Factors affecting beta 2-microglobulin plasma concentration during hemodialysis.

We studied ten patients on hemodialysis (HD) treated in sequence with cuprophan (CU), ethylenevinylalcohol (EVAL), polyacrylonitrile (A-69) and polysulphone (PSP) membrane dialyzers. beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m) was measured by radioimmunoassay in plasma and dialysate samples. Plasma concentrations were corrected for changes in extracellular volume (ECV).

Beta-2-microglobulin in the assessment of renal function in full term newborns following perinatal asphyxia.

In order to evaluate the clinical usefulness of serum and urinary beta 2 microglobulin (beta 2-m) determination as a marker of renal damage following perinatal asphyxia, twenty asphyxiated and twenty healthy full term newborns were studied. Renal function was monitored on the first and third day after birth by traditional tests such as creatinine (Cr), endogenous creatinine clearance (Ccr), and fractional Na excretion (FeNa), as well as by serum and urinary beta 2 microglobulin. The value of different tests for the diagnosis of oliguria and of acute renal failure was determined.

Localization of 5'-nucleotidase in bovine brain myelin fraction and myelin subfractions.

Purified myelin from fresh calf brain white matter was subfractionated in a discontinuous sucrose gradient; significant recovery of protein and 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphohydrolase (CNP) and 5'-nucleotidase (5'N) activities occurred in all three obtained subfractions, the highest recovery being in the light subfraction; highest 5'N and CNP specific activities were in medium myelin. Purified myelin was also subfractionated in a continuous sucrose gradient, with a similar localization of protein; CNP activity and 5'N activity maxima suggest that myelin may be a predominant locus of 5'N in bovine brain white matter. Freezing of brain white matter caused an increase in protein and in CNP and 5'N total activity recoveries in denser myelin subfractions.

Isolation and characterization of bovine brain myelin distribution of 5'-nucleotidase.

Myelin was isolated from bovine brain by several published procedures and modifications of these procedures. High activity of the myelin marker (2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphohydrolase) and low activity of contaminants markers in white matter homogenates in respect to cerebral cortex showed the white matter to be better than the cerebral cortex or the whole brain for myelin isolation. A procedure is described for the preparation of purified myelin from bovine white matter which yielded a content of protein (40%), myelin marker (51%), and 5'-nucleotidase (25%) in purified myelin higher than by any used method.

5?-Nucleotidase from bovine brain cortex: effect of solubilization on enzyme kinetics and modulation.

The kinetic characteristics and the EDTA inhibition of microsomal 5?-nucleotidase from bovine brain cortex were studied and compared with the properties of the enzyme solubilized with Lubrol WX. The K(m) value after enzyme solubilization was not significantly different from that of the membrane-bound enzyme. Likewise, di- and trinucleotides performed a similar competitive inhibition of the two forms of the enzyme.

Effect of chloral hydrate on arterial oxygen saturation in wheezy infants.

Chloral hydrate is commonly used to sedate infants for pulmonary function tests and other investigations. However, sedation is generally not recommended for infants with acute wheezing illnesses. The commonly used dose range exceeds the maximum recommended dose; however, the effects of this dosage regimen during pulmonary function testing have not been studied.

Inherent variability of pulmonary function tests in infants with bronchiolitis.

During the last decade, many new methods of assessing pulmonary function in infants have been introduced. However, considerable controversy has arisen when these different techniques are used to assess the efficacy of various inhaled medications. The currently employed measures of pulmonary function have been reported to have coefficients of variation of less than 10%.

Beta-2-microglobulin as an index of renal function after cardiopulmonary bypass surgery in children.

In order to evaluate the clinical usefulness of serum and urinary beta-2-microglobulin (beta 2-m) determination as a marker of renal damage following cardiopulmonary bypass surgery (CPB), 37 children, with an age range of 6 months to 13 years undergoing CPB under hypothermia and cardioplegia for congenital malformations, were studied. Renal function was monitored at baseline and on the first and third day after CPB by traditional tests such as creatinine (Cr), endogenous creatinine clearance (Ccr), and fractional sodium excretion (FeNa), as well as by serum and urinary beta 2-m measured by radioimmunosorbent assay. Data were analyzed for the group as a whole and after stratification for the presence of acute renal failure (ARF) defined by an increase in Cr greater than 0.

Bronchodilator effect of fenoterol and ipratropium bromide in infants with acute wheezing: use of MDI with a spacer device.

Twenty-eight infants admitted to Exequiel González Cortes Children's Hospital because of acute wheezing (AW) were randomly assigned to three study groups. Fenoterol (FNT), ipratropium bromide (IB), and placebo were administered respectively to children in the different groups by means of metered dose inhalers (MDI) with spacers, using doses of 3 puffs every hour, for 4 hours. The degree of bronchial obstruction was assessed clinically and scored with the single-blind method every hour prior to each treatment.

Use of nebulized bronchodilators in infants under 1 year of age: analysis of four forms of therapy.

The main purpose of this study was to evaluate four different forms of treatment in young infants admitted for acute wheezing (AW). Seventy-nine infants less than one year of age were randomly assigned to one of five groups. Group 1 received nebulized fenoterol plus ipratropium bromide, group 2 fenoterol, group 3 fenoterol plus steroids, and group 4 aminophylline, IV, plus steroids and oral fenoterol; the control group, or group 5, received nebulized normal saline solution.

Effects of maternal iodine deficiency on thyroid hormone economy of lactating dams and pups: maintenance of normal cerebral 3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine concentrations in pups during major phases of brain development.

Female rats were fed a diet with a low iodine content (LID), or the same LID supplemented with KI, and mated. Fetuses were obtained at 17 and 21 days of gestation, or pups were killed at different ages after birth. The dams on LID were markedly iodine deficient and developed a large goiter.

Physiopathological role of bald-scalp cytosolic proteins.

The physiopathological role of androgen binding proteins in male pattern baldness (MPB) has been studied by using tritiated dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and methyltrienolone (R 1881) as ligands. DHT binding in bald scalp from subjects suffering from MPB is high (53 +/- 12 fmol/mg protein) in cytosol obtained from bald areas, being undetectable in hairy areas from the same subject. Since methyltrienolone does not bind in bald scalp cytosol, there must be no specific DHT receptor in this material.

Effects of nebulized fenoterol, associated with ipratropium or steroids, on the heart rate of infants under one year of age with acute wheezing.

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of fenoterol alone or associated with ipratropium bromide or steroid on the heart rate in young children. Ninety-four infants less than 1 year of age were randomly allocated to receive nebulized fenoterol alone, fenoterol plus ipratropium bromide, fenoterol plus corticosteroids, or normal saline solution. An increase in heart rate was observed in all four groups.

Effects of maternal iodine deficiency on the L-thyroxine and 3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine contents of rat embryonic tissues before and after onset of fetal thyroid function.

Female rats were placed on a low iodine diet (LID) or LID supplemented with KI. They were mated 3-6 months later. Maternal and embryonic tissues were obtained both before the onset of fetal thyroid function, at 11 and 17 days of pregnancy, and at 21 days of gestation.

Phosphate diesters for dermatological use.

Synopsis A new formulation for dermatological use and hair care was studied. Phosphate diesters of the nonyl-phenol type in association with cocoimidazoline derivatives are compared with four commercial formulations. Foaming capacity, eye and skin irritation, keratin solubilization and defatting properties were studied.

Muscarinic receptor during postnatal development of rat cerebellum: an index of cholinergic synapse formation?

Quantitative and qualitative modifications of the specific binding sites for [3H]quinuclidinyl benzylate (QNB), a muscarinic antagonist, were studied during rat cerebellar postnatal development. Specific binding sites for QNB (QNB-sbs), regardless of whether they correspond to muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, are present with the highest density in the archicerebellar cortex, but the total amount per region is about the same in the archi -, paleo-, and neocerebellar cortex regions. Large amounts of QNB-sbs are also present in a cerebellar fraction including central white matter and deep cerebellar nuclei.

L-thyroxine and 3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine in rat embryos before onset of fetal thyroid function.

T4 and T3 have been measured by RIA in 10-12-day-old rat embryo-trophoblasts, and in 13-20-day-old embryos and placentas, as well as in a few samples of amniotic fluid. Both T4 and T3 were measured after extraction of the samples with ethanol, purification by paper chromatography, anion exchange resin, or both. T4 and T3 could be shown in all samples studied.

Modification of 5'-nucleotidase activity by divalent cations and nucleotides.

The 5'-nucleotidase activity of the purified cytoplasmic fraction preparation of bovine brain does not depend on the presence of the divalent metal ions Mg2+, Ca2+, and Cu2+ in the incubation medium. The Zn2+ ion (0.5 mM) causes total enzyme inhibition.