New Biological Morphogenetic Methods for Evolutionary Design of Robot Bodies.

We present some currently unused morphogenetic mechanisms from evolutionary biology and guidelines for transfer to evolutionary robotics. (1) DNA patterns providing mutation of mutability, lead to canalization of evolvable bauplans, via kin selection. (2) Morphogenetic mechanisms (i) Epigenetic cell lines provide functional cell types, and identification of cell descent.

Electrocardiographic prediction of coronary artery patency after thrombolytic treatment in acute myocardial infarction: use of the ST segment as a non-invasive marker.

The predictive value of the measurement of changes in ST segment elevation was assessed as a non-invasive marker of coronary artery reperfusion after thrombolytic treatment. Forty five patients with acute myocardial infarction (23 anterior, 22 inferior) of less than six hours' duration were given thrombolytic treatment by either the intravenous (n = 28) or the intracoronary route (n = 17). A proportional value for the shift in ST segment, termed the fractional change, was calculated both from 12 lead electrocardiograms and from the Holter tape for each patient.

Thrombolytic therapy in acute myocardial infarction in the elderly.

Fifty-seven elderly patients (35 males, 22 females; age range 65-80 years, mean 70 years) with acute myocardial infarction received thrombolytic therapy within 8 h using either streptokinase or anisoylated plasminogen streptokinase activator complex. Coronary artery reperfusion was confirmed by early coronary arteriography. The overall reperfusion rate was 77%.

Achievement of coronary artery patency by use of anisoylated plasminogen streptokinase activator complex in acute myocardial infarction.

Anisoylated plasminogen streptokinase activator complex (APSAC) is a recently developed thrombolytic agent with high fibrin-binding potential and sustained release pharmacokinetics (plasma half-life 70 minutes). Following studies of its intracoronary use, the efficacy was examined, in an open study using coronary angiography, of a single bolus dose of 30U given intravenously to 94 patients within 6 hours (mean 2.97 hours) from the onset of symptoms of myocardial infarction.

The relationship between serum enalaprilat concentration and the hypotensive effect in man.

The relationship between serum concentrations of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, enalaprilat, and its antihypertensive action was investigated using integrated pharmacokinetic-dynamic modelling techniques. The model was parameterized in terms of slope "m", describing the sensitivity to the fall of blood pressure, and an intercept term "i". A linear pharmacodynamic model: E = m.

The effects of age on carbamazepine pharmacokinetics and adverse effects.

The pharmacokinetics and effect of single oral doses of carbamazepine (400 mg) were compared in a group of six young volunteers aged between 20 and 25 years, and a second group of five elderly volunteers aged between 66 and 84 years. No age related changes in salivary or plasma pharmacokinetics or in psychomotor function were detected.

Age and the pharmacodynamics of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors enalapril and enalaprilat.

The effect of age on the pharmacodynamic responses to converting enzyme inhibitors, enalapril and enalaprilat was investigated in nine young (22-30 years) and nine sex-matched elderly (65-73 years), healthy volunteers. The groups differed in baseline blood pressure, young 121/64 mmHg, elderly 142/75 mmHg (P less than 0.01), but not in sodium intake or body weight.

Age and the pharmacokinetics of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors enalapril and enalaprilat.

The pharmacokinetics of angiotension converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors enalapril (10 mg orally) and its active metabolite, enalaprilat (10 mg intravenously) were studied in nine young healthy volunteers aged 22-30 years and nine sex matched elderly subjects aged 65-73 years. After both drugs, a biexponential curve was fitted to the decline in plasma enalaprilat concentration. Area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) was greater in the elderly for both drugs.

Bronchial carcinoma: factors influencing postoperative survival.

In a retrospective survey of 337 patients who had a resection for bronchial carcinoma data were obtained on 14 preoperative and two operative variables. Factors significantly adversely influencing survival were weight loss, chest pain, raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate, tumour larger than 5 cm, cell type other than squamous, pneumonectomy and tumour spread to hilar lymph nodes. Multiple regression analysis showed that four variables, weight loss, pain, tumour size and cell type had significant independent effects on survival.

Lindau's disease and familial hyperparathyroidism.

A case of medullary hemangioblastoma is described occurring in association with familial hyperparathyroidism. The possibility that this combination may represent a previously unreported variant of Lindau's disease is discussed.

Factors affecting the response to inhibition of drug metabolism by cimetidine--dose response and sensitivity of elderly and induced subjects.

The effect of cimetidine on oxidative drug metabolism was characterised using antipyrine clearance in a group of healthy volunteers. In six subjects cimetidine produced a dose dependent reduction of antipyrine clearance: 400 mg/day (16.8 +/- 2.

Alteration of pharmacokinetics after halving a slow-release theophylline tablet.

A study was carried out in 10 healthy volunteers to determine the effects on the bioavailability of theophylline from a biconvex-shaped, slow-release 400 mg theophylline tablet formulation when the tablet was taken whole or as two separate halves in a single dose. The subjects took one or other dosage regimen on different occasions separated by a 7-day washout period. The results showed that absorption was faster and plasma levels were higher when the 400 mg tablet was taken as 2 halves.