Polymeric prostaglandin PGBx and other prostaglandin polymers prolong survival of the heart of the hypoxic mouse.

A new chemical method for prolongation of survival under hypoxia is reported. Polymeric prostaglandin PGBx which shows beneficial effects on damaged mitochondria in vitro was used. Survival time of the intact hypoxic (6% O2) mouse as measured by electrocardiogram is prolonged by 100% or more by standard PGBx (mean polymer chain length = 7).

Studies on the mechanism of mitochondrial protection by polymeric prostaglandin PGBx.

On the basis of the interaction between tritiated PGBx and rat liver mitochondria, it appears that PGBx interacts with rat liver mitochondria to form a complex. At low PGBx-mitochondrial ratios, one effect of this complex formation is to stabilize the phosphorylation activity of rat liver mitochondria when exposed for short times to hypotonic solutions. At higher PGBx-mitochondrial ratios, PGBx fails to show this effect.

Mechanism of polymeric prostaglandin PGBx for in vitro stabilization of rat liver mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation.

The mechanism of the in vitro PGBx effect on mitochondria was studied by determining the specific requirements of the assay system composition. These studies showed that (a) rat liver mitochondria must first be exposed to hypotonic media containing PGBx under aerobic conditions, (b) oxygen, Pi, Mg++, phosphate acceptor (nucleotides), and some oxidizable substrates are essential components to yield optimal phosphorylation values. KCl and bovine serum albumin are non-essential components.

Chronic effects of PGBx, a polymeric prostaglandin, on blood leukocyte counts.

PGBx, a polymeric prostaglandin, in chronic doses therapeutic for hereditary diabetes and hereditary obesity in mice, produces significant increases of blood neutrophils and lymphocytes in normal mice, hereditary diabetic mice, and hereditary obese mice. For lymphocytes, but not for neutrophils, the direction of the PGBx effect reverses at doses above 10 micrograms/g of body weight.

Characteristics of the initial medical interview associated with patient satisfaction and understanding.

This study examines the relationship between selected interview characteristics, particularly physicians' verbal behaviors, and levels of patient satisfaction and understanding. Twenty-nine initial patient interviews by 11 physicians at the University of Washington Hospital Family Medical Center were videotaped and rated using a modified Bales' technique. Questionnaires provided measures of patient satisfaction and understanding.