The relationship between cutaneous cellular immune responsiveness and mortality in a nursing home population.

The survival over 18 months of 29 nursing home residents was compared with results of cutaneous testing of cell-mediated immunity at the start of the period of observation. Eight antigens were used to evaluate immunity by intradermal injection of each antigen and measurement of the areas of induration at 48 and 72 hours. A difference in responses was seen between the survivors and those who died, although this difference was statistically significant at 72 hours only.

Persistent cutaneous cellular immune responsiveness in a nursing home population.

Mantoux-type skin tests were applied to 29 elderly residents of an intermediate care floor of a nursing home. Eight antigens were used with each resident, and the size of the reactions was measured at 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours. All but one resident had at least one response greater than or equal to 3 mm at 48 or 72 hours, and most had more than one response of that size.

Effects of calcium on the permeability of isolated adult rat heart cells to sodium.

The permeability of rat heart myocytes to Na increases when extracellular Ca (Ca0) is decreased. This increased permeability is reflected in elevated Na/K ratios in nonenergized myocytes and in increased ouabain-sensitive lactate production in anaerobic myocytes supplemented with glucose. Myocytes treated with ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)N,N'-tetraacetic acid (1 mM) maintain low Na/K ratios, but expend considerable glycolytic ATP in ouabain-sensitive cation cycling.

Release of enzymes from adult rat heart myocytes.

The release of lactic dehydrogenase, creatine phosphokinase, and aspartate aminotransferase from initially viable, metabolically competent adult rat heart myocytes has been examined. Freshly isolated cells contain levels of total lactic dehydrogenase, creatine phosphokinase, and aspartate aminotransferase, as well as lactic dehydrogenase and creatine phosphokinase isoenzyme profiles that are quite comparable to those of intact heart tissue. When the cells are lysed with digitonin, 89% of total lactic dehydrogenase, but only 58% of creatine phosphokinase and 27% of aspartate aminotransferase are released.

Contracture of isolated rat heart cells on anaerobic to aerobic transition.

Adult rat heart myocytes prepared by collagenase perfusion show a progressive loss of adenylate energy charge and total adenine nucleotide as a function of time of anaerobic incubation in the absence of glucose. Re-aeration of the rod-shaped anaerobic cells produces a population of viable rounded cells in hypercontracture. The round cells show extensive morphological dislocations but remain metabolically competent in that they 1) restore adenosine 5'-triphosphate levels to the extent permitted by the depleted adenine nucleotide pool: 2) reestablish a low Na+-K+ ratio; and 3) restore creatine phosphate to 73% of control.