Effects of severe hemorrhage on plasma ANP and glomerular ANP receptors.

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) plays an important role in blood volume and electrolyte homeostasis in normovolemia and in hypervolemic states. The currently available information on the effects of hypovolemia on plasma ANP is contradictory. Moreover, possible regulation of ANP receptors during severe hemorrhagic hypovolemia has not been investigated.

Regulation of renal glomerular and papillary ANP receptors in rats with experimental heart failure.

Rats with aortocaval (A-V) fistula, an experimental model of congestive heart failure (CHF), display high circulating atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) levels and a markedly blunted natriuretic response to ANP infusion. The present study was designed to evaluate whether alterations in renal ANP receptors may contribute to renal hyporesponsiveness to ANP in experimental CHF. Densities (Bmax) and dissociation constants (Kd) of both the biologically active (ANPA) and clearance receptors (ANPC) were evaluated in glomerular and papillary membranes from A-V fistula rats (n = 18) and sham-operated controls (n = 20).

What can be achieved in an external quality-assessment scheme with a small number of participants: four years of experience with thyroid-related tests in Israel.

The Israel External Quality-Assessment scheme (EQAS) provided service from 1985 to 1989, primarily to laboratories in Israel. Participation was voluntary and confidential, and involved 30-35 laboratories performing thyroid-related function tests. Scheme design included 36 human serum specimens distributed to the participants at the beginning of each year.

Carcinoembryonic-like substance in breast fluid discharge in benign and malignant breast disease and in milk of lactating women.

In a search for a simple noninvasive test for early detection of breast cancer, radioimmunoassay was used to determine carcinoembryonic (CEA) levels in the serum and breast fluid of 26 women presenting with spontaneous breast discharge, and in the serum and milk of 34 postpartum lactating women. In 54 milk samples from 34 healthy nursing mothers, the mean CEA level was 62.6 +/- 49.

Assessment of fetal lung maturity by a microviscosimeter.

A new method of rapid antenatal assessment of fetal lung maturity was evaluated in relation to the newborn outcome and two other accepted test. This method is based on fluorescence depolarization (FD) technique. The special instrumentation required for this method (the Microviscosimeter) was found to be simple and easy to handle even to nonprofessional personnel.