SERUM TRANSAMINASE—A Test to Aid in Diagnosis of Cardiac Infarction

Within 24 hours following myocardial infarction there is a pronounced increase in the level of the enzyme glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase found in the serum. This enzyme can be detected in serum by a rapid and convenient procedure. An increase in the level of serum transaminase is typical of only a few pathological conditions all of which can readily be distinguished from myocardial infarction by other methods.     

CORRECTION OF COLLAPSED NASAL ALAE—A Simple Surgical Procedure

Collapse of the nasal alae against the septum brings about a serious obstruction to the airway. Collapse may be overlooked on routine examination because the speculum may prevent it.In most cases alar collapse can be corrected by a simple surgical procedure, herein described, which can be readily done at the same time as operation on the caudal portion of the septum.     

DETERMINING THE SITE OF BRAIN TUMORS—The Use of Radioactive Iodine and Phosphorus

By tests using radioactive iodine combined with diiodofluorescein, the site of tumors was correctly determined in 61 per cent of 39 cases of tumors of the cerebral hemispheres. In 19 cases where the focal radioactivity was increased 24 per cent or more over that of the surrounding area, there were no errors in localization. Fifteen patients with expanding intracranial lesions were tested at operation with radioactive phosphorus and 14 lesions were correctly localized. This procedure in which the needle probe was used was found of great value in rapidly locating and outlining the area of involvement.     

Lithium salts — Simple but magic

For many decades pharmacological drugs based on lithium salts have been successfully used in psychiatry to treat bipolar disorder, and they remain the “gold standard” of pharmacological therapy of patients with this disease. At the same time, over recent years in experiments in vitro and in vivo a plethora of evidence has accumulated on a positive effect of lithium ions in other areas including their neuro-, cardio-, and nephroprotective properties, regulation of stem cells functions, regulation of inflammation, and others. Numerous studies have shown that the effect of lithium ions involves several mechanisms; however, one of its main targets in the implementation of most of the effects is glycogen synthase kinase 3β, a key enzyme in various pathological and protective signaling pathways in cells. However, one of the main limitations of the use of lithium salts in clinics is their narrow therapeutic window, and the risk of toxic side effects. This review presents the diversity of effects of lithium ions on the organism emphasizing their potential clinical applications with minimal undesirable side effects. In the end, we present a schematic “Lithiometer”, comparing the range of Li⁺ concentrations that might be used for the treatment of acute pathologies with possible toxic effects of Li⁺.     

Polarization and fluorescent microscopy —Simple methods for demonstrating pulmonary surfactant lipids

Summary Birefringence and fluorochrome lipid staining with benzpyrene are demonstrated as simple morphological methods to reveal the presence or absence of surfactant lipids in human newborn lung tissue. Lack of lipid birefringence proves to be an associated finding in the lungs of premature infants with hyaline membrane disease, indicating the possible pathogenetical importance of surfactant deficiency.     

A Simple Method for Preparation of 18α-Glycyrrhetinic Acid and Its Derivatives

Treatment of 18-glycyrrhizic acid with a methanolic solution of HCl resulted in 1 : 1 mixture of methyl esters of 18- and 18-glycyrrhetinic acids. Benzoylation of the mixture led to methyl esters of 3-benzoyl-18-glycyrrhetinic acid and 3-benzoyl-18-glycyrrhetinic acid, which were separated by chromatography on silica gel. 18-Glycyrrhetinic acid was prepared by alkaline hydrolysis of methyl 3-benzoyl-18-glycyrrhetinate and was further used for the syntheses of 3-keto-18-glycyrrhetinic acid and methyl esters of 18-glycyrrhetinic acid and 3-keto-18-glycyrrhetinic acid.     

DETERMINING DRUG SENSITIVITY—Use of the Gel Diffusion Method

A study was carried out to determine whether the double diffusion gel test when applied to the serum of patients with clear-cut penicillin reactions of various types, might be useful for demonstrating the presence of precipitating antibody. Results did not demonstrate the antibody.The difference in results with this test obtained by various workers was not explained by the observations in this study.Other approaches to determination of the mechanism of the penicillin reaction are discussed, and it is noted that the hemagglutination test, newly applied to the penicillin reaction problem, may be useful after further investigation.     

Insects and packaging — A review

This paper reviews the interactions of insects with food packaging, and measures which may be taken to limit damage.     

SERUM ENZYMES—Variations of Activity in Disease of Muscle

In a study of 58 patients with various diseases of muscle or of the neuromuscular system, the serum activity of various enzymes was measured. Abnormal elevation of serum activities of aldolase, lactic dehydrogenase and, to a lesser extent, glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase and phosphohexose isomerase, was an almost constant feature in patients with progressive muscular dystrophy. These elevations were very frequent in dermatomyositis, common in acute cerebral vascular accidents, and rarely seen in other neurological disorders. Abnormal serum activity of iso-citric dehydrogenase was not observed in the course of the present study.Supplementary protein feeding of patients with muscular dystrophy had no effect on serum enzyme activity, no consistent effect on urinary creatine excretion and no effect on the strength of the patient or the course of the disease.Dystrophic muscles from a dystrophic strain of mice showed a decrease in activity of lactic dehydrogenase and aldolase below that of control muscle and an increase of iso-citric dehydrogenase activity. These findings, taken with the differences in serum activities of lactic dehydrogenase, aldolase and isocitric dehydrogenase in the dystrophic animals, support the conclusion that dystrophic animals handle these soluble enzymes in quite different ways.     

DETERMINING BLOOD PRESSURE IN INFANTS—Use of the Flush Technique

The flush technique that recently has come into use is probably the most satisfactory method available for measuring blood pressures in infants and is of great aid in diagnosis of diseases associated with hypertension or hypotension. The method is practical and highly accurate. Readings obtained by this technique are not influenced by the width of the cuff, are usually higher at the wrist than at the ankle, and approximate the mean rather than the systolic blood pressure.     

Hypertension and Diabetes—A Toxic Combination

ObjectiveTo assess the relationship of diabetes and hypertension and the effect on cardiovascular outcomes.MethodsA review of the English-language literature regarding the effects of diabetes and hypertension published between January 1, 1980, and April 30, 2008, was performed.ResultsIn type 2 diabetes, the prevalence of hypertension due to both hyperglycemia and insulin resistance is increased. High insulin levels are associated with left ventricular hypertrophy and decreased ventricular function. The growth factor effects of insulin on the myocardium are worsened by hypertension. The diabetic hypertensive patient is exquisitely sensitive to blood pressure lowering as it relates to cardiac events and mortality. Because of this, the blood pressure goals for diabetic hypertensive patients are lower than those for their nondiabetic hypertensive peers. Cardiac events have a stronger association with systolic hypertension and the pulse pressure than with diastolic hypertension. The presence of microalbuminuria not only signifies a higher risk of developing diabetic nephropathy, but also increased mortality and incidence of cardiovascular events. Thus, when microalbuminuria is detected, intensification of hypertensive therapies, especially suppression of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, is essential.ConclusionThe effects of hypertension in persons with diabetes increase the frequency and severity of cardiac events, especially when microalbuminuria is present. (Endocr Pract. 2008;14:1031-1039)     

A Simple,Sensitive and Safe Method to Determine the Human α/β-Tryptase Genotype

The human tryptase locus on chromosome 16 contains one gene encoding only β-tryptase and another encoding either β-tryptase or the homologous α-tryptase, providing α:β gene ratios of 0∶4, 1∶3 or 2∶2 in the diploid genome, these genotypes being of potential clinical relevance in severe atopy. Using an EcoRV restriction site in α- but not β- tryptase, PCR products, spanning intron 1 to exon 5, were used to determine α/β-tryptase gene ratios using non-radioactive labels, including ethidium bromide labeling of all PCR products, and either digoxigenin-primer or DY682-primer labeling of only the final PCR cycle products. Sensitivity increased ∼60-fold with each final PCR cycle labeling technique. Ethidium bromide labeling underestimated amounts of α-tryptase, presumably because heteroduplexes of α/β-tryptase amplimers, formed during annealing, were EcoRV resistant. In contrast, both final PCR cycle labeling techniques precisely quantified these gene ratios, because only homoduplexes were labeled. Using the DY682-primer was most efficient, because PCR/EcoRV products could be analyzed directly in the gel; while digoxigenin-labeled products required transfer to a nitrocellulose membrane followed by immunoblotting. This technique for determining the α/β-tryptase genotype is sensitive, accurate, simple and safe, and should permit high-throughput screening to detect potential phenotype-genotype relations for α/β-tryptases, and for other closely related alleles.     

A Simple Multi-Gram Synthesis of 5′-Hydrogenphosphonates and 5′-Phosphorofluoridates of Sugar Modified Nucleosides

Abstract

Treatment of 3′-fluoro-3′-deoxythymidine (FLT), 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine (AZT) and 2′,3′-dideoxyadenosine (ddA) with tris(1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propyl)phosphite or phosphorous acid and N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide produced the corresponding nucleoside 5′-hydrogenphosphonates. Reaction of FLT, AZT and 3′-deoxythymidine (ddT) with fluorophosphoric acid and 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzenesulfonyl chloride lead to the corresponding nucleoside 5′-phosphorofluoridates also on a multi-gram scale. All the compounds were isolated in high pure state by chromatographic technique.     

A prourokinase-RGDS chimera——Construction, expression and characterization

A tetrapeptide, RGDS, was inserted into proUK kringle domain G118-L119 by the construction of a mutant proUK-RGDS gene. The gene was expressed in the baculovirus expression system. Immunoaffinity chromatography was used to purify the chimera and protein with purity over 90% was achieved. The chimera was tested for its platelet membrane binding function and showed a calcium-dependent platelet binding activity. Amidolytic activity of the chimera was tested. The result indicated that specific amidolytic activity of plasmin activated chimera was 62000 IU/mg, comparable to the previously reported 65 355 IU/mg of plasmin activated natural proUK. Activation of plasminogen by the chimera after plasmin treatment followed Micbieal-Menten kinetics, and the Km was 0.97 μmol/L, which was also comparable to 1.64 μmol/L of native urokinase. The chimera also showed intensive ability to inhibit platelet aggregation in vitro. These results indicate that this chimera might be useful as a bifunctional thrombolytic agent.     

Simple radioassay for uridine phosphorylase and 5′-nucleotidase

A simple micromethod was developed for the accurate measurement of the activity of uridine phosphorylase in the direction of both ribosylation and phosphorolysis. The technique was applicable also to the measurement of cytoplasmic 5′-nucleotidase. In this micromethod the radioactive products were separated from the substrates by electrophoresis on cellulose acetate membrane in 0.1 m borate buffer, pH 9.0, at 150 V for 40 min. These micromethods are highly sensitive and capable of utilizing small samples (4–30 μg protein); they are valid in crude tissue extracts of rat liver and hepatoma.