Regulation of thyrotrophin secretion.

Substantial advances in understanding the regulation of thyrotrophin (TSH) secretion have been made during the past decade. The hypothalamic tripeptide, thyrotrophin-releasing hormone, is the major stimulator of TSH secretion, and thyroid hormones exert the major inhibitory influences on TSH secretion. Other hypothalamic peptides, biogenic amines and steroid hormones modulate TSH secretion.

The biochemistry of the action of chymopapain in relief of sciatica.

A study has been made of the mechanism of action of intradiscal injections of preparations of chymopapain in the treatment of sciatica. Such preparations were found to contain at least four distinct proteins, but enzymatically active chymopapain was the component mainly responsible for releasing glycosaminoglycan from cartilaginous tissue. Previous suggestions that an electrostatic interaction between chymopapain and glycosaminoglycan is important to the action of injected enzyme were not supported by the finding that both positively and negatively charged forms of chymopapain efficiently released glycosaminoglycan from cartilaginous tissue.

Isolation of six cysteine proteinase inhibitors from human urine. Their physicochemical and enzyme kinetic properties and concentrations in biological fluids.

Six cysteine proteinase inhibitors were isolated from human urine by affinity chromatography on insolubilized carboxymethylpapain followed by ion-exchange chromatography and immunosorption. Physicochemical and immunochemical measurements identified one as cystatin A, one as cystatin B, one as cystatin C, one as cystatin S, and one as low molecular weight kininogen. The sixth inhibitor displayed immunochemical cross-reactivity with salivary cystatin S but had a different pI (6.

Cushing's syndrome in pregnancy. A case report.

A case of Cushing's syndrome caused by a right adrenal adenoma in a 16-week gravid patient is reported. After right adrenalectomy she was maintained on replacement doses of hydrocortisone, and at 38 weeks' gestation a healthy but small-for-gestational age infant was delivered vaginally.

Human low-Mr kininogen contains three copies of a cystatin sequence that are divergent in structure and in inhibitory activity for cysteine proteinases.

We point out that human low-Mr kininogen contains three cystatin-like sequences, rather than two, as had previously been thought. The protein was purified by affinity chromatography on carboxymethyl-papain-Sepharose, and subjected to limited proteolysis by trypsin and chymotrypsin. Fragments were isolated, and three corresponding to the individual cystatin-like domains were identified.

Live abdominal pregnancy presenting as massive rectal bleeding.

A case of massive rectal bleeding resulting from the placental attachment of an abdominal pregnancy to the sigmoid colon is reported. Both mother and infant survived this rare complication which should be considered when abdominal colic and major gastrointestinal haemorrhage occur in a pregnant patient.

Static load response of the heels of SACH feet.

Excessive heel hardness in the prosthetic foot is a frequent problem that may contribute to decreased function in the above knee and below knee amputee. Optimal mechanical characteristics of the SACH (solid ankle cushion heel) foot have not been defined. In an effort to characterize the mechanical properties of the heels of these feet, we performed static load-deformation tests on the heels of SACH feet at stimulated heelstrike.

Prescription options for the below knee amputee. A review.

In 1973 a workshop sponsored by the National Academy of Sciences recommended that "efforts to develop prescription criteria for use of the numerous variants of the BK prosthesis should be intensified." This paper provides a review of the important considerations in the prescription of a below-knee prosthesis. It is intended that this information would assist the physician to make better informed decisions regarding the specific type of prosthesis for a particular patient.

The antiemetic activity of droperidol administered by intramuscular injection during cisplatin chemotherapy: a pilot study.

The antiemetic activity of escalating doses of droperidol was evaluated in ten patients undergoing chemotherapy with cisplatin regimens. Major antiemetic activity was achieved in five patients, two patients had less nausea and vomiting as compared with prior prochlorperazine therapy, and three patients were refractory to droperidol. No dose-response relationship was observed.

The Social ecology of Madrid: Stratification in comparative perspective.

This paper examines the characteristics of residential zones in Madrid, Spain. The primary difference between zones is found to lie in a new bourgeoisie life-style dimension. Working women are found to be the best indicator of this dimension, which also involves servants, natives of Madrid and high degrees of literacy.