Similar behavioural effects of sigma agonists and PCP-like non-competitive NMDA antagonists in guinea-pigs.

The present study examined the behavioural effects of sigma agonists and PCP-like non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists in guinea-pigs. Subcutaneous (SC) injection of the putative sigma agonist (+)NANM (1 and 10 mg/kg SC) and (-)NANM (1 and 10 mg/kg SC) produced a behavioural response in guinea-pigs which was characterized by sedation and exophthalmos, with locomotor depression, flattened posture and flaccidity, whereas the sigma ligand pentazocine induced sedation but no flattened posture. Ketamine (20 mg/kg SC) and (+)dizocilpine (0.

Synthetic human parathyroid hormone-related protein and rat renal electrolyte transport.

The effect of parathyroid hormone (PTH)-like peptide PTH-related protein (PTHrP)(1-34) from a human cancer cell line on renal electrolyte transport was compared with human PTH(1-34) in a thyroparathyroidectomized anesthetized rat model. Comparing submaximal, maximal and supramaximal phosphaturic concentrations of hPTH with the same PTHrP concentrations, no significant difference could be demonstrated in the urinary excretion of calcium, magnesium, inorganic phosphate or cAMP. Even the small (30.

Hypertension control and the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke: a population-based study.

A population-based case-control study was performed to determine the importance of the presence of hypertension and the control of blood pressure level during treatment for hypertension on the occurrence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stroke in persons aged 35-69 years in the Hunter Region community. Patients with a first episode of AMI or stroke were identified from community-based heart attack and stroke registers and compared with control subjects obtained from a random population sample from the same community. Twenty per cent of control subjects were currently receiving treatment for hypertension compared with 37% of patients with myocardial infarction (odds ratio adjusted for age, sex and several other possible confounding variables, 2.

Effect of heat inactivation of HIV on specific serum proteins and tumour markers.

The effect on the concentrations of specific serum proteins and tumour markers, of heat-treating samples at 56 degrees C for 30 min to inactivate HIV, was investigated. Statistically significant decreases, that may affect clinical decisions, were observed for alpha-1-antitrypsin, beta-2-microglobulin, IgE, fibrinogen, C1-esterase inhibitor and CA125. Statistical, but not clinically significant, changes were observed for alpha-1-acid glycoprotein, C3, haptoglobin, IgA, IgG, IgM and transferrin.

Western blot analysis of serological responses following immunization with vaccinia viral lysates of melanoma cells.

Western blot analysis was used to characterize the antibody response of melanoma patients during immunization with vaccinia-virus-induced melanoma cell lysates (VMCL). Strong antibody responses were detectable within 4 weeks from commencement of immunization against different fractions (from 3 to 10) in blots of VMCL. The approximate MW of the main fractions identified were 100, 91, 85, 77, 64-66, 49, 46, 43 and 34-36 kDa.

Fractures of the mandible. A 35-year retrospective study.

A retrospective survey was carried out of patients presenting with fractures of the mandible over the 35-year period 1951-1985 in Newcastle, Australia. The age, sex and cause of injury were analysed for each of the 1,162 patients. The male:female ratio was 4.

Quality of life after restorative proctocolectomy.

An audit of 18 patients whom the author managed by abdominal colectomy, rectal mucosectomy and ileo-anal reservoir anastomosis was undertaken to assess the resulting quality of life. Sixteen patients had ulcerative colitis and two had familial adenomatous polyposis. In each case, a temporary loop ileostomy was performed at the time of reservoir construction.

Lack of airway response to nasal irritation in normal and asthmatic subjects.

Twenty two subjects (10 normals, nine asthmatics and three who had suggestive histories for asthma but normal bronchial histamine challenges) underwent nasal challenges with logarithmic incremental doses of histamine or saline on alternate days. Nasal resistance (measured by posterior rhinometry), and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) were assessed after each dose of nasal histamine or placebo. After each nasal challenge (maximum nasal dose of 250 micrograms of histamine or doubling of nasal resistance) bronchial responsiveness was measured with a bronchial histamine challenge.

Urinary uric acid:creatinine ratio, serum erythropoietin, and blood 2,3-diphosphoglycerate in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

A noninvasive, inexpensive method of excluding significant sleep-associated hypoxemia would be desirable for patients being investigated and treated for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Sixty-eight such patients provided specimens before and after sleep studies for estimation of urinary uric acid:creatinine ratio (UA:Cr), serum erythropoietin (EPO), and blood 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG). Mean (SD) morning 2,3-DPG was higher in 26 patients with overnight hypoxemia than in 42 normoxemic patients (2.

Protection against recurrent acute bronchitis after oral immunization with killed Haemophilus influenzae.

Subjects prone to recurrent acute bronchitis were admitted to a six-month double-blind clinical study, in which the value of oral immunization with a preparation of killed Haemophilus influenzae was tested. Most subjects had early smoking-related chronic lung disease, unrecognized by either the patient or his/her doctor. Subjects taking the active agent had a 41% reduction in the total number of episodes of acute bronchitis (P = 0.

Efficacy of double versus single gloving in protecting the operating team.

Double-glove perforation rates and perforation rates in standard single-gloved operating teams were compared, in order to determine whether double gloving provides additional protection for the operating team. Patients were randomized to undergo surgery with a double-gloved or single-gloved operating team. All gloves worn during the operation were tested for perforations by water-filling and individual digital distension; 115 single-gloved operations and 103 double-gloved operations were performed.

Reproducible vasodilatation by platelet-activating factor in blood- and Krebs-perfused rat kidneys is albumin-dependent.

The vasodilator effect of platelet-activating factor (PAF) and its reproducibility was determined in rat kidneys perfused in situ with blood or in isolated kidneys perfused with Krebs solution or Krebs plus 0.25% bovine serum albumin (BSA) at 3 ml/min. Dilatation was measured as inhibition of the increase in perfusion pressure produced by stimulation of the renal nerves or by infusion of noradrenaline.

Topical mitomycin C therapy for carcinoma in situ of the bladder: a followup.

We studied 15 patients with histologically proved multifocal carcinoma in situ of the bladder who were in remission at a mean followup of 21 months after induction intravesical chemotherapy with mitomycin C. These patients have been followed for a further 28 months, for a total mean duration of 49 months. Of the 15 patients 4 suffered new areas of carcinoma in situ, including 3 who subsequently required cystectomy (2 after unsuccessful intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin therapy and 1 with a simultaneous invasive tumor).

The sun protective effect of clothing, including beachwear.

Clothing represents a significant though underutilised form of sun protection but the literature reveals few studies dealing with this subject. This study used a solar simulator to assess in vivo sun protection factors (SPF) for two clothing items of beachwear - a synthetic surf shirt and a combination cotton/polyester T-shirt. The tests showed that the T-shirt had a relative SPF of 15, and the surf shirt an SPF of 36.

The assessment and treatment of theophylline poisoning.

Theophylline poisoning long has been recognized as difficult to treat and still has an over-all mortality rate of about 10%. In recent years, the increasing use of sustained-release preparations has changed the pattern of toxicity. The management of theophylline toxicity is compounded by clinical differences between chronic (overmedication) intoxication and acute single ingestions of a large amount of the drug, inter- and intraindividual variability in theophylline metabolism and dose-dependent kinetics in poisoned patients.

A prospective clinical audit of methadone maintenance therapy at the Royal Newcastle Hospital.

In a prospective study of 63 admissions to a methadone maintenance programme in a public hospital, 13 admissions were for less than two weeks. Of the remaining 50 such admissions, 35 admissions were terminated because of absenteeism, drug abuse, violence or drug-dealing. Twelve patients did not take intravenously administered drugs during the time that they were receiving methadone, but in 25 of the 50 admissions that lasted for more than two weeks, such drugs were abused at least fortnightly.

Management of dapsone poisoning complicated by methaemoglobinaemia.

The currently recommended dosage regimen for methylene blue (intermittent bolus dose) in the treatment of methaemoglobinaemia caused by dapsone is often inadequate. This is due to the long half-life of dapsone which provides a continuing oxidative stress that can cause a recurrence of clinically significant methaemoglobinaemia. Methylene blue infusion is effective, as demonstrated in an illustrative case report, and should be supported by repeated doses of activated charcoal to enhance dapsone elimination.

Cyclosporine treatment of normal rats produces a rise in blood pressure and decreased renal vascular responses to nerve stimulation, vasoconstrictors and endothelium-dependent dilators.

Clinical use of the immunosuppressant cyclosporine A (CyA) is associated with nephrotoxicity and hypertension of unknown mechanisms. Because the vascular endothelium is now known to influence vascular tone by release of relaxing factors and CyA can damage endothelial cells, it was of interest to determine if CyA could induce a rise in blood pressure (BP) in normal rats and if this was associated with increased vascular responses to constrictor stimuli and/or decreased responses to endothelium-dependent dilators. Male Wistar rats were treated daily for 21 days by gavage with 5, 10 or 20 mg/kg of CyA or olive oil vehicle (1 ml/kg).

Relation between plasma beta-endorphin and the ventilatory response to hypercapnia in humans.

1. Endogenous opioids have been implicated in the control of breathing in neonates, but their role in ventilatory control in adults remains unclear. 2.