Disposition of valproic acid in the rat: dose-dependent metabolism, distribution, enterohepatic recirculation and choleretic effect.

A specific gas chromatographic assay has been developed for measurement of valproic acid (VPA) and its major conjugated metabolites. In rats given single intravenous doses, the decline in blood concentration of VPA was dose-dependent and followed first-order kinetics only at the lowest dose. The time required for the maximum concentration of VPA, after completion of the brief distribution phase, to decline by 50% was 11.

Haematemesis in Ménétrier's disease.

Three patients with Ménétrier's disease presented with massive haematemesis. One patient died. Ménétrier's disease may be associated with gastrointestinal haemorrhage and although it is rare it should be borne in mind as a cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Preoperative basal chemotherapy in the management of cancer of the stomach: a preliminary report.

Nine patients with advanced gastric carcinoma have been treated with a programme of chemotherapy as the first stage of management with the objective of reducing tumour extent and viability in preparation for subsequent surgery where feasible. In eight patients the chemotherapy was given by intraarterial infusion into the coeliac axis, and the remaining patient was given intravenous chemotherapy. Most patients gained symptomatic improvement, including pain relief, and in seven patients tumour regression was achieved.

Rectal biopsy in patients presenting to an infectious disease unit with diarrhoeal disease.

The role of sigmoidoscopy and rectal biopsy was investigated in patients referred to an infectious diseases unit with diarrhoea. Seventy-four patients were studied. Nine patients (12%) had inflammatory bowel disease, either ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease.

Excretion of valproic acid into semen of rabbits and man.

Dipropylacetic acid (VPA, valproic acid) has been quantified in plasma and semen from rabbits and man using a new gas-liquid chromatographic assay. The drug assay is rapid, sensitive and free from interference by VPA metabolites. The beta phase half-life of VPA in rabbits after an i.

Morbidity and mortality in salmonella food poisoning. A review of 47 in-patient cases.

Forty-seven new patients with salmonella food poisoning were admitted to the Infectious Diseases Unit at the City Hospital, Edinburgh, during 1975. Although all the patients had diarrhoea at some stage of their illness, the wide variety of presenting symptoms caused some diagnostic difficulties prior to the isolation of the organism. A probable predisposing factor to serious disease was recognised in 15 patients.

Compounds with gastric antisecretory activity. 1. Phenoxyalkylamines.

A series of 0-alkylphenoxyalkylamines, derived from classical H1 antagonists, has been found to inhibit histamine-induced gastric acid secretion. The most potent compound was trans-1-[2[2-[2-(1-adamantyl)vinyl] phenoxy] ethyl]pyrrolidine (54). The 0-acylphenol 23 required for the preparation of 54 was obtained by the novel reaction of 1-bromoadamantane (21) with 4-hydroxycoumarin (20) using diethyl phosphonate as solvent.

The components of the Poggendorff illusion.

An explanation of the Poggendorff misalignment illusion in terms of three basic components, the horizontal-vertical, longitudinal-transverse and obtuse angle effects, is proposed. It is argued that these effects amy either singly or jointly give rise to an apparent elongation- contraction of the space between the aligned elements with consequent change in apparent oblique direction. Experimental evidence for the involvement of the three components in various combinations and for modification of perceived direction between the transversals is presented.

Protothecosis in a cat: first recorded case.

A 12-year-old Domestic Shorthair cat with a soft, fluctuant, subcutaneous mass, approximately 5 cm in diameter on the posterior aspect of the left tarsus was diagnosed as having protothecosis. Cultures, histopathology, and fluorescent antibody reagents were used to identify Prototheca wickerhamii as the etiologic agent. Protothecosis has not previously been recorded in cats.

Prostaglandin in the saliva of the cattle tick Boophilus microplus.

Previous studies of saliva from engorged female cattle ticks revealed a component which induced contration of some isolated smooth muscles. Fractionation and further characterisation have shown that this substance is of the "slow-reacting" type, but that it is neither a bradykinin nor slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis. The substance is deactivated by incubation with 15-hydroxprostaglandin dehydrogenase and its pharmacological properties also support its classification as a prostaglandin.

Experimental reactivation of ocular herpes simplex in rabbits.

Latent herpes simplex virus (HSV) is known to reside in the trigeminal ganglia. Our studies show that the temporary retrobulbar disruption of trigeminal nerve function in chronically infected animals caused a striking decrease in the number of positive HSV cultures obtained during the 20 weeks immediately following surgery. We found that the stereotaxic interruption of intracranial trigeminal nerve function prior to initial HSV infection dramatically reduced the incidence of peripheral recurrence of HSV.

The effect of trigeminal nerve and ganglion manipulation on recurrence of ocular herpes simplex in rabbits.

Latent herpes simplex virus (HSV) has been demonstrated in the trigeminal ganglia of experimentally infected rabbits between episodes of spontaneous ocular recurrence. In three experiments reported here, the normal pattern of recurrence was modified by manipulation of the trigeminal nerve and ganglion. Temporary retrobulbar disruption of trigeminal nerve function in chronically infected animals significantly decreased the number of ocular HSV isolations obtained during the 20 weeks immediately following surgery.