Effect of cyproheptadine on glucose tolerance, serum insulin and structure of pancreatic islets in rats.

The effect of cyproheptadine (CPH) on glucose tolerance, serum immunoreactive insulin (IRI) and structure of pancreatic islets in albino rats has been studied. Hyperglycemia with glucose intolerance was observed after 10 days of administration of CPH (40 mg/kg, ip). There was insignificant change of fasting IRI after the treatment.

Platelet activating factor (PAF) is a potent stimulator of porcine tracheal fluid secretion in vitro.

Mucus hypersecretion is a major clinical feature of chronic obstructive lung diseases such as asthma. The possible role of the inflammatory and bronchoconstrictor ether lipid PAF (platelet activating factor) has been studied in isolated porcine trachea with the tantalum 'hillock' technique used to visualize fluid production from tracheal submucosal glands. PAF caused a rapid, dose-dependent (0.

Interleukin 1 releases histamine from human basophils and mast cells in vitro.

Interleukin (IL 1) preparations from five different sources (human monocyte, LPS-stimulated, purified IL 1 from two different laboratories) and human recombinant IL 1 (HrIL 1) were shown to be capable of directly inducing histamine (HA) release from human basophils (10 to 50% of total cellular HA, depending on the source of IL 1). The release was not due to the medium, pyrogens, or other contaminants. Il 1-induced HA release was dose dependent between 1 to 100 U/ml of IL 1 and 1 to 15 ng/ml of HrIL 1 and was rapid, with a peak release at 15 min.

Phenobarbital does not prevent total parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis in noninfected neonates.

Cholestasis associated with total parenteral nutrition (TPN) is a serious complication of this therapy for which there is no known treatment other than beginning enteral feeds. Phenobarbital is commonly used in other cholestatic disease states, but its benefit in this syndrome has not been demonstrated. We conducted a retrospective review of phenobarbital use in neonates receiving concurrent TPN.

Inhibition of immunological and non-immunological histamine release from human basophils and lung mast cells by formoterol.

3-Formylamino-4-hydroxy-alpha(N-1-methyl-2-p-methoxyphenethyl-a min omethyl)benzylalcohol hemifumarate (formoterol fumarate, BD40 A, CGP 25 827 A-E) inhibited both allergic (anti-IgE) and non-allergic histamine release (calcium ionophore and human complement component C5a) from human basophils. The degree and efficacy of inhibition was comparable to that of ketotifen, equal to or better than fenoterol and ten times more potent than isoprenaline (beta 2-stimulator). Salbutamol, another beta 2-stimulator was practically ineffective in these models.

Direct communication of a pulmonary artery with left atrium--report of a case with balloon occlusion studies and successful correction: a case report.

A 10 year old cyanotic boy had direct communication between right pulmonary artery and left atrium. During cardiac catheterization, the catheter-tip balloon occlusion of this communication resulted in restoration of arterial oxygen saturation to normal levels, predicting that surgical interruption of the communication would be curative. Successful surgical correction was achieved by interruption of the communication.

Reaction time in clinical diabetes mellitus.

Visual and auditory reaction times were studied in patients suffering from diabetes mellitus and age matched normal control subjects. Auditory reaction times were shorter than visual reaction times in control subjects as well as diabetic patients. In diabetic patients, there was significant prolongation of visual as well as auditory reaction times.

Type D double aortic arch. Double aortic arch with interruption of its left component proximal to the site of origin of left common carotid artery.

Type D double aortic arch in a five year old boy (with interruption of left arch proximal to left common carotid artery)--with persistent ductus arteriosus and stenosis of right and left pulmonary arteries diagnosed during life is reported. At surgery for P.D.

Electrically induced release of radiolabeled histamine from rat hippocampal slices: opposing roles for H1- and H2-receptors.

Rat hippocampal slices were preloaded with 3H-histamine and superfused with physiological medium and electrically stimulated in the absence (S1) and in the presence (S2) of drugs. The electrically evoked 3H-overflow consisted mainly of histamine, was Ca++ dependent and completely blocked by tetrodotoxin, all pointing towards an impulse triggered neuronal release. Mepyramine, promethazine and diphenhydramine the H1-antagonists, inhibited the stimulation evoked histamine release in a dose dependent manner.

Effect of cigarette smoking on leucocytes in South Indians.

A study was done on 200 male hospital employees of similar socio-economic status in the age group of 25-45 years. The smokers had a significantly higher total leucocyte count and there was a significant positive correlation (r = 0.388) between the quantity of cigarettes smoked and leucocyte count.

Synthesis of macrolide prostaglandin analogs.

Prostaglandin analogs of the E- and F2 alpha-functional type, which are constrained to conformations in which the side-chains are close in space and specifically aligned in the terminal portions by covalent bonding, have been synthesized. These analogs are 1, (omega-1)-macrolides. The syntheses proceeded from aldehyde intermediate I via the Emmon's condensation with dimethyl n-(dimethyl-t-butylsilyloxy)2-oxoalkylphosphonate anions (II a or b).

Omega chain methylated analogs of PGF2 alpha and PGE2.

Our previously published prostaglandin (PG) synthesis route, in which the omega-chain is added in the penultimate step, provides facile access to a wide variety of omega-chain variant PG analogs. Each series requires only the synthesis of the appropriate methylated acylphosphonate for the Emmons' condensation. The syntheses of analogs bearing the following methylation patterns are detailed: 15-Me; 17,17-(Me) 2; 17, 17, 20-(Me) 3; 18, 18, 20-(Me) 3; 15, 18, 18, 20-(Me) 4; and 15-OMe-18, 18, 20- (Me) 3.

Blood loss and side effects in day case abortion.

Suction termination of pregnancy was performed in 276 patients as an out-patient procedure under general anaesthesia. Ergometrine, oxytocin, or sterile water were given with the induction of anaesthesia. There was no significant difference in blood loss in the three treatment groups, although blood loss in termination of pregnancy performed after eight weeks was increased in all three groups.

Molecular basis for prostaglandin potency. III. Tests of the significance of the "hairpin conformation" in biorecognition phenomena.

Prostaglandin analogs of the PGF2 alpha, 15-epi-PGF2 alpha, and PGE2 type bearing the following methyl substitution patterns -- 15-Me, 16, 16-(Me)2, 17, 17-(Me)2, and 18, 18, 20-(Me)3 -- and analogs constrained to "hairpin" alignment [via 1, (omega-1)-olide formation] and to "non-hairpin" arrangements [via 1, 9- and 1, 15-olide formation] are compared in the following biological assays: contraction of uterine and gastro-intestinal smooth muscle strips, luteolytic antifertility potency in the hamster, binding affinity to two different PGF2 alpha-receptor preparations from bovine corpora lutea, binding to the PGE-specific receptors from rat kidney and liver, inhibition of ADP- induced aggregation of human platelet-rich-plasma, and the effect on rat blood blood pressure. The methylated prostaglandins were also concerted to the corresponding prostacyclins and examined as to action on the platelet and on rat blood pressure. All evidence points to topographically distinct receptors for F2 alpha-, E- and I2- type prostaglandins.

Inhibition of hatching of mouse blastocysts in vitro by various prostaglandin antagonists.

Hatching of mouse blastocysts in vitro is inhibited by 18,18,20-trimethyl PGE-2, 17,17-dimethyl PGE-2, 8,12-epiPGE-2 and N-dimethylamide PGF-2 alpha, whose activity is between that of 7-oxa-13-prostynoic acid and meclofenamic acid.

Trans-synaptic modulation of histamine H-1 receptor development in rat brain.

To determine whether neuronal histamine influences development of histamine H-1 receptors in the rat brain, neonates were given diphenhydramine, an H-1 antagonist, daily for the first 21 days of postnatal life. In control rats, specific H-1 binding of [3H]mepyramine in whole brain was low at birth and increased progressively toward adult levels by the end of the 3rd week. Animals treated with diphenhydramine showed marked elevations in binding as early as 4 days postnatally and the differences persisted throughout the experimental period.

Methyl ethers of prostaglandins F2 alpha and I2.

Regiospecific monomethyl prostaglandin f2 alpha ethers (at 0-9, 0-11, and 0-15) have been prepared by total synthesis. The 9, 15-bis-ether was also prepared. The 11- and 15-monoethers have been converted to the corresponding prostacyclins.

Ontogeny of histaminergic neurotransmission in the rat brain: concomitant development of neuronal histamine, H-1 receptors, and H-1 receptor-mediated stimulation of phospholipid turnover.

The ontogeny of histaminergic neurotransmission in the rat brain was studied by assessing development of histamine levels in brain regions, along with H-1 receptor binding of [3H]mepyramine and H-1 receptor-mediated cellular events. In the hypothalamus, which is rich in histaminergic innervation, levels of the amine were low at birth, increased sharply at 8 days of age, and reached adult concentrations shortly thereafter; this pattern is typical of most neurotransmitters. In contrast, regions poor in neuronal histamine showed an initially high histamine level and a subsequent decline with development, as is known to occur during general growth of tissues.