We have previously identified alterations of K+ channel function, IP3-mediated calcium release, and Cp20 (a memory-associated GTP binding protein) in fibroblasts from AD patients vs. controls. In the present study we introduce a scoring system based on these response alterations that integrates two or more alterations (and their degree) in AD vs. control fibroblasts. This scoring system generates an index that distinguishes AD patients from controls with both high specificity and sensitivity. We also show that low doses of bradykinin elicit intracellular calcium release almost exclusively in AD cell lines in an all or none fashion that provide a clear measurement of enhanced IP3-mediated function in AD vs. controls.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Treatment of sudden deafness with sodium salts of triiodobenzoic acid derivatives.

Twenty-two patients with a complaint of sudden deafness were treated with one of the other of two radiopaque contrast media, 9 received daily doses of sodium iothalamate, and 13 were treated similarly with methylglucamine and sodium iodamide. Four of the first group and eight of the second demonstrated either an effective partial or a complete recovery of hearing function. Those failing to respond were generally classified completely deaf at admission and report nausea, vomiting, or vertigo at onset of sudden deafness. Treatment with sodium salts of triiodobenzoic acid derivatives, i.e., sodium iothalamate and methylglucamine and sodium iodamide, is judged to be effective in selected cases of sudden deafness.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Blocking effect of radio-contrast media on cochlear depression.

Furosemide injection was used in a total of 72 guinea pigs to induce a cochlear dysfunction similar to the sensorineural loss associated with sudden deafness. Prior to the furosemide administration, 38 of the animals were treated with an injection of one of four radio-contrast media; methylglucamine and sodium diatrizoate, sodium iothalamate, methylglucamine and sodium iodamide, and methylglucamine diatrizoate. In the control animals, receiving only furosemide, both endocochlear potential (EP) and cochlear microphonic (CM) underwent a severe depression followed by recovery and subsequent secondary depression. Animals pretreated with one of the first three compounds showed little or no EP or CM depression. Animals pretreated with the fourth, methylglucamine diatrizoate, showed the same EP depression as the control animals. The possible mechanism for this blocking effect and its significance in the clinical treatment of sudden deafness is discussed.

Animals↗