Prostaglandin and thromboxane synthesis by M5076 ovarian reticulosarcoma during growth: effects of a thromboxane synthetase inhibitor.

The five stable metabolites [prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha), prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), thromboxane B2 (TXB2), and 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha)] of arachidonic acid (AA) via the cyclooxygenase pathway were measured by high-resolution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in M5076 ovarian reticulosarcoma (M5) homogenates at various times after tumor implantation (Days 15, 18, 21, and 24). Vegetating tumor showed an active AA overall metabolism, which significantly increased during tumor growth. Synthesis of selected products (TXB2, PGD2, and PGE2) increased markedly over time (up to 10.

[Materno-fetal colonization by group B beta-hemolytic streptococcus and neonatal meningitis].

Two cases of purulent meningitis by Group B streptococci are reported. The bacteria agents were clearly transmitted transplacentally from mother to child. The bacteriological and clinical data are reported and discussed in relation to international literature.

The spectrum of left ventricular hypertrophy in a general population sample: the Framingham Study.

To assess the prevalence, characteristics, and correlates of echocardiographically determined left ventricular hypertrophy (echo LVH) in a free-living population, 510 men and 855 women from the original Framingham cohort (age 59 to 90 years) were studied by M-mode echocardiography. Offspring and offspring spouses (1718 men and 1892 women; age 17 to 75 years) were similarly studied. The severity of echo LVH, as reflected by left ventricular mass indexed to body surface area, ranged from 101 g/m2 (women) and 132 g/m2 (men) to more than 400 g/m2.

[Alcoholic cardiomyopathy in the preclinical stage: non-invasive clinico-instrumental research study on 112 chronic alcoholics].

112 consecutive asymptomatic patients who assumed alcohol in excess (1-2 g/kg/die) for 5 years or more were admitted to our hospital for detoxication. They were examined both clinically and with chest x-rays, ecg, phonocardiography, external pulse recording, and M-mode/2-D echocardiography to detect myocardial involvement. Heart disease not related to alcohol abuse was found in 6 cases.

Griseofulvin-methisoprinol combination in the treatment of herpes zoster.

A total of 57 herpes zoster patients (28 men and 28 women) were randomly assigned to one of the following four treatments: griseofulvin, 125 mg four times daily; methisoprinol, 1 g four times daily; griseofulvin plus methisoprinol (dosage schedules as above); placebo, four times daily. Griseofulvin had no effect at all, methisoprinol both significantly accelerated drying of vesicles and reduced pain, and the combination of griseofulvin and methisoprinol turned out to be significantly more effective in reducing pain than methisoprinol alone. The present results suggest a new effective treatment for herpes zoster disease.

[Myocardial protection in valvular surgery by retroperfusion of the coronary sinus with cardioplegic solution in valve surgery. Immediate results and technical considerations].

Retrograde coronary sinus perfusion as a means of delivering cardioplegia was evaluated in 20 patients undergoing cardiac valve surgery. Other 10 patients, undergoing similar operation with antegrade coronary cardioplegic perfusion served as a control. Results showed no significant differences between the two groups of patients in terms of: myocardial cooling; pre-ischemic and post-perfusion myocardial lactate extraction; post-operative clinical findings (myocardial infarction occurrence, need for inotropic support, mortality).

Ejection fraction and regional wall motion at rest and during stress in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease.

Stress radio nuclide ventriculography is used to determine ejection fraction and changes in regional wall motion for the detection of ischemia-induced left ventricular dysfunction in patients with coronary artery disease. We have evaluated the relative sensitivity of regional wall motion and of ejection fraction during hand-grip and cold pressor test, in 21 patients with angina pectoris and documented coronary artery disease at angiography. Regional wall motion appeared a more sensitive index than global ejection fraction producing only two false negative cases.

An improved method for increasing the sensitivity of direct agglutination test (D.A.T.) to the detection of IgM and IgG anti-toxoplasma antibodies.

The present investigation has shown that the antibody titers obtained by IgG-IFA correlate well with 2-ME-DA (correlation coefficient 0.927, p less than 0.001).

[Surgical therapy of the dissection of the ascending aorta. Experience in the use of the G. R. F. biological glue].

Nine patients with dissecting aneurysm of the ascending aorta (type A dissection) were operated upon. Six cases had an acute dissection, whereas three cases had a chronic type of dissection. The ascending aorta was replaced with a Dacron tubular prosthesis after solidification of the external and the internal layers of the two aortic stumps using a G.

Effect of ingestion of meat on plasma cholesterol of vegetarians.

In a controlled trial, 21 strict vegetarians were studied prospectively for eight weeks: a two-week control period of the usual vegetarian diet was followed by four weeks, during which 250 g of beef was added isocalorically to the daily vegetarian diet and then by two weeks of the control diet. Plasma high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol did not change during the study, whereas plasma total cholesterol rose significantly by 19% at the end of the meat-eating period. Systolic blood pressure (BP) increased significantly during the meat eating by 3% over control values, whereas diastolic BP showed no major changes.

[Aortic valve disease and coronary atherosclerosis. Clinical and coronarographic study (author's transl)].

77 patients with aortic valve disease have undergone heart catheterization in prevision of valve replacement: in this group the incidence of angina pectoris and the incidence of coronary artery disease associated with the valvular disease have been evaluated. The most important data resulting from out study are: 1) High frequency of angina pectoris both aortic stenosis and in aortic regurgitation: respectively about 60% and 50%. 2) The frequency of coronary atherosclerosis associated with aortic valve disease is much higher in aortic stenosis than in aortic regurgitation: respectively 35% versus 15%.

[Left ventricular kinetics in bundle-branch block. Analysis by different methods in patients without coronary artery diseases (author's transl)].

Radiological ventriculographic findings of twenty-three patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB) without valvular heart disease and without evident coronarographic lesions are studied by means of six differents methods for quantitative evaluation of wall motion analysis. The patients are subdivided into two subgroups on the basis of hemodynamic criteria, but the results of wall motion studies are similar in both, if the values obtained are normalized for election fraction (EF). End-diastolic images of left ventricle are similar in both subgroups too, but very different from those of normals because apical region is characterized by rounded contour of images.

[Physical work capacity of the patient with myocardial infarction submitted to intensive rehabilitative training (author's transl)].

The Authors have examined two homogeneous groups of patients with myocardial infarction; one underwent (61 patient) to a rehabilitating training, the other underwent (42 patient) to a domiciliary physical program. Patients have been considered by means of bicycle ergometer test at 2, 4, 12 and 24 months from myocardial infarction. They have been taken into consideration clinical and Ecg factors and also, as an index of physical work capacity was considered the complete work developed, the VO2 max/Kg per min.

[Distribution and anomalies of coronary arteries in tetralogy of Fallot (author's transl)].

Anomalies in the course and distribution of coronary arteries may complicate the surgical correction of tetralogy of Fallot (TF). With the aim of preventing possible serious, and even lethal, cardiac events caused by the injury of aberrant vessels, 119 patients with TF were subjected to selective coronary angiography. Apart from demonstrating anastomoses between the coronary and bronchial arteries in 31 cases, small fistulas between the coronary arteries and pulmonary artery (in 14 cases) and hypoplasia of the entire coronary tree in 1 case, this investigation revealed anomalies in the origin of coronary branches in 11 cases.

[The diagnostic value of bloodless methods and follow-up in young asymptomatic subjects with positive exercise test (author's transl)].

Fifty asymptomatic subjects, aged 22 to 40, with normal resting ECG and "ischemic" ST depressions during exercise were followed for 44 +/- 18 months. Coronary events occurred only in two cases. Unexpectedly in 12 subjects the response to maximal exercise became normal.

[Alterations of ventricular repolarization at rest, in young asymptomatic subjects. Diagnostic and predictive value of non-invasive methods].

In 34 asymptomatic subjects, aged 16 to 39 years, with clearcut abnormalities of ventricular repolarization on resting electrocardiogram, a forced hyperventilation and maximal exercise test were performed. The stress test was repeated, using the same protocol, after sublingual administration of nitroglycerin (0.3 mg) and of i.

Behavioural effects of naloxone in rats.

Naloxone in rats induces a behavioural syndrome closely resembling that induced by intraliquorally injected ACTH peptides. This effect is probably due to a displacement of the ACTH peptides from other receptors (e.g.

[Myocardial infarction in young people. A coronary angiographic study in 21 patients under the age of 30 (author's transl)].

The Authors have taken into account 21 patients who complained of myocardial infarction before they were 30 years old. We performed coronary angiography, left ventriculography and left cardiac catheterization in all the patients. In 20 cases we found atherosclerotic alterations (50 or greater obstruction) at least in one of the three main braches of coronary tree.

[A new colorimetric test in oncologic diagnosis: experiences and evaluation criteria].

The authors have examined a new colorimetric test, set up by Nixon in 1973 and appropriately modified by them. They have found out 80,14% positive reactions in 146 cases of neoplasms and 82,54% negative reactions in 126 patients suffering from tubeycular and different diseases; lastly 95% negative reactions in apparently healthy individuals. According to the authors' opinion, this test seems to be useful in the diagnosis of neoplasms, when joined, of course, with other diagnostic means now in use.