Effects of cold exposure and dehydration on renal function in black-tailed prairie dogs.

Black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) were deprived of food and water for several weeks during the fall and winter in a cold-room hibernaculum (Ta 5-8 degrees C), and for several days at room temperature during the summer. Body temperatures (Tb) were determined periodically in nine animals by radiotransmitters implanted in the abdomen. Animals deprived of food and water in the summer were killed when maximum urine concentration was achieved.

Oncogenic interaction of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in mice.

To evaluate possible interactions between PAH occurring in automobile exhaust condensates with regard to their tumour forming potency, the following experiments were performed. Six different doses of benzo[a]pyrene (3-100 microgram) and of dibenzo]a,h]anthracene (2-75 microgram) and mixtures thereof were tested subcutaneously on female NMRI mice. In addition, mixtures of 10 non-carcinogenic hydrocarbons were applied: benzo[e]pyrene, benzo[a]anthracene, phenanthrene, anthracene, pyrene, fluoranthene, chrysene, perylene, benzo[ghi]perylene and coronene.

[Effects of longterm HCG administration on testicular function in hemodialysis patients (author's transl)].

Thirtheen male patients with chronic renal failure undergoing regular dialysis treatment (2 X 8-10 hours/week) were treated with gonadotropins (HCG, Primogonyl) primarily 2 X 2,000 IU/week and later 2,000 IU/week. Before HCG administration and during 4-months HCG-therapy testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, Androstandiol, LH and FSH levels were determined by RIA-methods in 7-14 days intervals. Before HCG-application plasma testosterone levels were low and did not increase in the course of regular dialysis treatment.

Adrenal insufficiency secondary to hypothalamic corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) insufficiency with hyperpigmentation: a case report.

Partial adrenocortical insufficiency as a result of an insufficiency of the hypothalamic corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) was demonstrated in a 53-year-old female patient. Somatotropic, gonadotropic and thyreotropic functions of the pituitary gland were shown to be normal by a simultaneous pituitary stimulation test. This held true especially for the adrenocorticotrophic function: administration of lysine-vasopressin induced a normal rise in immunoreactive plasma-ACTH.

Coagulation studies and platelet function after somatostatin infusion.

The effect of short- and long-term somatostatin (GIF) administration on haemostatic function in man was investigated. The dosage programme applied in this study was 250 mug GIF as a bolus injection and 250 mug GIF/h by way of infusion. In five healthy volunteers a short-term (3h) treatment resulted in a statistically significant drop of platelet count and impairment of platelet aggregation at the end of infusion.

Insulin secretion and biosynthesis in sucrose fed rats.

Long term feeding of a sucrose rich diet to rats is accompanied by a decreased glucose assimilation rate, despite high plasma insulin levels. Hyperinsulinism is at least partially based on a relative obesity, with increased amounts of abdominal- and retroperitoneal fat tissue, but unchanged total body weight compared to starch fed controls. The secretory pattern of insulin release was studied following glucose, arginine, fructose and sulfonylurea administration in the isolated perfused pancreas of sucrose and isocaloric starch fed rats.

Studies on the pituitary "fettstoffwechselhormon". VII. Analytical studies on two lipolytically high active peptides from hog pituitary glands.

First results of analytical studies on the highly purified lipolytic active hog pituitary fractions P-LF II C and P-LF II D are reported. Electrophoresis and end-group determinations indicate homogeneity for both peptides. The molecular weights, amino acid compositions, and the N- and C-terminal sequences of these peptides have been established and are compared with the corresponding results of other laboratories.

Human C-peptide. Part I: Radioimmunoassay.

Synthetic human C-peptide bearing a Tyrosine group at its amino end is labelled with 125iodine using chloramin T or hydrogen peroxide and lactoperoxidase. The results are compared applying both methods. Antiserum to synthetic human C-peptide (without Tyrosine) which was partially compared to rabbit albumin, is raised in guinea pigs and goats.

Gastrin concentration in plasma of the neonate at birth and after the first feeding.

Plasma gastrin was determined simultaneously in 19 newborn infants and their respective mothers shortly after birth and in ten neonates before and after the first feeding. The gastrin concentrations in the umbilical vein plasma of the newborn infants were significantly higher than in the peripheral vein plasma of their mothers. The values were statistically not different from those obtained in the neonates before the first feeding.

Human C-peptide. Part II: Clinical studies.

Human C-peptide is determined by radioimmunoassay. On gel filtration of serum from a healthy subject and from a patient with islet cell carcinoma, C-peptide (MW 3025) appears ahead of insulin (MW 5808) and shows much higher molar concentrations than the hormone. Human proinsulin cross-reacts with our antiserum to synthetic human C-peptide.

Attempts at perfect normalization of glucose tolerance test of severe diabetics by artificial beta cell.

The artificial beta cell is a Glucose Controlled Insulin (and dextrose) Infusion System (GCIIS) for maintaining normoglycemia in diabetic conditions and other disturbances of metabolism. The insulin and dextrose infusion rates are calculated by a microcomputer according to the static glucose concentration (proportional control) and to its rate of change (dynamic control). The algorithms controlling the computer can be adapted to the subjects' requirements.

Growth hormone radiologand assay unresponsive to human prolactin.

A specific and sensitive radioligand assay for growth hormone with female rat liver plasma membranes is presented. Growth hormones of different species are able to displace labelled human growth hormone from membrane binding sites with parallel standard curves. Human prolactin V-L-S is not equal to 1 and the international human prolactin standard MRC 71/222 do not affect the assay.

19. Generic services for the long-term care patient.

The purpose of multidimensional functional assessment of the long-term care patient or client is to identify the relevant set of services or service package. This necessitates defining the universe of services independently of existing service providers and settings, which vary considerably in scope and type of activities. A list of 24 generic services developed by the Duke Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development has proved useful in assigning patients to the appropriate providers.

Studies on the pituitary "fettstoffwechselhormon". VI. Preparation of two highly purified lipolytic active peptides from hog pituitary glands.

The preparation of two highly purified lipolytically active hog pituitary peptides, called P-LF II C and P-LF II D is described. The two peptides are free of other pituitary hormone activities. In isolated rat and porcine adipose tissue, both fractions are lipolytically much more active than every other lipolytic active pituitary peptide described to date.

Hypergastrinemia induced by glucocorticoid and corticotropin treatment in man.

To elucidate further the pathogenesis of steroid-induced ulceration, plasma gastrin levels, both basal and after a test meal, were studied in normal volunteers and patients treated with glucocorticoids or corticotropin. In normal subjects the acute intravenous administration of 100 mg prednisolone had no effect on plasma gastrin levels. After oral administration of prednisolone (40 mg daily, for four days) a significant increase of the basal, the reactive, and the over 90-min integrated gastrin release was observed.

[The endocrine pancreas. From the isolated islet to the "artificial pancreas" (author's transl)].

The endocrine function of the pancreas consists of the promotion of storage of nutritive substances after meals through the liberation of insulin and to guarantee the mobilization of this food energy through the secretion of glucagon during fasting. Increased hormone production may result from tumors of the islet cells (insulin: insulinoma; glucagon: glucagonoma; gastrin: Zollinger-Ellison syndrome). An absolute or relative insulin deficiency is a characteristic of diabetes mellitus, in which a relative hyperglucagonemia is also of possible pathophysiological significance.

Inhibition of frusemide-induced hyperreninaemia by growth-hormone release-inhibiting hormone in man.

In a study of the effect of somatostatin (growth-hormone release-inhibiting hormone) on plasma-renin in healthy volunteers, plasma-renin activity was measured by radioimmunoassay after the intravenous administration of somatostatin and also during frusemide-induced hyperreninaemia. While somatostatin was being given, basal values of renin were unchanged. Injection of frusemide alone produced hyperreninaemia; but, under somatostatin, renin release was inhibited by 45%.

Localization of corticotropin-releasing activity in the rat hypothalamus.

Hypothalamic nuclei were removed from frozen sections of rat brain and examined for their corticotropin-releasing activity. The highest concentration was measured in the median eminence. In addition there was significantly more activity detected in the nuclei paraventricularis, supraopticus, suprachiasmaticus and arcuatus than in the other nuclei.