Determination of heavy metals in human liver.

The levels of Cr (2.49 +/- 0.89 ppm), Mn (5.

Incidental appendectomy during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

An operative experience of three patients who underwent incidental laparoscopic appendectomy during laparoscopic cholecystectomy is presented. The technique and indications are discussed. The authors conclude that incidental laparoscopic appendectomy is possible and safe with existing incisions performed in gallbladder surgery.

Reduction of left ventricular hypertrophy after longterm antihypertensive treatment with doxazosin.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of antihypertensive treatment with doxazosin on left ventricular anatomy and function. Therefore, after 4 weeks of washout with placebo (phase 1), doxazosin (dosage range from 1 to 16 mg, plus hydrochlorothiazide when necessary) was given to 11 essential hypertensive patients (6 M, 5 F, age range 34-63 years) for 8 weeks (phase 2) in order to achieve diastolic blood pressure values less than 90 mmHg; this dosage was then maintained for a further 20 weeks up to the end of the study (phase 3). Blood pressure was significantly reduced (Anova P less than 0.

Transdermal nitroglycerin efficacy in patients with chronic stable angina pectoris as related to sympathetic and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone activity.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute effects of transdermal nitroglycerin on the sympathetic and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone systems activity, in a group of patients with stable exercise induced angina pectoris. Eighteen outpatients (15M, 3F, age range 47-65 years) were included in this double-blind, randomized, crossover trial comparing the antianginal effects of a transdermal system delivering 20 mg.day-1 of nitroglycerin to an identical placebo.

Detection of a transcriptional block in the first intron of the human c-myb gene.

The levels of expression of the murine c-myb gene, like those of several other proto-oncogenes, can be controlled by a block of transcriptional elongation within the first intron of the gene. We have performed run-off experiments with double- and single-stranded probes on the myelomonocytic cell line U937, and show that this mechanism of transcriptional arrest is true also for the human c-myb gene and takes place within the first intron. Furthermore, we have sequenced the entire first intron of the human c-myb gene, and discuss the sequence structure in relation to its putative ability to arrest RNA polymerase II and its high degree of homology with the equivalent murine intron.

Endocrine disorders in 66 suprasellar and pineal tumors of patients with prepubertal and pubertal ages.

Tumor oncotypes, initial symptoms and endocrine disturbances before and/or 1 month after surgery were studied in 66 patients with prepubertal and pubertal ages having suprasellar or pineal intracranial tumors. Neoplasms found in patients of prepubertal age were: 15 craniopharyngiomas (CRA), 24 neuroepithelial-cell-derived tumors (NEC), 5 germ cell tumors (GERM) and 4 other lesions (OTHER). In patients of pubertal age, there were 7 CRA, 7 pituitary tumors (PIT), 2 NEC, 1 GERM and 1 OTHER.

Antidiuretic hormone and atrial natriuretic peptide during lower body negative or positive pressure in hypertensive patients with and without left ventricular hypertrophy.

Aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of cardiopulmonary receptors activation and deactivation on antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) incretion in hypertensive and normotensive subjects. Twenty-one male subjects, 7 normotensives and 14 mild hypertensives, 7 without and 7 with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) were admitted to the study. Each subject underwent selective loading and unloading of cardiopulmonary receptors, by application of a positive (LBPP) or negative (LBNP) pressure to the lower body.

Properties of a previously undescribed grapevine nepovirus from Tunisia.

A virus with isometric particles c. 30 nm in diameter and angular contour was isolated by inoculation of sap from a Tunisian grapevine with mild mottling and leaf deformation. The virus sedimented in sucrose density gradients as three components: T (empty shells), M (particles containing a molecule of ssRNA with an apparent size of 5,800 nucleotides, constituting 35% of the particle weight) and B (particles containing a molecule of ssRNA with apparent size of 6,800 nucleotides, constituting 41% of the particle weight).

Production, characterization and use of monoclonal antibodies to grapevine virus A.

Four stable hybridoma cell lines secreting monoclonal antibodies to grapevine closterovirus A (GVA) were obtained by fusing spleen cells of immunized BALB/c mice with mouse myeloma cell line Sp2/0-Ag 14. In ELISA all MAbs reacted with virus in leaf extracts from Nicotiana benthamiana, glass-house-, field-, or in vitro-grown grapevines, or with cortical shavings from mature grape canes. In IEM tests, only one of the MAbs (PA3.

Nigrostriatal dopaminergic cell activity is under control by substantia nigra of the contralateral brain side: electrophysiological evidence.

The biochemical balance between right- and left-ascending DA systems is an essential factor to regulate behavioral lateralization. However, there is no electrophysiological evidence for the regulation of interhemispheric DA systems. In the present paper we report electrophysiological evidence supporting the hypothesis that the A9 DA cells are under control of the contralateral substantia nigra.

[Regulation of platelet alpha2 adrenergic receptors in a population of patients with essential arterial hypertension and in normotensive subjects].

The development of specific binding techniques for the study of adrenergic receptors on circulating human blood cells has allowed a better understanding of the physiological alterations of adrenergic receptors and changes of adrenergic receptors in pathological conditions such as hypertension. Alpha adrenoceptors play an important part in blood pressure regulation at several sites. There are contradictory and conflicting reports on whether alpha receptor mechanisms are altered in essential hypertension.

Renal and hemodynamic effects of atrial natriuretic peptide infusion are not mediated by peripheral dopaminergic mechanisms.

The possible involvement of peripheral dopaminergic mechanisms in the action of atrial natriuretic peptides was investigated in 10 subjects by administering 200 micrograms h-ANP 99-126 intravenously for 30 min during treatment with 50 mg carbidopa, a peripheral inhibitor of dopamine synthesis, every 8 h, or during placebo. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) infusion during placebo was associated with a significant increase of diuresis, natriuresis, kaliuresis, urinary noradrenaline, and dopamine excretion. Plasma aldosterone significantly decreased.

Behavioral lateralization in rats: prenatal stress effects on sex differences.

The possible relationship between human and animal asymmetries is currently a controversial point. In the present study we report that, after practice, rat behavioral asymmetry presents important similarities with human laterality. Thus, rat behavior presents: (1) absolute and population laterality to the same degree and with the same right-bias as that reported for humans; (2) the female has less absolute laterality but similar population laterality to the male; (3) male-female differences for behavioral laterality are modified by prenatal stress as occurs with similar other hormone-regulated behavior.

Sex differences in behavioral despair: relationships between behavioral despair and open field activity.

Many studies have reported sex differences in the rates of depression in humans. Due to experimental problems, the nature of these sexual differences is still unknown. In the present study, we quantify the sex differences in depression using two animal models.

Expression of c-myb and B-myb, but not A-myb, correlates with proliferation in human hematopoietic cells.

The steady-state expression of three members of the myb family of genes, c-myb, B-myb, and A-myb, was studied in four purified normal human hematopoietic cell types, ie, T and B lymphocytes, monocytes, and granulocytes. The c-myb proto-oncogene is low to undetectable in resting T and B lymphocytes and shows a biphasic induction in both cell types after mitogenic stimulation, with a first peak at 3 hours and a second and stronger induction at 44 to 72 hours. Study of the B-myb gene showed that this gene is low to undetectable in resting T or B cells and is strongly induced after mitogenic stimulation with a peak between 44 and 72 hours in both cell types.

Distribution of G1m(1), G1m(2) and G3m(5) allotypes in Aragon.

The distribution of G1m(1), G1m(2) and G3m(5) allotypes was studied in 700 unrelated individuals from Aragon (North-East Spain). The Gm haplotype frequencies were similar to those reported in French areas next to Aragon.

Regression of cardiovascular structural changes after long-term antihypertensive treatment with the calcium antagonist nitrendipine.

Regression of cardiovascular structural changes is a main goal of antihypertensive treatment. Nitrendipine is a calcium antagonist of the dihydropiridine group that may be given once daily. In different animal models of experimental hypertension, nitrendipine was shown to reduce blood pressure (BP) and left ventricular (LV) mass, to prevent early mortality, and to limit the development of vascular lesions.

Improved left ventricular systolic and diastolic function after regression of cardiac hypertrophy, treatment withdrawal, and redevelopment of hypertension.

The aim of this study was to differentiate the effects of changes of arterial pressure from those of regression of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) on systolic and diastolic function at rest and during a rapid increase in afterload, induced by handgrip and cold pressor tests. An additional purpose was to assess the hemodynamic mechanisms responsible for the increase in arterial pressure after treatment withdrawal. Therefore, we evaluated the cardiac anatomy and function (TM echo) at rest and during handgrip and cold pressor tests in 23 hypertensive patients, before therapy and 20-30 days after withdrawal of treatment, which had lasted 6-12 months, when left ventricular mass index (LVMI) was significantly reduced (from 140 +/- 44 to 113 +/- 13 g/m2, p less than 0.

[Activity and number of lymphocyte beta adrenergic receptors after protracted treatment with mepindolol sulfate of patients with essential arterial hypertension].

beta-Blockers are widely used in the treatment of high blood pressure. To study clinical and pharmacological role of beta-adrenoceptor antagonist with intrinsic sympathomimetic activity (ISA), lymphocyte beta 2-adrenoceptor density, assessed by 3H-dihydroalprenolol binding, was investigated in 10 hypertensive patients (8 male, 2 female) aged 20-62 years before and after treatment with mepindolol (5 mg o.i.

[Hemodynamic and humoral effects of 2 different doses of ketanserin in aged patients with hypertension].

The purpose of this double blind, cross-over, randomized study was to assess the antihypertensive efficacy and tolerability of ketanserin given at two different doses (i.e. 20 or 40 mg b.

Effect of chronic ursocholic acid administration on bile lipid composition and bile acid pool size in gallstone patients.

We assessed the effect of chronic (4-6 weeks) administration of ursocholic acid (UCA) (15 mg/kg/day), a natural bile acid with poor detergent capacity, on biliary lipid composition of gallbladder bile (n = 26) and bile acid pool size (n = 5) in gallstone patients. During treatment the biliary molar percentage UCA increased from trace values to 28% (p less than 0.001).