Expression of ATP-gated ion channels by Reissner's membrane epithelial cells.

Reissner's membrane forms a partition between the endolymphatic and perilymphatic cochlear compartments. Expression of the P2X2 receptor subunit which assembles to form ATP-gated ion channels was detected in guinea-pig Reissner's membrane using the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The P2X2 receptor subunit protein was localized to the epithelial cells which line the endolymphatic surface of Reissner's membrane using confocal immunofluorescence.

Sarcoid neuromyopathy with selective involvement of the intramuscular nerves.

A 35-year-old man affected with pulmonary sarcoidosis had a 12-year history of fatigue and pain in the limbs, with normal neurological examination, except for diffusely absent deep tendon reflexes. Muscle biopsy samples showed multiple noncaseating granulomas, most prominent around the intramuscular nerves, with predominance of CD4+ cells. Intramuscular nerve bundles surrounded by granulomas were immunolabelled with laminin alpha1, alpha2, beta1 and gamma1 chain, and collagen IV.

P2X2 receptor subunit expression in a subpopulation of cochlear type I spiral ganglion neurones.

Spiral ganglion neurones in rat cochlea express three different isoforms of the P2X2 receptor subunit which assemble into ATP-gated ion channels. Two of these P2X2R subunit isoforms have previously been detected in other auditory tissues. The third isoform (designated P2X2-3R) has not been described.

Cryoglobulinaemic neuropathy manifesting with restless legs syndrome.

In a series of 12 patients with essential mixed cryoglobulinaemia (EMC) and peripheral neuropathy as main feature of the disease, restless legs syndrome (RLS) was a major manifestation in four women, aged 55-65 years. In one patient RLS was a presenting manifestation of the disease, and in another patient the diagnosis of EMC was made investigating RLS and polyneuropathy, although prior rheumatological symptoms were retrospectively recognized. All patients with RLS had symmetrical sensory polyneuropathy, but non-RLS patients had also other forms of peripheral neuropathy, and symmetrical sensory polyneuropathy only in two of eight cases (P=0.

Low-grade non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma presenting as sensory neuropathy.

Low-grade non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma was found during the evaluation of 3 aged patients with predominantly sensory neuropathy of mild to moderate severity. Presenting manifestations were sensory ataxia and right ulnar mononeuropathy in a 75-year-old man, and painful dysesthesias of the legs in two 78-year-old women. A neurophysiological study showed mainly axonopathic alterations.

Role of fluoride on corrodability of dental amalgams.

The role of fluoride ions on the corrosion behavior of some commercial dental amalgam in artificial saliva solution at pH level 7.1 was studied by using impedance and potentiodynamic polarization techniques. It was found that, the presence of F- ions in an artificial saliva solution at pH 7.

Plasma chloroquine measurement in the evaluation of Plasmodium falciparum sensitivity.

In-vivo assessment of the sensitivity of Plasmodium falciparum to chloroquine was carried out in 63 patients in eastern Sudan. Standard triple-dose therapy with chloroquine (25 mg base kg-1 body wt) failed in curing 30 patients. All grades of resistance were demonstrated in the study, confirming that the phenomenon of chloroquine resistance is well established in this area.

Extraction, purification, identification and metabolism of 3',5'-cyclic UMP, 3',5'-cyclic IMP and 3',5'-cyclic dTMP from rat tissues.

The large-scale extraction and partial purification of endogenous 3',5'-cyclic UMP, 3',5'-cyclic IMP and 3',5'-cyclic dTMP are described. Rat liver, kidney, heart, spleen and lung tissues were subjected to a sequential purification procedure involving freeze-clamping, perchlorate extraction, alumina and Sephadex ion-exchange chromatography and preparative electrophoresis. The samples thus obtained co-chromatographed with authentic cyclic UMP, cyclic IMP and cyclic dTMP on t.

Cyclic CMP phosphodiesterase: isolation, specificity and kinetic properties.

Cyclic CMP phosphodiesterase activity was demonstrated in rat liver, heart, brain, kidney, intestine, skeletal muscle, blood, testes, ovaries, spleen and lung; that present in the liver was purified to homogeneity by a sequential process of ammonium sulphate fractionation, gel filtration, two ion-exchange chromatographic steps, preparative electrophoresis and two affinity chromatographic stages with selection at each stage for maximum specificity. The final enzyme preparation was confirmed as a single protein by HPLC and isoelectric focussing; the total yield obtained was 1.5% and the final specific activity of 48.

Primary lymphoma of Meckel diverticulum: a case report.

A case of a primary lymphoma of Meckel's diverticulum in a 6-year-old Iraqi boy presenting clinically as acute appendicitis is reported. Exploration revealed a ruptured gangrenous Meckel's diverticulum with an ileo-ileal intussusception at the diverticulum origin. A fairly comprehensive search through the English language literature has failed to reveal any other report of a primary lymphoma of Meckel's diverticulum leading to acute intestinal obstruction.

Extraction, purification and identification of cytidine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate from rat tissues.

The large-scale extraction and purification to homogeneity of cyclic CMP and its unequivocal identification are described. Rat liver, kidney, heart, spleen and lung tissues were subjected to a sequential purification procedure involving freeze-clamping, perchlorate extraction, alumina and boronate column chromatography, polyacrylamide-gel column electrophoresis and high-voltage paper electrophoresis. The purified sample co-chromatographed with authentic cyclic CMP on t.

Organic and functional disorders in 2000 gastroenterology outpatients.

To determine the relative frequency of different diseases and of functional gastrointestinal disorders among patients referred by general practitioners to a gastroenterology clinic, 2000 patients referred over a five-year period were studied. 980 had organic diseases, of which peptic ulcer, oesophagitis, and inflammatory bowel disease accounted for about half. 888 patients had functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, without any disease.

Changes in certain blood constituents during Ramadan.

Fasting serum cholesterol, triglycerides, thyroxine, triiodothyronine, uric acid, gastrin, and insulin were measured in a group of 24 Muslims at the beginning and end of Ramadan--the Muslim month of fasting. There was a significant increase in the levels of total serum cholesterol, thyroxine, and uric acid and a significant fall in body weight. There was no significant change in the levels of total serum triglycerides, triiodothyronine, gastrin, insulin (fasting), or in the rise in gastrin or insulin 1/2 h after food.

Louse-borne relapsing fever in the Sudan. A historical review and a clinico-pathological study.

A small outbreak of louse-borne relapsing fever in Khartoum (May-June 1974) provided material for a clinico-pathological study. The history of the disease in the Sudan is reviewed and the clinical and laboratory findings in 32 patients are presented. Fever, headache, jaundice, epistaxis and hepatosplenomegaly were the commonest clinical findings; thrombocytopenia was detected in 93% of cases.

Morbidity in relation to the clinical forms and to intensity of infection in Schistosoma mansoni infections in the Sudan.

A study of morbidity in Schistosoma mansoni infection was made in 593 Sudanese patients seen in a four-year period in Khartoum Civil Hospital. Clinical and laboratory findings were compared in three egg-count groups and in four clinical forms of the infection. Patients were divided into three levels of intensity of infection: light (up to 100 eggs/gram of stool), moderate (101--400 eggs/g) and heavy (more than 400 eggs/g).

Detection of antibodies by enzyme-immunoassay in human schistosoma mansoni infections: a clinical and chemotherapeutic study.

Sera from patients with S. mansoni infections, before and six weeks after successful treatment with hycanthone, were examined for antibodies reacting with S. mansoni adult worm antigen, employing the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique.

Serum immunoglobulin concentrations in human S. mansoni and S. haematobium infections in the Sudan, with special reference to the effect of chemotherapy.

The serum immunoglobulin concentrations of IgG, IgA and IgM were studied in 111 selected Sudanese patients with S. mansoni infections and 48 with S. haematobium infections before and 6 weeks after successful treatment with hycanthone; 52 local individuals were studied as controls.

Drug metabolism in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis in the Sudan: a study with antipyrine.

The disposition of antipyrine following oral administration of 1200 mg has been investigated in 10 patients with histologically confirmed hepatosplenic schistosomiasis and 11 normal subjects living in Sudan. Drug metabolising activity as assessed by antipyrine clearance was similar in patients when compared with normal controls. We conclude that antipyrine disposition is normal in patients with clinically compensated hepatosplenic schistosomiasis.

Racial differences in drug metabolizing ability: a study with antipyrine in the Sudan.

The kinetic disposition of antipyrine following oral administration of 1,200 mg has been investigated in 11 normal Sudanese subjects living in Sudan, 9 Sudanese subjects living in England for at least 2 yr, and 19 normal English subjects living in England. Sudanese subjects living in Sudan had significantly lower mean antipyrine clearance and higher volume of distribution than the English group (-28% and +30%, respectively). There was no significant difference for antipyrine clearance between English and Sudanese subjects living in England, but the volume of distribution of antipyrine was higher (16%) in the Sudanese subjects.

Hycanthone therapy in selected patients with S. mansoni and S. haematobium infections in the Sudan.

The results of a clinical trial of hycanthone in 601 selected Sudanese patients with S. mansoni and S. haematobium infections are reported.

Observations on hepato-cellular carcinoma in the Sudan.

The clinical and histopathological features of hepato-cellular carcinoma in 24 Sudanese patients seen in Khartoum Civil Hospital in a 4 year period are described. The tumour represented 1.97 per cent of total medical admissions and constituted 40 per cent of all malignancies seen.