Ontogeny and localization of the crystallins during lens development in normal and Hy-1 (hyperplastic lens epithelium) chick embryos.

A strain of chickens selected for high growth rate has been found to exhibit an anomalous eye lens morphology indicating a failure of the normal process of growth regulation. Hyperplasia of the lens epithelium and annular pad, often with fiber formation, has recently been described in day-old chicks of this strain, termed Hy-1 (Clayton, 1975). The earliest evidence of this condition in this study has been found in the 11-day embryonic Hy-1 lens.

Is maintenance digoxin necessary in patients with sinus rhythm?

Discontinuation of digoxin in 56 patients with sinus rhythm who had been taking it for a long time did not produce clinical deterioration in 33 of 34 patients whose pre-withdrawal steady-state plasma-digoxin concentration was less than 0.8 ng/ml; fast atrial fibrillation developed in the other patient. 22 patients had plasma-digoxin levels between 0.

Embryonic appearance of alpha, beta, and gamma crystallins in the periodic albinism (ap) mutant of Xenopus laevis.

The appearance of the crystallins during lens development in the periodic albinism (ap/ap) mutant of Xenopus laevis has been studied. Using antibodies specific for total crystallins, alpha + beta crystallins, and gamma crystallins in the immunofluorescence technique, the first positive reaction for all could be demonstrated in the Nieuwkoop-Faber Stage 31 lens rudiment. The antibody to alpha + beta crystallins exhibited differences in intensity from cell to cell in the early rudiment, while the reaction to the other antibodies was uniform throughout the rudiment.

Observations on intravenous administration of lignocaine in patients with myocardial infarction.

Lignocaine was administered intravenously to 36 patients with acute myocardial infarction. A bolus of 100 mg followed by an infusion of 2 mg/minute failed to maintain plasma levels above 2 microgram/ml. A bolus of 100 mg followed by 4 mg/minute also failed to maintain satisfactory plasma concentrations during the first hour of therapy.

Digoxin compliance in patients from general practice.

1. Compliance with digoxin therapy has been assessed in a group of fifty patients receiving the drug in general practice but not attending hospital. 2.

Catecholamine sensitivity in hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.

1. Catecholamine sensitivity in hyper- and hypothyroidism has been studied using a standardised isoprenaline sensitivity test. 2.

Comparative trial of atenolol and propranolol in hyperthyroidism.

1 The use of atenolol, a cardioselective beta-adrenoceptor antagonist, in the management of hyperthyroidism has been studied by comparing it with propranolol. 2 In a double-blind cross-over trial, atenolol (50 mg), propranolol (40 mg) and placebo 4 times daily for 1 week were compared in twenty-one hyperthyroid patients by sequential analysis. 3.

Plasma protein binding of propranolol and isoprenaline in hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.

1. The possibility that thyroid disease might result in alterations in the plasma proteins binding of drugs has been investigated by studying the binding of propranolol and isoprenaline in patients with hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. 2.

Do patients take digoxin?

Plasma digoxin concentrations on admission to hospital have been compared with levels on day 8 in a group of 50 patients who were maintained on their preadmission digoxin doses for 7 days. In the absence of a change in renal function, 18 patients (36%) had higher levels on day 8 and were considered to be non-compliant: a further 7 patients (14%) had lower levels on day 8 suggesting that before admission they had been taking more than their prescribed digoxin dose. Fifty per cent were, therefore, taking their digoxin improperly.

Suppression of ventricular ectopic depolarizations by tocainide.

In a previous clinical study we demonstrated that tocainide is effective in the suppression of ventricular ectopic depolarizations (VEDs) after single oral doses. This information provided the basis for evaluating this drug's antiarrhythmic efficacy after multiple dose administration according to a loading-maintenance regimen. Twelve patients with stable VEDs were given loading doses of tocainide (400-600 mg) with maintenance doses every 12 hours.

Simple lignocaine regimen for transit to hospital after myocardial infarction.

A simple combined intravenous/intramuscular regimen is described for lignocaine administration in the early vulnerable stage of myocardial infarction. Plasma levels in the therapeutic range are attained. This allows adequate drug protection during transport to hospital when an intravenous regimen may be impractical or impossible.

Eye lens development and gamma crystallins in Discoglossus pictus (Anura).

The ontogeny and localization of the gamma crystallins in Discoglossus pictus lens development has been determined. Using antibody specific for amphibian gamma crystallins in the immunofluorescence technique, it was found that gamma crystallins first appear in primary lens fibre cells in the lens rudiment, and continue to be restricted to the fibre area as lens development progresses. Thus the role of gamma crystallins as indicators of a differentiated state remains constant in amphibian evolution, having been demonstrated in the most archaic anuran superfamily, as well as in others more recently evolved.