Multiple myeloma: a cluster in Virginia?
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M Ende.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
As the result of a renewed extensive investigation of clomethiazole (Distraneurin) metabolism five previously unknown metabolites could be isolated from human urine. Their structures were elucidated by mass spectrometry. Whereas previous investigations on the metabolism of clomethiazole had demonstrated changes only of the ethyl group, we now found metabolites attached to the methyl group, too. The newly isolated compounds 5-(1-hydroxy-2-chloroethyl)-4-methylthiazole (9) and 5-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-thiazole carboxylic acid lactone (5) were found to be more abundant in human urine than 4-methyl-5-thiazole acetic acid previously considered as the main metabolite.
With its classification as a disease, alcoholism became the physician's responsibility. Reviewing the rise of alcohol's status, the author comments on the efficacy of treatment today and advocates decisive changes.
After the consumption of quinine-containing beverages, quinine-N-oxide could be identified in the urine mass spectrometrically. Consequently in the analysis of physiological fluids for drugs not only the drugs themselves must be considered but also their metabolites.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Intake and fecal excretion of PCDDs, PCDFs, HCB and PCBs (IUPAC Nos. 138, 153, 180) were measured in a breast-fed and a formula-fed infant at the age of 1 and 5 months. As expected, the intake of these compounds was clearly higher in the breast-fed infant. In this baby an almost complete absorption was observed for lower chlorinated PCDDs and PCDFs and also for HCB and PCBs, whereas for hepta- and octachlorinated PCDDs and PCDFs fecal excretion was considerably higher (from 20% up to nearly 100% of the intake). Due to low concentrations in diet and feces of the formula-fed infant an evaluation was possible only for a few compounds at the age of 5 months. These values were in the same range when compared with those of the breast-fed infant. For collection of feces new cotton diapers were used which were pre-extracted in order to reduce the levels of polychlorinated compounds. Unexpectedly, after washing the tissue a much higher contamination was observed which made a calculation of fecal excretion rates in the formula-fed infant at the age of 1 month impossible.
Bone marrow has been used for a number of years to assist patients who have accidentally received potentially lethal levels of irradiation. The intent of the transplant is to replace the victim's own bone marrow that has been injured from the irradiation or to act as temporary support to allow the patient's own marrow to recover. Following the Chernobyl disaster, some victims received bone marrow that was HLA matched or partially matched. However, donor marrows were difficult to obtain in adequate numbers; as a substitute for bone marrow, frozen fetal liver cells were used as a source of hematopoietic stem cells. The use of fetal livers, however, was unsuccessful. Human umbilical cord blood, currently considered an excellent source of hematopoietic stem cells, was not used at Chernobyl. For several years, we have been able experimentally to keep SJL/J mice alive with the use of human umbilical cord blood after the animals received lethal levels of irradiation. This finding suggests that under certain conditions human cord blood does not have to be HLA matched to facilitate rescue from irradiation. In addition, there are reports of unmatched HLA cord blood being used successfully for marrow transplantation. If human cord blood does not have to be matched for HLA, there may be emergency cataclysmic circumstances where the availability of umbilical cord blood may be of considerable value. To simulate a clinical situation such as a nuclear accident, in which human cord blood might serve as a source of stem cells for marrow transplantation, we attempted to rescue immunocompetent mice after 900 cGY of irradiation with the use of (nonfrozen) human cord blood stored in a blood bank. The blood was stored under routine conditions (3-6 degrees C) for 5 and 7 days in special bags that allow transmission of oxygen. Following lethal levels of irradiation, the cord blood was administered to the animals and a significant survival rate was obtained.
The metabolism of DL-verapamil in man was studied after oral administration of an aqueous solution of DL-[14C]verapamil. Between 67 and 71% of the 14C administered was excreted in the urine within 5 days. Verapamil was extensively metabolized; only 3--4% of the dose was excreted in the urine as unchanged drug. Cleavage of the C--N--C bond by N-'dealkylation, preferentially at the C-atom belonging to the shorter side chain, was the main metabolic step. Verapamil and its N-dealkylated metabolites were further metabolized by O-demethylation. Inasmuch as approximately 10 times more of the metabolites formed from the tertiary amine verapamil are secondary amines than are primary amines, it would seem that N-dealkylation of this tertiary amine proceeds at a much higher rate than the N-dealkylation of the secondary amine metabolites to primary amine metabolites.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.