Penetration of gentamicin into burn wounds.

This study was originated in recognition that little data have been accumulated in the literature regarding concentrations of gentamicin in various infected tissues. The study was undertaken to determine if systemically administered gentamicin penetrates burn wound eschar and to determine if there is a relationship between gentamicin serum levels attained and concentration of gentamicin reaching the eschar. Five hospitalized adult patients requiring parenteral gentamicin for sepsis secondary to third-degree burns were studied prospectively.

Nitrosamine levels in human blood, urine and gastric aspirate following ingestion of foods containing potential nitrosamine precursors or preformed nitrosamines.

In studies of the effect of diet on nitrosamine levels in selected human physiological fluids, volunteers were fed meals containing fish or beef (sources of precursor amines) or bacon (a source of preformed nitrosamines), in combination with spinach and vegetable juice to supply nitrite via possible reduction of nitrate. Blood, urine and gastric contents were sampled periodically for up to 4 hr after feeding. The results of the study indicated that traces of nitrosamines, usually N-nitrosodimethylamine, were present in many samples of blood, urine and gastric contents, even after an 8-hr fast.

Intraoperative retrograde balloon angioplasty of the left anterior descending coronary artery for reperfusion of jeopardized proximal branches.

Sequential left anterior descending artery stenoses often entrap diagonal and septal branches of significant but subgraftable diameter. These branches are routinely not perfused by middle or distal left anterior descending saphenous vein grafts implanted beyond the second lesion. We attempted to improve perfusion of such branches in nine patients using retrograde intraoperative balloon angioplasty.

Diagnostic performance of enzymes in the discrimination of myocardial infarction.

We apply rigorous statistical methods to assess the diagnostic value of creatine kinase, creatine kinase-MB, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase in realistic circumstances. The trade-off between false positives and false negatives obtained with various decision rules is examined with the receiver-operator characteristic function and with discriminant analysis. During the three days after an infarction, lactate and alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase can provide diagnostic thresholds of constant sensitivity and specificity.

Prognostic implications of diagnostic Q waves after myocardial infarction.

The long-term prognostic implications of the electrocardiographic location of a myocardial infarction and the subsequent retention or disappearance of diagnostic Q waves were examined in patients enrolled in the Aspirin Myocardial Infarction Study (AMIS). The 4524 participants, ages 30-69 years, had sustained a myocardial infarction 8 weeks to 60 months before randomization to aspirin and placebo groups. Subjects were followed for at least 3 years (average 38.

Iron Oxidation and Precipitation of Ferric Hydroxysulfates by Resting Thiobacillus ferrooxidans Cells.

The oxidation of ferrous ions, in acid solution, by resting suspensions of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans produced sediments consisting of crystalline jarosites, amorphous ferric hydroxysulfates, or both. These products differed conspicuously in chemical composition and infrared spectra from precipitates formed by abiotic oxidation under similar conditions. The amorphous sediments, produced by bacterial oxidation, exhibited a distinctive fibroporous microstructure when examined by scanning electron microscopy.

Interaction between sample preparation techniques and colorimetric reagents in nitrite analysis in meat.

The amount of nitrite measured in model and meat systems was a function of the interactions of the chloride and ascorbate concentrations with the method of sample preparation and the combination of Griess reagents used for colorimetric determination. Ascorbate caused loss of nitrite in the samples when heated and interfered in the Griess reaction, increasing the concentration of pigment formed from any given concentration of nitrite if sulfanilic acid and N-(1-naphthyl)-ethylenediamine were used, and decreasing the amount if sulfanilamide and 1-naphthylamine were used. The interference was eliminated by both the AOAC procedure and mercuric chloride addition, although the former were less effective at higher ascorbate concentrations.

Initial Reaction Intermediates in the Oxidation of Ascorbic Acid by Nitrous Acid.

Nitrite and ascorbate react to form nitric oxide at pH 5.5. In the initial stages of the reaction, seven intermediates can be identified spectrally and chromatographically; these include two colorless nitroso derivatives which contain 30-60% of the initial nitrite, two nitroso reductant derivatives absorbing at 345 and 412 nm, diketogulonic acid and two further decomposition products.

The relationship of pulmonary artery wedge pressure to the posterior aortic wall echocardiogram in patients free of obstructive mitral valve disease.

Aortic wall echocardiograms were obtained simultaneously with pulmonary artery wedge pressures (PAWP) in 21 patients free of obstructive mitral valve disease. There was a significant (p < 0.001) negative correlation between the fraction of passive posterior aortic wall motion occurring in the first third of diastole (the atrial emptying index--AEI) and the pulmonary artery wedge pressure (r = -0.

Sick sinus syndrome: mechanisms and management.

Sick sinus syndrome has become a frequent and challenging diagnosis for the practicing physician (Fig. 6). Increased longevity will create even more patients in need of effective therapy.

An apomorphine-induced vomiting model for antiemetic studies in man.

Apomorphine-induced vomiting is often used for preclinical efficacy testing of putative antiemetics in normal volunteers. The usual technique of individual intravenous titration for finding the threshold emitic dose of apomorphine in each subject is slow and tedious. We used a uniform dose of 0.

Preliminary observations on amines and nitrosamines in non-normal human gastric contents.

Gastric contents from fasting humans were pooled and analysed for amines. Volatile amines present were dimethylamine, trimethylamine and histamine; non-volatile amines found were cadaverine, putrescine, ethanolamine and tryptamine. Gastric contents from 35 patients, some before and/or after gastric stimulation with histamine or pentagastrin, were analysed for nitrosamines.

Consumer Acceptance of Nitrite-Free Bacon.

Consumer response to bacon cured with and without nitrite was determined. Bacon slices were scored individually on a 7-point hedonic for "like-dislike" responses and consumers indicated preference between the two treatments. Questionnaires from 704 respondents were analyzed for sex, age, and frequency of consumption of bacon.

Inhibition of Clostridium botulinum by 5-nitrothiazoles.

A number of 5-nitrothiazoles with various substituents in the 2-position were tested for inhibition of Clostridium botulinum in a culture medium. Thiazole itself or 2-bromo- or 2-methylthiazole at 30 mug/ml did not inhibit the organism. An amino group in the 2-position of thiazole inhibited at 10 mug/ml.

Effects of alpha- and beta-adrenergic blocking agents on serum prolactin levels in women with hyperprolactinemia and galactorrhea.

The effects of alpha- and beta-adrenergic blocking agents on the serum prolactin levels of six women with hyperprolactinemia and galactorrhea were investigated. There was no indication that pituitary adenomas were etiologic agents for the hyperprolactinemia. Serum prolactin could be lowered with oral L-dopa.

Experimental induction of caprylate-dependent albumin antibodies.

A normal donor with the caprylate-dependent albumin agglutinins volunteered to receive 50 ml. of 25% caprylate-stabilized human albumin to determine the clinical significance of the antibodies. The donor manifested no clinical sign of a reaction.

Effect of added iron on the formation of clostridial inhibitors.

Inhibition of Clostridium botulinum by nitrite was potentiated by the addition of Fe(II) or Fe(III) to the culture medium. The effect of iron was more pronounced when nitrite was added after autoclaving.