomyelia presenting as a mass lesion of the conus medullaris. Computerized tomography of the cerical spinal cord revealed asymptomatic extension of the syrinx to that level. Seven other similar cases are reviewed, and suggestions made for preoperative diagnosis of this unusual entity.

A study of mental status and anamnestic factors related to the decision for inpatient or outpatient treatment

Reviewed previous studies of the determinants of disposition decision-making. Experimental flaws in these studies are indicated. A study of the intake decision process and its relationship to mental status and anamnestic variables obtained during the intake examination is presented (N = 523). Results suggest that diagnoses of psychosis and personality disorder are rleated to inpatient care, while the diagnosis of neurosis is related to outpatient care. In addition, depressed/suicidal symptomatology is found to be related to inpatient treatment, while a previous history of either sexual maladjustment or stubbornness/retardation is found to be related to outpatient care. Results are discussed in terms of universal and local criteria that are involved in intake decision-making.

Arousal seeking as a moderator of life stress

This study investigated the relationship between life stress and measures of anxiety, depression, and hostility as a function of subjects' arousal-seeking status. Results indicated significant relationships between negative life change and measures of both anxiety and hostility. These relationships, however, held only for subjects who were low on the arousal-seeking dimension. The results suggest that arousal-seeking status may serve as a moderator variable in determining the relationship between life stress and other variables.