Absolute bioavailability of nicotine applied to different nasal regions.

The absolute bioavailability of nicotine administered nasally, as drops to the nasal conchae and nasal septum, and as a nasal spray, has been studied in eight healthy volunteers. Single nasal doses of 1 mg nicotine were given and plasma concentrations of nicotine were followed for 6 h. Compared to an intravenous infusion of nicotine, the bioavailability of the nasal administrations was 60 to 75%.

Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation with a heparin-coated system in adult respiratory distress syndrome.

Three patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome were treated with veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, ECMO, using a heparin-coated system for 8, 12 and 34 days, respectively. Despite extracorporeal blood flow of 4-5 l/min, the patients were ventilator-dependent in the initial period of ECMO. Two of the three patients showed bleeding diatheses despite only slightly elevated activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT).

Ascorbate-2-sulfate as a dietary vitamin C source for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar): 2. Effects of dietary levels and immunization on the metabolism of trace elements.

Atlantic salmon fingerlings were fed a vitamin C deficient diet for four months. The fish were then provided a dry, practical fishmeal based diet supplemented with 0, 500 or 5000 mg vitamin C/kg as L-ascorbic acid or equivalent amounts of ascorbate-2-sulfate. After six weeks on these diets ten fish in each group were injected with a soluble antigen (NIP11-LPH).

Developmental regulation of metallothionein mRNA, zinc and copper levels in rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri.

The metallothionein (MT) gene expression profile was followed in rainbow trout during early embryo development and in liver and gonads during the period of sexual maturation. The hepatic MT mRNA levels increase at the end of sexual maturation in both male and female rainbow trout. Although both isoforms of MT mRNA accumulate in the liver, there is a preferential increase in MT-A in the female liver.

Differential regulation of metallothionein genes in rainbow trout fibroblasts, RTG-2.

Exposure of a trout gonadal fibroblast (RTG-2) cell line to ZnCl2, CdCl2 and CuCl2 resulted in differential levels of accumulation of metallothionein (MT) mRNA. ZnCl2 being the most effective agent induced MT mRNA in 3 h, with 172-fold induction after 48 h and continued accumulation up to 144 h. Following CdCl2 treatment, mRNA could be detected after 24 h, reaching peak levels at 72 h.

Effects on cyclo-oxygenase of low and high dose aspirin.

The study was undertaken to develop clinically applicable methods to detect the influence of low dose treatment with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) on the platelet function. The cyclooxygenase activity of the platelets was measured by determination of the metabolite 12-HHT after challenge with arachidonic acid. Two healthy subjects received 600 mg ASA in a single dose.

The use of a commercial ELISA for assay of thrombin-antithrombin complexes in purified systems.

Inhibition of thrombin by antithrombin III (AT) results in the formation of stable thrombin-AT complexes (TAT). An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) following the sandwich principle is available for the determination of TAT complexes in human plasma, however, this ELISA method could not be used in purified systems containing thrombin and AT. It has therefore been modified for use in purified systems and an excellent correlation was found between the disappearance of thrombin and AT and the recovery of TAT complexes.

Differences in metallothionein gene expression in primary cultures of rainbow trout hepatocytes and the RTH-149 cell line.

Primary cultures of rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri, hepatocytes were used to study the expression of metallothionein (MT) genes in response to steroid hormone treatment. The expression pattern was compared to that of an immortal cell line (RTH-149). MT mRNA accumulated in both cell cultures after exposure to zinc while 17 beta-oestradiol had no effect in either system.

Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease: characterization of human peritoneal and cystic kidney cells in vitro.

Renal cystic epithelia and peritoneal mesothelia from two humans with autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) were grown in culture. Cystic epithelial and mesothelial cells formed continuous monolayers in vitro. By electron microscopy, cystic renal cells exhibited a single apical cilium and numerous short, stubby microvilli, both in situ and in vitro.

Blood flow in histamine- and allergen-induced weal and flare responses, effects of an H1 antagonist, alpha-adrenoceptor agonist and a topical glucocorticoid.

Allergen has previously been shown to induce a continuous increase in local dermal blood flow after a prick test in allergic subjects, whereas histamine induced, initially, similar peak increases in blood flow of much shorter duration. Blood flow changes induced by histamine and allergen have now been evaluated (i) after pretreatment with a local corticosteroid cream, clobetasole-17-propionate; (ii) after oral administration of the H1-antihistamine loratadine; and (iii) after oral pretreatment with the alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist pseudoephedrine. Blinded placebo-controlled designs were used in the substudies.

Influence of high and low wall shear rates on the inhibition of factor Xa and thrombin at surfaces coated with immobilized heparin.

The thromboresistant function of a surface with end-point attached heparin is based upon interaction among the immobilized heparin, antithrombin, and at least factor Xa or thrombin. Heparinized arteriovenous shunts were implanted in dogs. By compressing a segment of the shunt, high and low wall shear rate regions were obtained in each shunt.

Endogenous and heavy-metal-ion-induced metallothionein gene expression in salmonid tissues and cell lines.

Endogenous levels of metallothionein (MT) mRNA were detected by RNA probes in several somatic and germ-line tissues of rainbow trout, such as eggs, ovaries and immature testis. These levels may be related to metal-ion homeostasis in the observed tissues. The induction kinetics of trout MT isoform B (MT-B) mRNA were studied after single intraperitoneal injections of CdCl2, CuCl2 and ZnCl2.

Calcium phosphate-mediated transfection alters metallothionein gene expression in response to Cd2+ and Zn2+.

The level of expression of a transfected metallothionein (MT)-IGcat fusion gene in response to cadmium differed from that of the endogenous MT-IG gene. Atomic absorption analysis indicated that the total cellular content of cadmium and zinc increased upon calcium phosphate-mediated transfection. Thus, changes in the influx/efflux of metals may regulate the level of MT gene expression.

Induction of metallothionein synthesis in rainbow trout,Salmo gairdneri, during long-term exposure to waterborne cadmium.

Rainbow trout were exposed to 200 μg cadmium/l in the water during four months at 6-10°C. The liver, kidney and gills were analyzed for cadmium, copper, zinc, metallothionein and metallothionein mRNA. Cadmium accumulated in all three organs and reached the highest concentration in the kidney.

In-vitro bioassays for cholecystokinin.

Two in-vitro methods for the bioassay of cholecystokinin (CCK) are described. They should be useful for determinations of potencies of pharmaceutical formulations of CCK. Both are based on the hormone's ability to stimulate exocrine pancreas.

Cortisol induction of metallothionein in primary culture of rainbow trout hepatocytes.

In the present experiment, metabolically active primary cultures of rainbow trout hepatocytes were utilized to study the inducibility of metallothionein after cortisol treatment. Glucocorticoid induction of metallothionein has previously only been demonstrated in mammalian systems. We now demonstrate the inducibility of rainbow trout metallothionein by cortisol treatment of primary hepatocytes.

Blood flow in dermal allergen-induced immediate and late-phase reactions.

Changes in local skin blood flow after prick-tests with histamine and allergen challenge were evaluated using laser doppler flowmetry. Two series of measurements were performed; each included 11 subjects with seasonal allergic rhinitis. In the first series vascular reactions were registered intermittently for a period of 6 hr.

A role of metallothionein in zinc regulation after oestradiol induction of vitellogenin synthesis in rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri.

The regulation of metallothionein (MT) biosynthesis in rainbow-trout liver was studied after a single intraperitoneal injection of oestradiol-17 beta. Sampling was performed after 2, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 days. Following induction of vitellogenin synthesis in the liver, liver somatic index (LSI) rose from 1.

Influence of blood flow and the effect of protamine on the thromboresistant properties of a covalently bonded heparin surface.

Polyethylene tubings, 2-mm inner diameter and the length of 1 m, untreated or furnished with a covalently bonded heparin surface layer, were inserted as arteriovenous shunts bilaterally in dogs. By compressing the middle part, the initial blood flow was adjusted to 10 or 40 mL/min. The thrombogenicity of the tubings was assessed by the patency of the shunts and by assaying the generation of fibrinopeptide A (FPA) in arterial blood and in blood after its passage through the shunts.