Effect of long-term treatment with guanfacine on selected humoral metabolic indices in patients with primary hypertension

An effect of the treatment with guanfacine on the activity of the adreno-sympathetic system, beta-thromboglobulin, beta-endorphin, and blood lipids was studied in 30 patients with the primary arterial blood hypertension. It was found that guanfacine significantly decreases plasma noradrenaline, adrenaline, and dopamine. Moreover, it decreases the excretion of noradrenaline, adrenaline and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenylglycol. These effects correlate with the drop in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. A decrease in plasma renin activity was also observed. It correlated with the blood pressure drops. Guanfacine increased beta-endorphin levels while beta-thromboglobulin, total cholesterol and triglycerides levels remained unaffected. The authors suggest that the hypotensive effect of guanfacine is related to the decrease in adreno-sympathetic system activity and plasma renin activity and no effect on the erythrocyte activity and lipids metabolism.     

Pharmacokinetic disposition of pethidine under tolerance

Under tolerance, evoked by multiple doses of pethidine (PD), the serum and brain tissue content of PD was related to diminished analgesic activity. Even though in tolerant rats no enhancement of PD biotransformation in the liver could be recognized (as followed by the measurement of hepatic esterase and N-demethylase activity), the amounts of both PD and nor-PD excreted in urine were increased under tolerance. The authors conclude that the faster disposition of PD may contribute to the development of tolerance.     

Application of the Fröhlich theory to the modelling of rouleau formation in human erythrocytes

The details of Fröhlich's theory and some recent experiments on the rouleau formation of human erythrocytes which exhibit a strong interaction that appears to satisfy the prerequisites of the Fröhlich theory, are summarized. To verify whether the Fröhlich theory of long-range coherence in biological systems is applicable to the phenomenon of rouleau formation in human erythrocytes, the interactions between erythrocytes are modelled as those between two large, coupled oscillating dipoles. Relevant expressions for the resonant long-range and the van der Waals interaction are then derived. Using the available numerical data, the eigenfrequencies and the interaction energies corresponding to the experimental conditions are then derived. In the range of postulated frequencies (10¹¹–10¹² Hz) the effective interaction coefficient due to the resonant long-range forces is, indeed, found to agree with its experimental value of 3.0. However, the same value of can also be achieved through the ordinary van der Waals interactions between dipoles oscillating at lower frequencies. It is concluded that the resonant long-range interaction between erythrocytes may be responsible for the onset of rouleau formation. However, other mechanisms cannot be ruled out at this stage, especially since the Fröhlich mechanism requires a number of unconfirmed preconditions.     

Studies on some specific Ap4A-degrading enzymes with the use of various methylene analogues of P1P4-bis-(5'',5''''''-adenosyl) tetraphosphate.

Six new methylenephosphonate analogues of P1P4-bis-(5',5'-adenosyl) tetraphosphate, Ap4A, having P2-P3 carbon bridges CF2, CCl2 and CH2CH2 or P1-P2 and P3-P4 carbon bridges CF2, CCl2 and CH2CH2 in the tetraphosphate chain, were examined as substrates or inhibitors for two specific Ap4A-degrading enzymes: (asymmetrical) Ap4A hydrolase (EC 3.6.1.17) from yellow-lupin seeds and (symmetrical) Ap4A hydrolase (EC 3.6.1.41) from Escherichia coli. All analogues in which the central oxygen atom was replaced by a stable carbon bridge were hydrolysed by the asymmetrical hydrolase (CF2 greater than CCl2 greater than O greater than CHBr greater than CH2 greater than CH2CH2). As expected, these analogues were not hydrolysed by the symmetrical hydrolase, which was also unable to act on analogues having P1-P2 and P3-P4 carbon bridges.     

Dynamics of changes in the cardiovascular response to submaximal exercise during low-intensity endurance training with particular reference to the systolic time intervals

Eighteen male volunteers (aged 20-23 years), not involved in any sporting activities, were submitted to 13 weeks of training consisting of 30 min exercise [at 50%-75% maximal oxygen intake (VO2max)] on a cycle ergometer, performed 3 times a week. Every 4 weeks cardiac function was evaluated by measuring the systolic time intervals at rest and during submaximal cycle exercise. Stroke volume (SV), heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) responses to submaximal exercise, VO2max and anaerobic threshold (AT) were also determined. Significant increases in VO2max, increases in AT and SV at the submaximal exercise intensities, as well as decreases in HR and BP were found after 4 weeks of training. Resting systolic time intervals were not affected by training, but during the submaximal cycle exercise the values of the pre-ejection period (PEP) and isovolumic contraction time (ICT) corresponding to HR of 100 beats.min-1 were significantly lowered after 13 weeks of training, whereas PEP, ICT and total electromechanical systole corresponding to HR of 130 beats.min-1 were significantly shortened by the 4th week. The ratios of PEP:LVET (left ventricular ejection time) and ICT:LVET during submaximal exercise were significantly lowered by training starting from the 8th week. These changes might be interpreted as evidence of the training-induced enhancement of the "contractility reserve", i.e. the ability to increase heart muscle contractility with increasing exercise intensity.     

Effects of tin and lead on organ levels of essential minerals in rabbits

The effect of tin and lead on levels of essential metals (Zn, Cu, Ca, Fe) in rabbit tissues was compared in relation to the route of administration. Animals received intraperitoneally, or per os, SnCl2 (2 mg Sn/kg) or Pb(CH3COO)2 (3.5 mg Pb/kg) every day for 5 d or for 1 mo. Copper, zinc, iron, and calcium were determined by AAS in the liver, kidneys, spleen, brain, bone marrow, and blood; lead and tin concentration were measured in the blood of animals. Tin and lead administered per os caused either no changes or the decreased concentration of endogenous metals in several tissues. The other route of administration (ip) of both metals generally contributed to the increased storage of essential elements. Blood tin levels of tin treated animals were only about less than or equal to 1/10 of blood lead concentrations of rabbits exposed to lead.     

Fine structure of muscles in the tickHyalomma (Hyalomma) dromedarii (Ixodoidea: Ixodidae)

Skeletal and visceral muscles are distinguished in the unfed nymphHyalomma (Hyalomma) dromedarii according to position, structure and function. The skeletal muscles include the capitulum, dorsoventral and leg oblique muscles. Their muscle fibres have the striated pattern of successive sarcomeres whose thick myosin filaments are surrounded by orbitals of up to 12 thin actin filaments. The cell membrane invaginates into tubular system (T) extending deeply into the sarcoplasm and closely associated to cisternae of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). The T and SR forming two-membered dyads are considered to be the main route of calcium ions whose movements are synchronized with the motor impulse to control contraction and relaxation in most muscles. Two types of skeletal muscle fibres are recognized, and are suggested as representing different physiological phases.In the visceral-muscle fibres investing tick internal organs, the actin and myosin filaments are slightly interrupted, and the T and SR are well demonstrated. Both skeletal and visceral muscles are invaginated by tracheoles and innervated by nerve-axons containing synaptic vesicles.     

Immunohistology of gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors

DAKO quick staining kits were used to immunostainings for Epithelial Membrane Antigen (EMA) Neuron Specific Enolase (NSE) and S-100 protein (S-100) in 18 carcinoid tumors of the gastrointestinal tract classified according to Soga and Tazawa. EMA was always absent in carcinoid tumors, being at the same time present within glandular epithelium. 88% of cases showed positive immunostaining for NSE. S-100 immunostaining showed immunopositive stellate cells present within the tumor especially within type A carcinoids. In addition in one carcinoid tumor thick, strongly S-100 positive bundles were noticed at the periphery of nests of tumor cells. Combined immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies are needed to elucidate interrelation of neoplastic and neural elements within carcinoid tumorsa.     

Coexpression of vimentin and desmin in gastric leiomyomas. An immunohistochemical study in paraffin sections

The aim of the study was to evaluate the incidence of the reactions for vimentin and desmin in gastric leiomyomas routinely processed in formalin and embedded i paraffin. The material studied included four benign leiomyomas, seven malignant leiomyomas and three malignant epithelioid leiomyomas. A positive reaction to vimentin was found in 13 out 14 leiomyomas under study. The number of neoplastic cells showing vimentin expression was larger in malignant, especially epithelioid leiomyomas than in non-malignant leiomyomas. A positive reaction for desmin in neoplastic cells was found in 9 leiomyomas 64%. One non-malignant leiomyoma showed a moderate reaction. In the remaining eight cases the reaction was weak and occurred in single neoplastic cells. Coexpression of vimentin and desmin in neoplastic cells occurred in 8 out of 9 leiomyomas with a positive reaction for desmin. Coexpression of vimentin and desmin occurred also in the smooth muscle cells of blood vessels in all 14 cases. A weak reaction for desmin or its lack in the tumour cells of leiomyomas with its marked expression in the smooth muscle cells of the blood vessels and gastric wall outside the tumor points rather to a small number of desmin filaments in the neoplastic cells than to their destruction by fixation in formalin. The occurrence of the reaction to desmin only in a limited number of neoplastic cells questions the reliability of its use in the oligopiopsy material.