Temperature-induced shape transformation of carrier erythrocytes.

Erythrocytes have been proposed as cellular carriers for enzymes and drugs for protected delivery, slow release, or targeting to specific organs. Several studies have established the heterogeneity of resealed carrier erythrocytes concerning various characteristics, including morphology. Carrier erythrocytes were prepared by hypo-osmotic dialysis and consecutive iso-osmotic resealing at different temperatures, and the morphology of these cells was studied by scanning electron microscopy.

Osmotic fragility of drug carrier erythrocytes.

Erythrocytes have been proposed as biogradable cellular carriers for drugs. Potentials of this therapeutic approach are organ-specific targeting, protection and prolonged in vivo function of the encapsulated drugs. Previous studies demonstrated the advantage of a hypo-osmotic dialysis procedure for macromolecule loading resulting in cells that are closely similar to normal erythrocytes.

Organic-acid transport in resealed haemoglobin-containing human erythrocyte 'ghosts'.

The transport of organic acids across the membrane of resealed haemoglobin-containing erythrocyte 'ghosts' prepared by a dialysis technique has been studied. The present work forms part of studies directed towards the use of erythrocyte cellular carriers in enzyme-replacement therapy of inherited metabolic diseases. Oxalic acid, glycollic acid and glyoxylic acid were taken as representative of aliphatic acids of low molecular mass and benzoic and cinnamic acids as representative of unsubstituted aromatic acids.

Acceleration of ethanol elimination with fructose in man.

The elimination of ethanol is known to be accelerated by fructose. Studies of continuous infusions of both ethanol and fructose as the basis for quantitative calculations are not available. In healthy volunteers fructose infusions were given for several hours during and immediately after the end of ethanol infusions.

In vivo life span of resealed rabbit erythrocyte 'ghosts'.

Resealed erythrocyte 'ghosts' have been proposed as biodegradable in vivo carriers for exogenous enzymes in the therapy of inherited metabolic diseases. Extended animal studies are essential prior to clinical application. The survival of rabbit erythrocyte 'ghosts' has been studied to find a suitable animal model.

In vitro studies on resealed erythrocyte ghosts as protein carriers.

Resealed erythrocyte ghosts have been proposed as in vivo carriers for enzyme replacement therapy of inherited metabolic diseases. In comparative studies of methods for reversible hypotonic haemolysis of erythrocytes, a five-fold increased entrapment of human serum albumin was obtained by use of a dialysis procedure instead of direct dilution. The percentage incorporation of protein was also affected by varying mixing procedure, haematocrit, lysis, and resealing times but not by varying buffer composition or added protein concentrations over a wide range.

[Cystic degeneration of the vessel walls. The differential diagnosis of obliterative angiopathies: (author's transl)].

Cystic degeneration of the vessel wall is a rare disease predominantly localized in the region of the popliteal artery. It appears in the frequent clinical picture of intermittent claudication. Two cases are presented.

Metabolism of maltose in perfused rat liver and in isolated hepatocytes.

The conversion of 14C-maltose into glucose, lactate and 14 CO2 was studied in perfused livers from fed and fasted rats and in isolated hepatocytes. Maximal glucose production was 30 mM x g-1 x h-1; half-maximal rates were found with 3 mM maltose. About 0.

Utilization of intravenous maltose.

Ten healthy male subjects received an infusion of 10% maltose solution at a rate of 0.5 g/kg body weight/h for 345 min. Blood maltose levels rose continuously for the first hours; after 285 min a constant level was maintained.