Renin secretion in advanced diabetic nephropathy.

Low basal and stimulated plasma renin activity (PRA) levels have been reported in patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN). We have measured PRA before and after stimulation with captopril in 28 patients with DN and in 25 control patients. Renal function impairment was similar in both groups.

Captopril in hypertension after renal transplantation.

The experience with captopril is limited in patients who are hypertensive after renal transplantation. An increased risk of side effects has been expected because of immunosuppressive therapy and a reduced renal function. We have used captopril in 58 transplanted patients with hypertension.

Transport and metabolism of gamma-aminobutyric acid in neurons and glia: implications for epilepsy.

One of the defects in human epilepsy appears to be the suboptimal functioning of at least certain central gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-mediated synapses. Of the several approaches for the manipulation of the functional state of such synapses that have been investigated, the possibility of interference with GABA metabolism and GABA transport processes is reviewed. It is concluded that the efficiency of inhibitors of the GABA-metabolizing enzyme, GABA transaminase, as antiepileptic drugs is related to the ability of the inhibitors to increase selectively the synaptic or transmitter-related GABA levels.

Protein-reduced diet in diabetic renal failure.

The effect of treatment with a protein-reduced diet (20-30 g/day) and essential amino acids was studied in 21 patients with diabetes mellitus and renal failure. The mean treatment time was 5.0 (0.

Differences in uptake kinetics of cis-3-aminocyclohexane carboxylic acid into neurons and astrocytes in primary cultures.

The uptake of [3H]ACHC and [3H]GABA into cultured neurons and astrocytes was studied. [3H]ACHC uptake was less efficient than that of GABA in both cell types and Km values for ACHC uptake into neurons and astrocytes were 40.3 microM and 210.

Characterization of uptake and release processes for D- and L-aspartate in primary cultures of astrocytes and cerebellar granule cells.

The uptake of L- and D-aspartate was studied in astrocytes cultured from prefrontal cortex and in granule cells cultured from cerebellum. A high affinity uptake system for L- and D-aspartate was found in both cell types, and the two stereoisomers exhibited essentially the same Km- and Vmax-values in both astrocytes (L-aspartate: Km 77 microM; Vmax 11.8 nmol X min-1 X mg-1; D-aspartate: Km 83 microM; Vmax 14.

Ion dependency of uptake and release of GABA and (RS)-nipecotic acid studied in cultured mouse brain cortex neurons.

The influence of sodium ions on GABA uptake into neurons cultured from cerebral cortex was investigated at sodium concentrations ranging from 16 to 151 mM. Sodium did not affect the Km for GABA uptake but the uptake rates as a function of the sodium concentration was sigmoid at all GABA concentrations studied (1-200 microM). Hill plots of these curves exhibited straight lines with slopes of 1.

Growth activation of resting cells: induction of balanced and imbalanced growth.

Little is known about how mitogenic factors generate growth regulatory signals and how these are mediated within the cell. We have developed three different types of mitogenic stimuli in order to identify the possible existence of common denominators in a complex and perhaps pleiotypic signal-response system. 3T3 cells, starved to quiescence by reducing the serum content of the culture medium 100-fold, can be irreversibly committed to undergo DNA replication and mitosis in a serum-free medium after an initial exposure of short duration to (a) serum factors and cholesterol, (b) a relative excess of glutamine, or (c) alkaline pH.

Characterization of L-glutamate uptake into and release from astrocytes and neurons cultured from different brain regions.

The uptake of L-glutamate was studied in astrocytes cultured from different brain areas of newborn rats as well as in two different cultures of neurons obtained from mouse brain. Both astrocytes and neurons exhibited high-affinity glutamate uptake with Km values ranging from 34 microM to 82 microM. Vmax values for astrocytes cultured from the different brain regions were: prefrontal cortex: 13.

Effect of homo-beta-proline and other heterocyclic GABA analogues on GABA uptake in neurons and astroglial cells and on GABA receptor binding.

Two groups of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) analogues, one comprising derivatives of beta-proline and the other compounds structurally related to nipecotic acid, were investigated as potential inhibitors of high-affinity GABA transport in neurons and glial cells, as well as displacers of GABA receptor binding. In addition to cis-4-hydroxynipecotic acid, which is known as a potent inhibitor of GABA uptake, homo-beta-proline was the only compound which proved to be a potent inhibitor of glial as well as neuronal GABA uptake. IC50 values for GABA uptake into glial cells and brain cortex "prisms" were 20 and 75 micro M, respectively, and the IC50 value obtained for GABA uptake into cultured neurons was 10 micro M.

Comparison between (RS)-nipecotic acid and GABA transport in cultured astrocytes: coupling with two sodium ions.

The sodium ion dependency of the uptake of (RS)-nipecotic acid into astrocytes in primary cultures has been studied by performing kinetic analysis at different sodium ion concentrations (16--151 mM). Vmax of the saturable component of the astroglial (RS)-nipecotic acid uptake is clearly affected by the sodium ion concentration whereas Km surprisingly remains unaffected. At high (RS)-nipecotic acid concentrations (Greater Than or Equal To 50 mu M), uptake rates as a function of the sodium ion concentration were clearly sigmoid.

Planned third-party transfusions prior to first transplantations from liver related donors.

Seventy-nine first living related donor transplants performed in Gothenburg, Sweden, from April 1977 to October 1980 were studied. The patient survival was 97% at 30 months. The graft survival in HLA-identical sibling combination was 100%.

Transplantation in patients with diabetic nephropathy.

In juvenile--onset diabetes uremia is the main cause of death. Since 1972 until Oct. 1979 a total of 47 diabetics have been transplanted in Gothenburg, of these 40 were juvenile--onset diabetics without concomitant renal disease.

GABA uptake in astrocytes in primary cultures: coupling with two sodium ions.

The influence of sodium ions on GABA uptake into astrocytes in primary cultures has been investigated performing kinetic analysis of GABA uptake at different sodium concentrations in the range 16 to 151 mM. These investigations reveal that sodium affects both the Km and the Vmax of the saturable component of the astroglial GABA uptake. Uptake rates as a function of the sodium concentration at high GABA concentrations (greater than or equal to 50 microM) were clearly sigmoid whereas at lower GABA concentrations this sigmoid shape was not obvious.

Stroke registration in Göteborg, Sweden, 1970-75. Incidence and fatality rates.

Strokes occurring among persons between 15 and 65 years of age (population 300 000) have been registered since 1970 in Göteborg, Sweden. Control of the validity showed that less than 10% of all cases of stroke were undetected. During the period Nov.