Complement-induced Ca2+ influx in cultured fibroblasts is decreased by the calcium-channel antagonist nifedipine or by some bivalent inorganic cations.

The effects of different extracellular cations or organic Ca(2+)-channel modulators on complement-induced changes in intracellular Ca2+ and cell death have been investigated in the transfected NIH-3T3 HIR 3.5 cell line, which overexpresses the human insulin receptor. Cells were incubated with mouse anti-(human insulin receptor) monoclonal antibodies before exposure to rabbit or human serum (sources of heterologous complement).

Dissociation of KATP channel and sulphonylurea receptor in the rat clonal insulin-secreting cell line, CRI-D11.

It is generally considered that the sulphonylurea receptor is an integral part of the ATP-sensitive K+ channel. We have investigated this proposal by comparing the binding and functional characteristics of the sulphonylurea receptor and KATP channel by using two rat insulinoma cell lines (CRI-G1 and CRI-D11) of common origin. Insulin release was increased in both cell lines by a variety of metabolizable and non-metabolizable secretagogues but glibenclamide induced an increase in insulin release in G1 cells only.

Idiopathic peripheral gangrene in Nigeria.

A severe, acutely evolving peripheral gangrene of unknown etiology has been reported sporadically from different parts of Africa. This case report describes such a case of fulminant gangrene of the extremities following a febrile diarrheal illness associated with abdominal pain, polyarthropathy, and altered hemostatic function in a black adolescent male. A model of autoimmune causation for this uncommon clinical syndrome is proposed with guidelines for therapy.

Bronchiolo-alveolar cell carcinoma with apparent response to chemotherapy to anti-tuberculosis.

This report describes a case of bronchiolo-alveolar cell carcinoma of the lungs presenting with severe respiratory distress and miliary shadowing on chest radiograms. The patient showed an apparent response to anti-tuberculous chemotherapy, which was probably related to the neuropsychiatric properties of isoniazid. The case illustrates that not all "miliary" chest radiograms in Africa are tuberculous and a chemotherapeutic trial is not always diagnostic in individual cases of tuberculosis.

Concurrent adenocarcinoma of the colon and chronic intestinal parasitoses: a case report.

A 25-year-old patient presented with recurrent bloody diarrhoea associated with intestinal parasitoses. Radiography and tissue histology confirmed the diagnosis of an annular colonic adenocarcinoma. The incidence and management of colonic malignancy in young Africans is discussed in the light of its described associationship with protozoal/helminthic parasitoses.