Overestimation of glucose in uranyl acetate-treated samples: modification of the deproteinization method.

It is demonstrated that uranyl ions remaining in deproteinized supernatants of blood, serum, or liquor cerebrospinalis lead to falsely elevated glucose values by forming insoluble precipitates of uranyl phosphate. Furthermore, glucose is overestimated in hemolytic blood samples because of the UV-absorption of incompletely precipitated hemoglobin. A modified deproteinization method is recommended which overcomes these problems: the specimen volume is reduced to one half of the usual volume (0.

[The random dot test as a screening method for the visual acuity in children (author's transl)].

The Random Dot Test was used for a screening of the visual acuity of children of 6 to 10 years of age. The testing time is reduced by 50% as compared with the examination by means of illiterate E images on cardboard charts. Children with refractive errors of up to 3 delta but normal visual acuity after correction are not detected at the examination distance of 1.

Identification of an isoquinoline alkaloid after chronic exposure to ethanol.

A rapid and simple method for extraction of biogenic amines from small tissue samples was used to examine striata from ethanol-treated mice for TIQs. The results indicate that chronic ethanol administration can induce the formation of MSAL in striatal tissue.

Putative role of isoquinoline alkaloids in alcoholism: a link to opiates.

Although the isoquinoline hypothesis has stimulated and even tantalized the scientific inquiry of a small number of investigators, it has been an area of widespread controversy. For the most part, until recently, alcohol researchers would ascribe very little importance to the role played by insoquinolines in alcohol actions or in the disease state known as alcoholism. To most, there was adequate evidence that these condensation amines had potent pharmacologic properties but little was known about their biochemical and behavioral interaction with ethanol or opiates.

Improved ultraviolet spectrophotometry of serum theophylline.

We present an improved method for ultraviolet spectrophotometry of theophylline in serum. We studied various extraction techniques aimed at eliminating interferences from co-extractable serum constituents. In the resulting modified procedure, 1 ml of serum is required and a salt-solvent pair of ammonium sulfate and chloroform/hexane is used for extraction.

Behavior of Biozzi high and low responder mice upon infection with Schistosoma mansoni.

Mice genetically selected for high (Ab/H) or low (Ab/L) humoral antibody responses were infected with Schistosoma mansoni in order to assess the role of antibodies in innate and acquired immunity to this parasite. AbH mice produced higher levels of humoral antibodies to schistosome antigens, but were more susceptible to infection than Ab/L mice. This was shown by the higher number of parasites recovered from Ab/H mice, by the larger size of the parasites themselves, by the number of schistosome eggs and their rate of deposition in the host liver.

Alterations in brain electrolytes during acceleration in mice.

Calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium levels were determined in brain tissues of mice subjected to gravitational acceleration in the longitudinal direction. Although no significant changes occur in calcium and magnesium levels, potassium levels markedly increase while sodium levels decrease following exposure to 5 and 10 Gz for 5 min. The electrolyte changes are of long duration and remain for periods greater than 5 h.

Analgesic effects of 3-carboxysalsolinol alone and in combination with morphine.

A biphasic dose-response pattern is generated by the isoquinoline, 3-carboxysalsolinol, in analgesia tests conducted in mice. Carbidopa pretreatment enhances this effect, as well as the morphine-induced analgesic increase by 3-carboxysalsolinol. Naloxone blockade of all of these responses suggests an interaction of the alcohol-based isoquinoline with central opiate receptors.

Intensification of amphetamine-induced excitation by methysergide, a serotonergic receptor blocker.

Methysergide, a serotonergic receptor blocker, was studied to determine its effects against d-amphetamine-induced excitation as measured by convulsions elicited by handling in mice. Significant intensification (p less than 0.01) of the action of d-amphetamine was observed in mice.

Peyote, a potential ethnopharmacologic agent for alcoholism and other drug dependencies: possible biochemical rationale.

The authors examine folk psychiatry among Native American Church members from an enthnopharmacologic viewpoint. Alcohol and opiate abuse among Indian and non-Indian are presented in case histories proving to be asymptomatic under Indian guidance and through participation in the peyote ritual. The biochemical alkaloids common in the peyote cactus, rather than just the psychoactive substances (mescaline), are purported to be pharmacologically similar to the neuroamine-derived alkaloids found in the brain during alcohol intoxification.

Enhancement of ethonol-induced withdrawal convulsions by blockade of 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors.

Male Swiss-Webster mice were made physically dependent on ethanol using the ethanol vapour inhalation technique. Animals pretreated with methysergide, a known 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor blocking agent, had significantly greater alcohol-induced withdrawal convulsions than saline pretreated controls. These findings suggest that the reduction of 5-HT at receptor sites may result in the augmentation of the withdrawal convulsions.