Protective influence of pretreatment with allopurinol on myocardial function in patients undergoing coronary artery surgery.

Xanthine oxidase is responsible for the release of free oxygen radicals during myocardial reperfusion. Allopurinol was shown to be an effective inhibitor of this reaction in the laboratory experiments, but not in patients. Thirteen male patients undergoing routine coronary artery bypass graft surgery were treated with allopurinol in doses of 15 mg/kg per day for 4 days before the operation.

Ultrastructural changes in the liver following chronic experimental intoxication with benzine and ethyline vapour.

The livers of two groups of rabbits exposed to longer lasting intoxication, one with benzine vapours and the other one with ethyline vapours, were subjected to examination in an electron microscope twice; immediately after the completion of intoxication and then 3 months later. In both groups there were found: dilatation of the perinuclear spaces, a symptom of nucleolus segregation, dilatation of the ergastoplasm, features of cristolysis of mitochondria and the absence of glycogen. These changes were more intensive in the animals intoxicated with ethyline.