Effect of fenoterol, ipratropium bromide and their combination--Berodual--on pulmonary ventilation in patients with asthma

The study aimed at evaluating FVC, FEV1, and FMF25-75% following and inhalation of fenoterol, ipratropium bromide and Berodual in 10 patients with the bronchial asthma. Berodual may be inhaled directly from the metered dose inhaler or with added tube spacer. Spirometry was performed after a single deep inspiration of each drug in the consecutive days, and after 5, 15, 30 and 60 minutes as well as 2, 3, 4, and 5 hours following the inhalation. The differences at each time point were compared with baseline values and expressed as percentage of the increase. The obtained results were analysed statistically. It was shown that bronchodilatory action of Berodual, being both beta 2-agonist and anticholinergic agent, is the most pronounced. The highest values of the measured spirometric parameters followed Berodual inhalation with the aid of tube spacer but the differences compared with Berodual applied with the metered dose inhaler were not statistically significant.     

Cross-linked polymers in the red cell membranes of a patient with Hb-Koln disease

Membranes isolated from the red cells of a Hb-Koln patient were shown to contain appreciable amounts of N epsilon-(gamma-glutamyl)lysine, the characteristic product of the post-translational cross-linking of proteins by transglutaminase. Such an apparently irreversible fusion of membrane proteins may contribute to the membrane defect in Hb-Koln disease.     

Synthesis and biological assay of new 2’-deoxyuridine dimers containing a 1,2,3-triazole linker. Part I

We describe a simple method for the synthesis of modified dinucleosides containing pyrimidine nucleoside analogues (2’-deoxyuridine, thymidine and 5-fluoro-2’-deoxyuridine). Six different dimers with a 1,2,3-triazole linkage were obtained by azide–alkyne 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (click reaction), starting from propargylated 2’-deoxyuridine and 5’-azido-nucleoside derivatives. Their cytotoxic activity was tested in five human cancer cell lines: cervical (HeLa), high grade gliomas (U-118?MG, U-87?MG, T98G), liver (HepG2), and normal human fibroblast cell line (MRC-5) using the sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. The experiment showed that the obtained dimers with a 1,2,3-triazole moiety were very stable compounds, also in the physiological-like media, and had no anticancer activity.     

The state of the circulatory system in the elderly

Fifty six persons (15 men and 41 women) aged between 90 and 99 years were examined to assess their health determining longevity. Circulatory system was evaluated with the aid of anamnesis, physical examination, chest X-ray and ECG. Clinical symptoms of the circulatory disease were diagnosed in 55.4% of tested persons, including: ischaemic heart disease in 42.9%, arterial hypertension in 35.7%, and circulatory failure in 23.2%. Normal ECG records were noted in 10.7% of the tested elderly persons. The most frequent electrographic abnormalities included: decrease in ST, LAH and atrio-ventricular block of the I degree. Incidence of ECG abnormalities did not depend upon the clinical state. An advanced age (over 90 years) is achieved also by the persons with marked circulatory disorders.