On the question of infectious aetiologies for multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia and the chronic fatigue syndrome and their treatment with antibiotics.

Close similarities in the courses of multiple sclerosis and schizophrenia laid the theoretical ground for attempting to find a common infectious aetiology for the two diseases. Chlamydia pneumoniae, which belongs to the rickettsial family of microorganisms has been linked to both diseases. It is postulated that since rickettsial microorganisms are ubiquitous in human populations they and the human species normally live in peaceful coexistence.

Growth inhibitory activity of succinylacetone: studies with Walker 256 carcinosarcoma, Novikoff hepatoma and L1210 leukemia.

Succinylacetone (SA, 4,6-dioxoheptanoic acid) inhibits d-aminolevulinic acid dehydrase, the second enzyme of the heme biosynthetic pathway and thereby inhibits heme biosynthesis. In the present study SA is shown to inhibit the growth of the Walker carcinosarcoma (W256) in vitro and in vivo, the Novikoff hepatoma in vivo, and L1210 leukemia in vitro, but only slightly in vivo. Rats can tolerate significantly larger doses of SA for at least twice as long as were administered in the present study without gross evidence of toxicity.

Characteristics of hematin uptake in malignant, embryonic and normal cells.

The characteristics of hematin uptake were examined in three malignant cell lines [L1210 leukemia, 745 murine erythroleukemia (MEL) and Walker carcinoma (W256)], a cell line derived from normal rat liver (BRL-3A) and a normal embryonic cell, chick embryo fibroblasts (CEF). Uptake in the normal liver cell line was slight and occurred at a slow rate in contrast to the rapid uptake, which was more rapid and of greater magnitude in the three tumor cell lines, Saturation of the heme uptake mechanism was observed in MEL cells at an extra-cellular hematin concentration of 160 micro M and in L1210 cells at 300 micro M. At saturation L1210 cells achieved a cellular heme concentration nine times as high as MEL cells.

Immunosuppressive activity of succinylacetone.

SA, an inhibitor of ALA dehydrase, the second enzyme of the heme biosynthetic pathway, has been shown to exert immunosuppressive activity in several systems. When the Walker 256 tumor was grown subcutaneously in outbred Sprague-Dawley rats, SA prevented rejection of the tumor by the host. Human peripheral blood lymphocyte transformation in response to mitogens and antigens in vitro was markedly impaired by addition of SA to the medium.

Uptake of hematin and growth of malignant murine erythroleukemia cells depleted of endogenous heme by succinylacetone.

Heme levels and growth of malignant murine erythroleukemia cells in heme-free medium are drastically reduced by incubation of these cells in the presence of 4,6-dioxoheptanoic acid [succinylacetone (SA)]. When hematin was added to the culture medium of heme-depleted cells, the intracellular heme levels returned to normal, and growth inhibition produced by SA was also reversed. However, when cells depleted of heme by growth in heme-free medium containing SA were placed in heme-free medium without SA, heme levels were restored to normal, and growth was resumed.

A Swedish drug abuse warning network.

During the period June 1971-December 1976 a total of 592 consecutive admissions to a Drug Addiction Clinic were asked which drugs they had been taking since their first contact with the illegal drug market. Nine drugs belonging to the opiate group, five different amphetamines, five hallucinogens, cocaine and cannabis were mentioned and the patients were asked to specify which year or years they had self-administered any of the drugs mentioned. No attempts were made to quantify the individual drug consumption.

Changes in short-term prognosis-a comparison between Swedish amphetamine and opiate abusers.

Drug usage patterns among patients admitted to a Swedish clinic specialized in the treatment of drug dependence have undergone significant changes during the last fifteen years. During this period there has been a decline in amphetamine taking and a rise in opiate abuse. Yearly cohorts of drug abusers were subjected to a time-scheduled follow-up during the period 1970 - 1975.

Hematin therapy for acute porphyria.

1. A therapeutic trial of intravenous hematin is presented. Eleven cases of AIP and one of VP who did not improve with conventional treatment (high carbohydrate intake) received this new agent.

Hematin administration to an adult with lead intoxication.

Lead poisoning and acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) may exhibit similar neurologic manifestations, and they have in common elevated excretion of urinary aminolevulinic acid (ALA). Despite their similarities, the possible pathophysiologic connection between AIP and lead poisoning in not known. Because intravenous hematin administration has produced biochemical improvement in AIP, a hematin trial in lead intoxication was of interest with respect to some of the heme metabolism abnormalities observed in the condition.

Family evaluations in acute intermittent porphyria using red cell uroporphyrinogen I synthetase.

Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is a primary disorder of haem biosynthesis that is chemically characterised by raised urinary porphobilinogen (PBG). A defect in the biochemical pathway at the step of PBG conversion to uroporphyrinogen has been shown to be a result of a partial deficiency of the enzyme uroporphyrinogen I synthetase (uro I syn). The ascertainment rate of latent AIP (that is, chemically manifest but clinically asymptomatic) was examined in 185 individuals from 12 AIP kindreds using three parameters: red cell uro I syn, quantitative urinary PBG, and pedigree analysis with respect to uro I syn.

Termination of the drug career. An interview study of 58 ex-addicts.

Fifty-eight ex-addicts, representing 87% of a group found to be drug-free at an earlier 3-year follow-up, have been the target group of an interview study, which aimed at elucidating various phases of the drug career. It was found that drug abusers tend to break their drug-taking habits either early (before 2 years of abuse) or late (after 6 years or more). Those who abandoned the drug career early regarded giving up drugs as easy and had often been supported by relatives and drug-free friends.

Danazol administration to females with menses-associated exacerbations of acute intermittent porphyria.

Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is a disorder of porphyrin metabolism in which the basic defect is a partial deficiency of uroporphyrinogen I synthase. The clinical disorder is more common in women, and some experience acute attacks before menstrual periods. Oral contraceptives have prevented menstrual-associated attacks in some cases, but exogenous estrogens and progestins are otherwise contraindicated in this disease.

Prevention of acute porphyric attacks by intravenous haematin.

A thirty-three-year-old female with acute intermittent porphyria (A.I.P.