Flow-cytometric detection of surface membrane alterations and concomitant changes in the cytoskeletal actin status of activated platelets.

Occlusive vascular diseases are promoted by a "prethrombotic state" with increased platelet activity. Polymerization of cytoskeletal proteins and exposure of subcellular structures or rebinding of secreted proteins have been characterized as early reactions after platelet activation preceding adhesion and aggregation. Here, we demonstrate the kinetic increase in specific binding of monoclonal antibodies to thrombospondin (P10) and to platelet membrane activation markers CD63 (GP53, a 53 kD lysosomal protein) and CD62 (GMP140, a 140 kD alpha granule protein) by using a flow-cytometric bio-assay and the related change in the actin status by using the DNase-I inhibition assay after stimulation of normal human platelets with 0.

New therapeutic approaches in thyroidal autoimmune diseases.

Antithyroid drugs (AD) still represent the most widely chosen therapy for hyperthyroidism of Graves' disease. Since their interaction with iodine is still poorly understood, this was addressed in multicenter clinical trials. The interaction of iodine and methimazole was studied in 260 patients from iodine deficient countries.

Technetium-pertechnetate uptake by ectopic antral mucosa. An experimental study.

The ability of ectopically placed fundic mucosa and retained antral mucosa to concentrate technetium has previously been demonstrated. The ability of ectopically placed antral mucosa to concentrate technetium was investigated. The denervated antrum implanted into the colon concentrated technetium in 5 dogs.

[Acute psychosis caused by poisoning with cyclopentolate].

The authors report on a 17-year-old female patient who suffered an acute psychotic attack after local application of cyclopentolate 1.0% in both eyes. The literature is reviewed with regard to systemic side effects of local application of cyclopentolate.

Intravenous magnesium sulfate inhibits catecholamine release associated with tracheal intubation.

The effects of pre-treatment with 60 mg/kg body weight magnesium sulfate intravenous on cardiovascular responses and catecholamine release associated with tracheal intubation were measured in 15 normal patients and in 15 saline solution pre-treated controls. Magnesium pre-treatment increased heart rate by 13 +/- 3.9 beats/minute.

Post-traumatic parotid fistulae and sialoceles. A prospective study of conservative management in 51 cases.

The management of parotid sialoceles and fistulae have been unsatisfactory in the past, and numerous methods of treatment with varying success and morbidity have been described. The present prospective study reports results of conservative therapy in 51 patients over a 3-year period. In 50 patients, the injury healed upon conservative management.

The role of membranous obstruction of the inferior vena cava in the etiology of hepatocellular carcinoma in Southern African blacks.

Membranous obstruction of the inferior vena cava has been incriminated as a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma in South African Blacks and in Japanese. However, the frequency with which this anomaly is found in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, and hence its numerical importance as an etiological association of the tumor, has not been ascertained. Using radionuclide and contrast venography as well as necropsy and laparotomy examination, we investigated 162 unselected southern African Blacks with hepatocellular carcinoma together with appropriate controls for the presence of membranous obstruction of the inferior vena cava.

The use of a monoclonal antibody against alpha-fetoprotein for the radioimmunodetection of hepatocellular carcinoma.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of a radiolabeled mouse monoclonal antibody (and its F(ab')2 fragment) against alpha-fetoprotein in the scintigraphic diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Twenty-six southern African Blacks and one Caucasian with hepatocellular carcinoma and four patients with other malignant tumors of the liver were studied. Although six hepatocellular carcinomas appeared to selectively concentrate alpha-fetoprotein antibody, one of these tumors was not producing alpha-fetoprotein.

Management of gastric emptying disorders following the Roux-en-Y procedure.

In 46 patients with gastric resection and Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy, gastric emptying was studied with the gamma camera. Seventeen patients were free of symptoms, 11 vomited occasionally (less than 5 times weekly), and 18 were severely incapacitated with daily vomiting, weight loss, and bezoar formation. Patients with occasional vomiting had early rapid emptying similar to that seen in the patients who were without symptoms and responded satisfactorily to nonsurgical therapy.

The use of radionuclide venography in the differential diagnosis of inferior vena caval obstruction.

In using radionuclide imaging of the inferior vena cava (RIVC) to investigate the prevalence of membranous obstruction of the inferior vena cava (IVC) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, it was necessary first to determine if this technique would distinguish membranous obstruction of the IVC both from other causes of IVC obstruction likely to be encountered in these patients and from the picture obtained with severe ascites. RIVC readily distinguished an obstructed from a normally patent IVC. However, membranous obstruction of the IVC could not in most instances be differentiated from extrinsic compression of the IVC by an enlarged tumourous liver, occlusion of the lumen of the IVC by tumour, or the effect of severe ascites.

Autonomic dysfunction in severe tetanus: magnesium sulfate as an adjunct to deep sedation.

We studied the use of continuous iv magnesium (Mg) infusion to control the sympathetic crises in a patient with severe tetanus characterized by pronounced autonomic nervous system instability. Our results suggested that Mg is a useful adjunct to the CNS depressants traditionally used. This therapy controlled the sympathetic crises and also suppressed the release of catecholamines, although Mg infusions alone appeared to be inadequate therapy.

Radioisotopic flow scanning for portal blood flow and portal hypertension.

The use of a simple, noninvasive, isotope scanning technique for the determination of relative portal blood flow and detection of portal hypertension is described. Using this technique the presence of portal hypertension was demonstrated in seven of nine patients known to have elevated portal venous pressure. By contrast, esophageal varices were demonstrated in only five of these patients, illustrating the potential value of the method.

Aromatisation of androstenedione by human breast cancer tissue: correlation with hormone receptor activity and possible biologic significance.

The conversion of 1 beta [3H] androstenedione to estrone in the presence of NADPH by breast cancer homogenates was assessed in tumors from 35 subjects together with estrogen and progesterone receptor concentration. Breast cancers from post menopausal women had significantly higher aromatase activity than those from premenopausal women. Although in many instances the local production of estrogens was sufficient to the capable of exerting a biologic effect, there was, however, no correlation with tumor estrogen or progesterone receptor content.

Demonstration of post-traumatic bile leak using technetium-99m DISIDA.

A 25-year-old miner was admitted with an acute abdomen and marked pallor following a crush injury to the abdomen. CT showed an irregular, patchy appearance of the posterosuperior portion of the liver with a coefficient of density appreciably less than the rest of the liver, consistent with the presence of a hepatic hematoma. The patient was treated conservatively.

Influence of anatomic origin on intracranial distribution of micro-emboli in the baboon.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the anatomic origin of micro-emboli influences their intracranial distribution. In twenty-two baboons, we examined the distribution of 99-Technetium labelled albumin aggregates (5 to 40 microns in size) after injection into the circulation at the left atrium (LA), carotid trifurcation (CA), and anterior and posterior common carotid artery (CCI). In a further subgroup, the emboli were introduced at the carotid trifurcation with the contralateral carotid artery ligated (CA + L).