Formation of the Organization of Teratology Information Services (OTIS). The OTIS Executive Committee.
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Information Services↗
Biomedical subjects
J Frias
Publications and source records attributed to J Frias.
A new dynamic method for the rapid determination of the biodegradable dissolved organic carbon in drinking water.
A new method for the determination of biodegradable dissolved organic carbon (BDOC), which may be useful to the water industry, is proposed. It is a dynamic method that measures the BDOC of circulating water continuously pumped across a biofilm attached to a special support that fills a system of two glass columns. The BDOC value corresponds to the difference in DOC between inlet and outlet water samples. The sampling may be intermittent or continuous, but the process is continuous. The biofilms give good performances over periods of at least 1 year. The analytical results are not significantly different from those of other bioassays based on the use of indigenous bacteria and the total duration of analysis is between 2 and 3 h.
Bacteria↗
Influence of intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of ACTH (1-24) on plasma gonadotropin in female rats: dose-response study.
The intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of ACTH (1-24) (0.1, 1.0 and 2.5 micrograms) to adult conscious ovariectomized (OVX) rats caused a dose-related inhibition of plasma LH at 10 min postinjection. The ICV injection of ACTH (1-24) (2.5 micrograms) to OVX rats in the absence or presence of a single dose of estradiol benzoate (OVX + EB): a) Decreased significantly plasma LH levels in OVX rats at 10 and 30 min postinjection. b) Decreased significantly plasma LH levels in (OVX + EB) rats at 10 min but not at 30 min postinjection. c) Did not change plasma FSH levels at 10 or 30 min postinjection in both (OVX) or (OVX + EB) rats. d) Did not change plasma ACTH levels at 10 or 30 min postinjection in (OVX) rats. Our observation suggest that ACTH (1-24) inhibited plasma LH, possibly through brain sites of action.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
An evaluation of the efficacy of netobimin against Dicrocoelium dendriticum in sheep.
A trial was carried out to assess the efficacy of a nitrophenylguanidine compound, netobimin against Dicrocoelium dendriticum in naturally infected sheep. At a dose rate of 20 mg/kg bodyweight administered orally the drug was highly effective, producing a mean reduction of 98.9 per cent in the fluke burdens of treated animals compared with untreated controls. No side effects were observed in the treated sheep.
Animals↗
Aberrant cerebrospinal fluid pathway. Detection by scintigraphy.
Radionuclide cisternography is routinely performed for assessment of normal and abnormal pathways and the hydrodynamics of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). An unusual case of a woman in whom cisternography provided the diagnosis of an iatrosenic spinopleural fistula with a large CSF collection in the pleural cavity, following surgical resection of a vertebra for a malignant tumor is presented.
Adult↗
Fetal cerebrohepatorenal (Zellweger) syndrome: dysmorphic, radiologic, biochemical, and pathologic findings in four affected fetuses.
Four fetuses with positive family histories for cerebrohepatorenal (Zellweger) syndrome (CHRS) underwent diagnostic amniocentesis or chorionic villus biopsy. Cultured amniocytes or fibroblasts from all of the fetuses displayed abnormal fatty acid ratios, and the parents elected therapeutic abortions. Dysmorphic features in one fetus consisted of micrognathia, proximal implantation of toes, and bilateral talipes equinovarus. Radiologic examination of the fetus confirmed the dysmorphic features and revealed foci of mineralization in the patellae. Biochemical analysis of three of the fetuses demonstrated markedly increased levels of very-long-chain fatty acids, both saturated and monounsaturated, in liver, kidney, adrenal, and brain. Pathologic findings consisted of premature mineralization of patellae; renal cystic tubular dilations; striated cells in adrenal fetal zone and testicular interstitium; dysplastic alterations of inferior olivary nuclei, dentate nuclei, and cerebral cortex; equivocal increases in portal fibrous tissue; and abnormal cytosomes in fetal zone adrenocortical cells, testicular and renal interstitial cells, and brain macrophages. Iron deposition, probably physiologic, was observed only in liver tissue. Distributions of immunoreactive catalase were identical in the fetuses with CHRS and age-matched control subjects. These findings document the accuracy of the prenatal diagnostic test and provide insights into the morphogenesis and pathogenesis of CHRS.
Adrenal Glands↗
Parathyroid adenomas and hyperplasia. Dual radionuclide scintigraphy and bone densitometry studies.
Dual radionuclide imaging of the neck (Tc-99m pertechnetate and TI-201 thallous chloride) was performed in 22 patients with chemical evidence of hyperparathyroidism (elevated blood calcium and parathormone [PTH] levels). Of these, 19 of 22 had localization of a TI-201 "excess" area on radiothallium-radiotechnetium subtraction images. In 13 patients who have had operative confirmation at this writing, the dual radionuclide imaging was positive in 12 (12/13 = 92.3%). One patient had two parathyroid adenomas, both of which were seen on the images; thus, overall detection was 13 out of 14 or 92.8%. The parathyroid adenomas visualized weighed from 0.06 to 3.0 g; the one not detected weighed 0.25 g. In three patients with parathyroid hyperplasia secondary to renal disease, the subtraction imaging detected eight of 12 glands (66.7%). The forearm bone mineral content and bone density were determined in eight patients with parathyroid adenomas; results were abnormally low in five of these eight. One of the three patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism had an abnormally low radial bone mass. The combination of dual radionuclide imaging and radial bone mass determination may present a useful approach in both localizing abnormal parathyroid tissue and in examining its functional consequences.
Adenoma↗
Vitamin D metabolism and anticonvulsant therapy: effect of sunshine on incidence of osteomalacia.
To study the association between anticonvulsant therapy and osteomalacia or rickets, we evaluated 450 epileptic patients receiving anticonvulsants and residing in an institution for the mentally retarded in Florida. Fifty-five of them with increased mean serum alkaline phosphatase and mildly depressed mean serum calcium levels were identified as being at risk for having osteomalacia. None of them, however, had low serum levels of vitamin D (25[OH]D) or radiologic evidence of osteomalacia or rickets. In contrast to reports from northern climates, we found minimal evidence of anticonvulsant-induced bone disease. The study suggests that exposure to sunshine in our patients probably prevented the development of anticonvulsant-induced osteomalacia or rickets.
Adult↗
Effects of the cardiotonic drug ARL-115 on the release of noradrenaline from the cat atrium, the binding of 3H-ouabain to plasma membranes and the movements of calcium in mitochondria.
The cardiotonic pyridine derivative ARL-115 increased the spontaneous and electrically-evoked release of 3H-noradrenaline from the cat right atrium superfused with oxygenated Krebs-bicarbonate solution at 37 degrees C. On the contrary, ouabain inhibited the evoked release while it also enhanced the spontaneous release of the transmitter. Vanadate did not affect either spontaneous or evoked release. Tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA) and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) greatly potentiated 3H-noradrenaline release induced by electrical stimulation; when applied in addition to each agent, ARL-115 failed to further increase the secretory response. 3H-ouabain specific binding to partially purified bovine adrenal medulla plasma membranes was very efficiently antagonized by cold ouabain, but not by vanadate or ARL-115, even at concentrations as high as 10(-3) mol/l. 45Ca uptake into isolated bovine adrenal medulla mitochondria was prevented by dinitrophenol (DNP) but unchanged in the presence of ARL-115. 45Ca release from preloaded mitochondria was, again, markedly increased by DNP, but not affected by ARL-115. The results suggest that ARL-115 enhances the release of noradrenaline from cardiac sympathetic nerves by a TEA- and 4-AP-like action. In this manner, ARL-115 would inactivate the K+ current in the nerve terminals, thereby prolonging the duration of the action potential, allowing the Ca2+ channels to remain open longer and more Ca2+ to enter the terminal. ARL-115 is not acting like digitalis.
Adrenal Medulla↗
Polyamine concentrations in bone marrow aspirates of children with leukemia and other malignancies.
High-pressure liquid chromatography analysis of polyamines in bone narrow from leukemic and nonleukemic subjects demonstrated increased concentrations of putrescine, spermidine, and spermine associated with increased cellularity. The most striking abnormality was the marked elevation of putrescine. Bone marrow polyamine analysis may be an adjunct for evaluation of leukemia patients.
Bone Marrow↗
Polyamine metabolism in cystic fibrosis.
Increased blood levels of spermidine and an increased spermidine/spermine ratio is documented in 31 patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Some 29 percent of CF patients overlap with the control group. An abnormality of urinary free polyamines or their metabolic derivatives related to electrolyte transport, serum ciliostatic factors, and the autonomic nervous system are elaborated upon.
Animals↗
[Seckel's syndrome].
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Abnormalities, Multiple↗
[Rapid spread of edema in the nephrotic syndrome].
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Blood Transfusion↗
Cardiovascular involvement in a boy with Sweet's syndrome.
Acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis (Sweet's syndrome) is a rare disease in infancy. It may present in an isolated manner or be associated with diverse conditions. Only two children with postinflammatory slack skin who developed cardiovascular disease have been described to date, both of whom died from coronary artery occlusion. We report a boy with Sweet's syndrome and diffuse vascular disease involving the aorta and the supraaortic vessels, the pulmonary trunk, and the right coronary artery but without signs of coronary obstruction.
Aorta, Thoracic↗
Effects of acute alcohol intoxication on pituitary-gonadal axis hormones, pituitary-adrenal axis hormones, beta-endorphin and prolactin in human adults of both sexes.
- The effects of acute alcohol intoxication (AAI) on the pituitary-gonadal axis hormones, and the possible contribution of pituitary-adrenal axis hormones, beta-endorphin and prolactin to alcohol-induced dysfunction of pituitary-gonadal axis hormones were studied in adult men and women. Blood samples were drawn from adults of both sexes who arrived at the emergency department with evident behavioural symptoms of drunkenness (AAI) or from adult volunteers with nil consumption of alcohol (controls). Our results demonstrated that AAI produces a high increase in plasma prolactin, corticotropin (adrenocorticotropic hormone, ACTH), and cortisol in adults of both sexes, a decrease in luteinizing hormone levels only in men, an increase in dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEAS) and a contradictory behaviour of testosterone according to gender, with increased plasma testosterone in women and a decrease in men. ACTH and prolactin correlated positively with cortisol, DHEAS and testosterone in women, which suggests that prolactin and ACTH could contribute to stimulated adrenal androgen production. In contrast, the decrease in testosterone and increase in beta-endorphin in men suggests that AAI could have an inhibitory effect on testicular testosterone, perhaps mediated by beta-endorphin. Our results suggest that the effect of alcohol on pituitary-gonadal axis hormones in humans could depend on the gender and degree of sexual maturity of the individual.
Acute Disease↗
[Unstable angina. Analysis of admissions at the coronary unit].
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Aged↗