Controlled trial of methylprednisolone pulses and low dose oral prednisone for the minimal change nephrotic syndrome.

In a multicentre, randomised, prospective trial 89 patients (67 children and 22 adults) with the minimal change nephrotic syndrome were treated with three intravenous pulses of methylprednisolone followed by low dose oral prednisone for six months (group given methylprednisolone) or with high dose oral prednisone for four weeks followed by low dose oral prednisone for five months (control group). Five patients in the group given methylprednisolone and one in the control group did not respond initially. The time to response was shorter in children treated with methylprednisolone. No significant differences between the two groups were observed in the number of patients who relapsed or number of relapses per patient per year. Patients given methylprednisolone tended to relapse earlier than patients in the control group. Side effects related to treatment were significantly fewer in the group given methylprednisolone than in the control group. These data suggest that a short course of methylprednisolone pulses followed by low dose oral prednisone is only marginally less effective than a regimen of high dose oral steroids but can improve the ratio of risk to benefit associated with treatment of the minimal change nephrotic syndrome.     

Comparative mineral and hormonal analyses of wild type and TLS somaclonal variant derived from oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq. var. tenera) tissue culture

Comparative mineral and hormonal analyses were made on tissue culture derived truncated leaf syndrome and wild type oil palm seedlings. Mineral analysis confirmed that Boron, Zinc and chlorophyll levels were significantly lower in truncated leaf syndrome leaves than those of wild type. Hormonal analysis also revealed various cytokinin derivatives such as trans-zeatin, trans-zeatin riboside, trans-zeatin O-glucoside and trans-zeatin riboside 5??mono phosphate were significantly higher in truncated leaf syndrome leaves compared to wild type leaves. Brassinolide level was also significantly higher in truncated leaf syndrome leaves than those of the wild type. These observations suggest that the truncated leaf syndrome abnormality could be associated to high cytokinin and brassinosteroid production which affects the uptake of Boron and Zinc.     

Interspecific agonistic behaviour in small mammals in a Mexican high-elevational grassland

Field trials were conducted throughout an annual cycle to study the role of agonistic behaviour in explaining the relative abundance of the volcano mouse ( Neotomodon alstoni ) in a small mammal community in high-altitude grasslands of central Mexico. Intrasexual contests between N. alstoni and three other sympatric rodents ( Peromyscus melanotis, Microtus mexicanus, and Reithrodontomys megalotis ) were performed. Male and female P. melanotis (100 and 67% of contests, respectively) and M. mexicanus (82 and 100%) were aggressively dominant over N. alstoni , whereas R. megalotis (80 and 100%) were not aggressive. Agonistic behaviour in this species did not explain its greater abundance in the community.     

Diazepam metabolism by multiple forms of cytochrome P-450 in rat liver microsomes

The synthesis of pharmacologically active diazepam metabolites (oxazepam, 4-hydroxydiazepam, N-demethyldiazepam) in liver microsomes of intact and phenobarbital-, 3-methylcholanthrene- and dexamethasone-induced male and female Wistar rats as well as in a reconstituted system with isolated forms of cytochrome P-450 (P-450a, P-450b, P-450c, P-450d and P-450k according to the Ryan nomenclature) was studied. Marked sex-dependent differences in the rates of diazepam metabolism in liver microsomes of intact and induced animals were revealed. The changes in the spectrum of diazepam metabolites in liver microsomes of induced rats (as compared to control animals) were revealed. In a reconstituted system only phenobarbital-induced cytochromes P-450b and P-450k were found to be active participants of diazepam N-demethylation; none of the isoenzymes tested were shown to be involved in diazepam hydroxylation.     

Goldston syndrome: report of a case.

Cerebrohepatorenal malformation is a rare familial disorder characterized by typical renal lesions combined with Dandy-Walker malformation, and congenital hepatic fibrosis. In this case report, a male premie with the diagnosis of cerebrorenal syndrome or so called Goldston syndrome is presented. Besides the rarity of this syndrome, this case is the second reported patient diagnosed prenatally.     

Effect of Lanthanum on the Release of Acetylcholine from the Myenteric Plexus and on Its Activation by Ouabain and Electrical Stimulation

The effect of lanthanum ions (La3+) on the release of acetylcholine (ACh) from longitudinal muscle strips of the guinea pig ileum with the myenteric plexus attached was investigated. After an exposure of the tissue to 2 mM LaCl3 for 18 min the rate of ACh release was increased approximately eightfold and the increased release lasted for more than 100 min. The augmented release of ACh was accompanied by enhanced synthesis. At the end of the experiments (102 min after LaCl3 had been removed), when the release of ACh was still more than six times higher than in controls, the content of ACh was the same in La3+-treated and untreated tissues. Electrical field stimulation failed to cause a further increase in the release of ACh from La3+-pretreated preparations whereas ouabain released considerable more ACh when compared to controls. It is concluded from this difference that electrical stimulation and ouabain release ACh from different pools.