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Biomedical subjects

D L Kaiser

Publications and source records attributed to D L Kaiser.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Endogenous prostaglandins modulate autoregulation of renal blood flow in young rats.

After uninephrectomy in the young rat, renal blood flow (RBF) increases at normal renal perfusion pressure (RPP) but not at reduced RPP. To evaluate the role of endogenous prostaglandins on these effects, RBF was measured during reduction in RPP in rats that were uninephrectomized within 1 wk of age and studied at 33-41 days of age. After acute cyclooxygenase inhibition, autoregulation improved; RBF was unchanged at normal RPP but increased at lower pressures with concomitant decrease in renal venous plasma renin activity (PRA). Prostaglandin inhibition also improved autoregulatory efficiency in acutely uninephrectomized and sham-operated young rats. Infusion of a thromboxane synthesis inhibitor had no effect on the pressure-flow relationship or on PRA, whereas angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition increased RBF at all measured RPP without affecting autoregulation. We conclude that increased RBF at normal RPP in the uninephrectomized young rat is not maintained by increased prostaglandin synthesis or decreased thromboxane- or angiotensin-dependent vasoconstriction. However, by maintaining increased vasoconstriction at reduced RPP, prostaglandin-dependent renin release reduces autoregulatory efficiency in the young rat.

Animals↗

Morphologic correlates of renal growth arrest in neonatal partial ureteral obstruction.

To investigate the morphologic correlates of decreased renal blood flow and growth arrest resulting from chronic partial ureteral obstruction in the neonate, guinea pigs were subjected to unilateral ureteral constriction within the first 2 days of life and were studied at 3 and 8 wk of age. Severity of histologic changes in the obstructed and intact contralateral kidney was assessed by light microscopy. Morphometric glomerular measurements were made using a computerized tracing device. Since contralateral nephrectomy or administration of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (enalapril) result in increased blood flow to the obstructed kidney, morphologic changes were also examined in separate groups of animals subjected to these maneuvers, and were compared to appropriate controls. Ipsilateral chronic partial ureteral obstruction resulted in decreased glomerular volume (p less than 0.0001) and increased glomerular crowding associated with tubular dilatation and progressive glomerular sclerosis, tubular atrophy, and interstitial fibrosis. The intact contralateral kidney underwent hypertrophy with increase in glomerular volume (p less than 0.0001) and decreased glomerular density. Contralateral nephrectomy prevented the decrease in glomerular volume in the obstructed kidney and resulted in decreased glomerular density and reduced tubular atrophy at 3 wk of age. Enalapril prevented the decrease in glomerular volume at 3 wk of age, but glomerular and tubular changes progressed and were unaffected by enalapril at 8 wk. Left kidney glomerular volume was directly related to renal blood flow (r = 0.71, p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Effects of sex and age on the 24-hour profile of growth hormone secretion in man: importance of endogenous estradiol concentrations.

We undertook a study of the separate and combined effects of age and sex on the pulsatile pattern of GH secretion. The 24-h secretory profile of GH was generated by 20-min sampling in 10 young women (aged 18-33 yr), 10 young men (aged 18-33 yr), 8 postmenopausal women (aged greater than 55 yr), and 8 older men (aged greater than 55 yr). A computer-assisted pulse analysis program was used to assess both total GH secretion, as reflected in the 24-h integrated GH concentration (IGHC), and pulsatile secretion, as denoted by pulse frequency, duration, amplitude, and the fraction of GH secreted in pulses during the 24-h period (FGHP). IGHC was significantly greater in women than in men (P less than 0.025) and greater in the young than in the old (P less than 0.003). The mean pulse amplitude, duration, and FGHP were each greater in the young (P less than 0.006, P less than 0.03, and P less than 0.0001, respectively), but not significantly different between the sexes. The mean pulse frequency was not affected by sex or age. The serum concentration of free estradiol, but not free testosterone, correlated with IGHC (r = 0.46; P less than 0.005), pulse amplitude (r = 0.53; P less than 0.001), and FGHP (r = 0.59; P less than 0.0002). After correcting for the effects of estradiol, neither sex nor age influenced IGHC or mean pulse amplitude, while the effect of age on FGHP was reduced from 81% to 29%. Of the indices of GH secretion, FGHP had the strongest correlation (r = 0.43; P less than 0.006) with somatomedin-C. Somatomedin-C declined significantly with age in both sexes. Our results indicate that sex and age have independent and interrelated effects on GH secretion. These effects can be largely accounted for by corresponding variations in endogenous estradiol levels. These observations suggest an amplifying action of estradiol on the neuroendocrine regulation of pulsatile GH release.

Adolescent↗

Role of dopamine in the regulation of growth hormone secretion: dopamine and bromocriptine augment growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone-stimulated GH secretion in normal man.

The role of the dopaminergic system and its interaction with GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) in the regulation of GH secretion was investigated in normal men in two complementary studies. The men were given continuous iv infusions of 0.15 M saline (5 h), dopamine (4 micrograms/kg X min; 1 h), GHRH (2 ng/kg X min; 2 h), and GHRH (2 ng/kg X min; 2 h) plus dopamine (4 micrograms/kg X min; 1 h) on four separate occasions, and serum GH responses were measured. In a second study, on separate days, placebo or bromocriptine (2.5 mg/dose) was administered, and GH and PRL responses to a single iv GHRH dose were measured. A continuous infusion of dopamine and GHRH on separate days stimulated GH secretion in all subjects. The mean integrated GH secretion was 13.2 +/- 3.1 (+/- SEM) ng/mL X h during the dopamine infusion and 14.7 +/- 4.6 during GHRH, compared with 1.7 +/- 0.4 during the saline infusion. The combination of GHRH and dopamine resulted in the greatest stimulation of GH secretion (29.8 +/- 5.7 ng/ml X h; P less than 0.05 vs. 3 other study days). The oral dopamine agonist bromocriptine also augmented GHRH-stimulated GH secretion. Integrated GH secretion after a single iv injection of GHRH following two doses of bromocriptine was 160 +/- 29.5 ng/ml X h compared with 81.3 +/- 22.2 after placebo (P = 0.04). We suggest that these findings are compatible with the hypothesis that dopamine inhibits hypothalamic somatostatin secretion, which then allows for a greater stimulatory effect of GHRH.

Adult↗

Prolonged effect of inhaled glycopyrrolate in asthma.

Glycopyrrolate, a quaternary ammonium anticholinergic compound is a potentially useful bronchodilator. To determine the efficacy, optimal dose, and duration of action of inhaled glycopyrrolate, we gave the drug to 11 asthmatic patients. Each subject received placebo or glycopyrrolate (100, 200, 600, or 1,200 micrograms) by inhalation in a double-blind, randomized, crossover design. Measurements included FEV1, FVC, heart rate, and blood pressure before administration of the drug and periodically for 12 hours. For eight hours following all doses of glycopyrrolate, both FEV1 and FVC (both as percent of predicted) were significantly greater for drug than for placebo. Glycopyrrolate may be a useful long-acting drug for the treatment of asthma.

Adolescent↗

Seroepidemiology of hepatitis D (delta agent) and hepatitis B among Virginia State prisoners.

A serosurvey of hepatitis D (HDV) and hepatitis B (HBV) was conducted in an asymptomatic population of newly incarcerated prison inmates in Virginia. Of 459 men entering the prison, 445 provided both sera and demographic and personal information. Six (1.3%) had antibody to HDV (anti-HDV). Evidence of past infection with HBV was found in 146 (32.8%); 9 (2.0%) were positive for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg). HBV seropositivity correlated with intravenous drug abuse, nonwhite race, and tattoos acquired in prison. Sera obtained after an interval of seven to ten months revealed seroconversion to anti-HDV in one of two HBsAg-positive men who admitted to parenteral drug use while incarcerated. Because he had been incarcerated elsewhere for more than one year before entering this prison, it is concluded that HDV transmission occurred in prison. The association of HDV infection with progression to chronic active and fulminant hepatitis suggests that serologic surveillance of HBsAg-positive inmates may be indicated for identification of possible HDV index cases.

Adolescent↗

The relationship between surgeon experience and endometritis after cesarean section.

We studied 294 primary cesarean section and repeat cesarean section deliveries with premature rupture of membranes which occurred over a two year period to determine if an association existed between postoperative endometritis and the level of physician training. The results of preliminary analysis revealed that a relationship existed between the level of physician training and the presence of endometritis (p less than 0.01). Endometritis rates for patients under the care of attending physicians, chief residents and residents serving as the primary surgeon were six, 13 and 24 per cent, respectively. Stepwise discriminant function analysis allowed us to account for the contribution of independent risk factors for endometritis. When surgeon experience was evaluated with other risk factors, the presence of a resident serving as the lead surgeon and the age of the patient were the only significant predictors of endometritis (p = 0.046 and 0.007, respectively). The clinical and biologic relevance of the actual age difference between infected and noninfected patients (22 years for infected patients versus 25 years for noninfected patients) is not readily apparent. However, in this study, the identification of a resident acting as a lead surgeon has been shown to be a new independent risk factor for predicting endometritis. This study demonstrates the need for the evaluation of training programs for residents who serve as the principal surgeon for patients who underwent cesarean section.

Adult↗

Has monitoring of the contralateral breast improved the prognosis in patients treated for primary breast cancer?

Bilateral breast cancer has a cumulative incidence of about 7% in patients with primary operable breast cancer, and most of these lesions are metachronous. Most retrospective studies have shown that a majority of these patients have invasive cancer in the second breast, and varying percentages have nodal metastases, which may be of a higher stage than the first cancer. Physicians are now more aware of the importance of careful monitoring of the second breast after ipsilateral mastectomy, and improvements have been made in mammographic surveillance. A retrospective, comparative analysis of two separate breast cancer populations at risk for bilateral breast cancer was done on patients who entered into the system before effective mammographic monitoring (BEM) and after effective mammographic monitoring (AEM). The first group of patients consisted of 500 consecutive patients with primary breast cancer diagnosed during the years 1969 through 1975, of whom 37 (7.4%) had bilateral breast cancer. The second group consisted of 557 consecutive patients diagnosed during the years 1977 through 1984, of whom 36 (6.5%) had bilateral breast cancer. The staging percentages of the second breast cancer in the BEM group were Stage 0, 5.4%; Stage I, 48.6%; Stage II, 10.8%; Stage III, 21.6%; and Stage IV, 13.5%. The second group had an improvement in stage, with 33.3% being Stage 0, 22.2% Stage I, 29.6% Stage II, 3.7% Stage III, and 3.7% Stage IV (P less than 0.05). The median interval between primary lesions was 39 months in the first group and 19 months in the second group (in part, this difference may represent increased identification of synchronous cancers). The second breast cancer was undetected by mammography in 9 of 34 (26%) patients. Six were detected by contralateral biopsy (all were lobular carcinomas in situ), and three were found by clinical examination (all were invasive cancers). It was concluded that more aggressive monitoring of the second breast by frequent clinical examination, mammography, and selected contralateral biopsy appears to have increased the early detection rate of second breast cancers in patients under observation.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Prevention of natural colds by contact prophylaxis with intranasal alpha 2-interferon.

We conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study to determine whether intranasal alpha 2-interferon could prevent respiratory illnesses in healthy contacts of ill family members. Beginning within 48 hours of the onset of illness in a family member, contacts self-administered interferon (5 X 10(6) IU) or placebo spray once daily for seven days. Respiratory illness developed during the eight-day period, starting with the second day of spraying, in 52 of 222 persons in the placebo group as compared with 32 of 226 in the interferon group (P = 0.02; efficacy, 39 percent). Among persons exposed to laboratory-documented rhinovirus colds, illness developed in 2 of 27 interferon recipients as compared with 12 of 34 placebo recipients (P = 0.02; efficacy, 79 percent). During the two-week period during and after spraying, rhinovirus colds developed in 1.3 percent of those spraying with interferon and in 15.1 percent of those spraying with placebo (P = 0.003; efficacy, 88 percent). Blood-tinged mucus or nasal mucosal bleeding or both were detected in 7.7 percent of placebo and 13.6 percent of interferon users (P = 0.04), but no evidence of cumulative nasal toxicity was found. We conclude that postexposure prophylaxis with intranasal interferon may in some cases provide an effective strategy for controlling the spread of natural colds, especially those caused by rhinoviruses.

Administration, Intranasal↗

Increased renal cortical echogenicity in pediatric renal disease: histopathologic correlations.

Retrospective comparisons between sonographic renal cortical echogenicity and the results of renal biopsies were made for 65 pediatric patients ranging in age from neonate to 18 years. There was a positive correlation between an increase in renal cortical echoes and interstitial infiltration as well as with glomerular obsolescence, tubular atrophy, and vascular changes. Since the sonographic changes were heterogeneous in origin, they are not specific. The sonographic findings also correlated positively with the clinical severity of disease. However, the heterogeneous origins of the sonographic finding and the absence of strong correlations indicate that gray-scale sonography cannot act as a prognostic index of the type or severity of disease in pediatric patients.

Adolescent↗

The effect of intravenous, subcutaneous, and intranasal GH-RH analog, [Nle27]GHRH(1-29)-NH2, on growth hormone secretion in normal men: dose-response relationships.

A 29 amino acid analog of growth hormone releasing hormone (GH-RH)-40 was given intravenously, subcutaneously, and intranasally to normal men to determine its effectiveness in stimulating growth hormone (GH) release. The GH-RH analog, [Nle27]GH-RH(1-29)-NH2, is an amidated 29 amino acid peptide that has one amino acid substitution at position 27. This peptide stimulates GH secretion when given by the intravenous, subcutaneous, and intranasal routes without adverse effect. The degree of GH stimulation was variable among subjects and the greatest amount of stimulation occurred with the highest doses. GH stimulation occurred in a dose-responsive manner after all three routes of administration. A tenfold higher subcutaneous dose was required to stimulate a comparable amount of GH secretion as compared with intravenous administration, and a thirtyfold higher intranasal than intravenous dose was required to stimulate approximately one fifth the amount of GH release. For comparison, one dose of GH-RH-40, 1 microgram/kg, was administered intravenously. GH secretion after 1 microgram/kg GH-RH-40 and 1 microgram/kg Nle27 GH-RH was comparable between the two groups of subjects. Stimulation of GH secretion by Nle27 GH-RH occurred within 5 minutes of intravenous and within 10 minutes of subcutaneous and intranasal administration; peak GH levels were observed within 30 minutes. GH levels declined and returned to near baseline levels 2 hours after administration of the analog.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Intranasal↗

The prevalence and clinical significance of residual myocardial ischemia 2 weeks after uncomplicated non-Q wave infarction: a prospective natural history study.

Despite having smaller infarct size and better left ventricular function, patients with non-Q wave myocardial infarction (NQMI) appear to have an unexpectedly high long-term mortality that is ultimately comparable to that of patients with Q-wave myocardial infarction (QMI). Patients with NQMI may lose their initial prognostic advantage because there is more viable tissue in the perfusion zone of the infarct-related vessel, rendering myocardium more prone to reinfarction. We tested this hypothesis in a prospective study of 241 consecutive patients 65 years of age or younger with acute uncomplicated myocardial infarction confirmed by creatine kinase levels (MB fraction). All patients received customary care and none underwent thrombolytic therapy or emergency angioplasty. Predischarge coronary angiography, radionuclide ventriculography, 24 hr Holter monitoring, and quantitative thallium-201 (201T1) scintigraphy during treadmill exercise were performed 10 +/- 3 days after infarction. Infarcts were designated as QMI (n = 154) or NQMI (n = 87) by accepted criteria applied to serial electrocardiograms obtained on days 1, 2, 3, and 10. The baseline Norris coronary prognostic index, angiographic jeopardy scores, and prevalence of Lown grade ventricular arrhythmias were similar between groups despite evidence for less necrosis with NQMI vs QMI, reflected by lower peak creatine kinase levels (520 vs 1334 IU/liter; p = .0001, 4 hr sampling), higher resting left ventricular ejection fraction (53% vs 46%; p = .0001), fewer akinetic or dyskinetic segments (1.2 vs 2.4; p = .0001), and fewer persistent 201Tl defects in the infarct zone (0.9 vs 1.9; p = .0001). Patients with NQMI also had more patent infarct-related vessels (54% vs 25%; p less than .0001) and a shorter time from onset of infarction to peak creatine kinase level (16.9 vs 22.5 hr; p = .0001). Importantly, the prevalence and extent of quantitatively determined 201Tl redistribution within the infarct zone on exercise scintigraphy was greater in patients with NQMI vs those with QMI (60% vs 36%, p = .007; and 0.98 vs 0.53 myocardial segments, p = .0003); when the two groups were stratified on the basis of the infarct-related vessel, subset analysis revealed the same findings. During 30 months median follow-up, cardiac mortality was low, 8.4% in the QMI group and 9.2% in the NQMI group (p = NS).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adult↗

Postinfarction ventricular septal rupture: the importance of location of infarction and right ventricular function in determining survival.

Over a 5.5 year period, 1264 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction as confirmed by enzyme levels were prospectively identified. Of these, 25 (2%) suffered ventricular septal rupture (pulmonary/systemic flow range 1.5 to 6) 7 +/- 7 days after onset of myocardial infarction. Death occurred in 14 patients (56%) and was more common after inferior than anterior myocardial infarction (11 of 15 [73%] vs three of 10 [30%], p less than .05). Among 133 variables analyzed, survivors and nonsurvivors were similar with respect to all premorbid clinical characteristics, infarct size as assessed by peak creatine kinase values, shunt size, two-dimensional echocardiographic and hemodynamic indexes of left ventricular function, and extent of coronary disease. Compared with survivors, the nonsurvivors had greater impairment of right ventricular function as determined by a higher two-dimensional echocardiographically derived right ventricular wall motion index (RVWMI) (0.55 +/- 0.87 vs 1.70 +/- 0.45, p less than .001), greater elevation of right ventricular end-diastolic pressure (11 +/- 6 vs 17 +/- 6, p less than .02), and greater mean right atrial pressure (10 +/- 6 vs 16 +/- 3, p less than .01). Of interest, two of the three patients who presented with anterior myocardial infarction and who died had inferiorly extended infarcts and all had abnormal RVWMIs (greater than or equal to 1.0). As expected, cardiogenic shock shortly after onset of ventricular septal rupture was associated with a 91% mortality, but was more common after inferior than anterior myocardial infarction (60% vs 20%, p less than .05). The mean effective cardiac index was also higher in survivors than nonsurvivors (2.1 +/- 0.5 vs 1.2 +/- 0.5, p less than .001). Finally, multivariate analysis indicated that all nonsurvivors could be identified based on: an effective cardiac index of 1.75 liters/min/m2 or less, the presence of extensive right ventricular and septal dysfunction on the two-dimensional echocardiogram, a mean right atrial pressure of 12 mm Hg or more, and early onset of ventricular septal rupture. Thus, our data demonstrate that: mortality is higher when ventricular septal rupture complicates inferior than when it complicates anterior myocardial infarction, survivors can be distinguished from nonsurvivors and the prediction of outcome is highly accurate, and combined right ventricular and septal dysfunction has a substantial impact on prognosis.

Adult↗

The effect of androgens on the pulsatile release and the twenty-four-hour mean concentration of growth hormone in peripubertal males.

Oxandrolone (Ox) and testosterone (T) are used as growth-promoting agents in the therapy of boys with constitutional delay of growth and adolescence. Although the mechanism of action of these androgens is not known, it is recognized that T enhances GH release during GH stimulation tests. We studied the effects of T and Ox on the mean concentration of GH, the pattern of GH secretion, and somatomedin-C (SmC) concentrations in boys with short stature and/or delayed sexual development to determine whether their growth-promoting effects might be mediated through endogenous GH release. Ten boys received Ox (0.1 mg/kg . day, orally) for 65 +/- 5 days (mean +/- SD), and five boys received T propionate (7.5 mg, im, for 7 days), followed by T enanthate (100 mg, im, monthly for 3 months). Serum GH was measured in samples obtained at 20-min intervals for 24 h before and 65 +/- 5 days (mean +/- SD) after the initiation of therapy. SmC levels were measured twice during the same 24-h period before and 65 +/- 5 days (mean +/- SD) after initiation of therapy. In the boys treated with T, there were significant increases in the mean concentration of GH (mean increase, 4.3-fold; range, 2-12), in the number of GH pulses 10 ng/ml or greater [1.6 +/- 2.0 vs. 4.8 +/- 1.5/24 h (mean +/- SD)], and in the SmC levels [0.82 +/- 0.46 vs. 2.3 +/- 0.4 mu/ml (mean +/- SD)]. There were, however, no significant changes in the boys treated with Ox. Both Ox and T significantly improved the growth rates; however, T increased the growth rate by 0.95 +/- 0.24 (mean +/- SD) cm/months, and Ox increased the growth rate by 0.24 +/- 0.26 (mean +/- SD) cm/month. These results indicate that T, but not Ox, at the doses tested increases GH secretion in boys with short stature and/or delayed sexual development. This increase in GH secretion may contribute to the increased growth rate in males at puberty.

Adolescent↗

Dual effects of growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone infusion in normal men: somatotroph desensitization and increase in releasable GH.

Continuous infusion of human GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) stimulates GH secretion in normal subjects, but a single supramaximal iv dose of GHRH thereafter elicits a diminished serum GH response compared to that after a saline infusion; the response to the single dose challenge is inversely related to the dose of GHRH previously infused. To determine if this attenuated GH response is a result of depletion of available GH or desensitization of the somatotroph, a 6-h infusion of saline or GHRH (10 ng/kg . min) was administered to 10 normal men, and an iv bolus dose of either GHRH (3.3 micrograms/kg) or regular insulin (0.15 U/kg) was given after 5.5 h of infusion. On both days of GHRH infusion, there was significant stimulation of GH secretion compared to that after saline infusion. The GH response to the supramaximal dose of GHRH was greater after saline infusion than after GHRH infusion, and the GH response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia was significantly greater after GHRH infusion compared with the responses on the other 3 study days. The greatest GH secretion occurred during GHRH infusion followed by insulin administration; therefore, pituitary reserve was not decreased by prior exposure to GHRH. These studies suggest that somatotrophs become partially refractory to GHRH stimulation over time, but remain responsive to an alternate stimulus of GH secretion. We suggest that the hypoglycemia-induced GH response occurs via a reduction in hypothalamic somatostatin secretion, and the attenuated GH response to the supramaximal GHRH dose after GHRH infusion probably represents either partial desensitization or down-regulation of the GHRH receptor.

Adult↗

The effect of renin-angiotensin system blockade on visceral blood flow during and after thoracic aortic cross-clamping.

Surgical procedures necessitating clamping of the thoracic aorta are associated with a high incidence of postoperative renal dysfunction. Plasma renin activity is elevated during and after thoracic aortic occlusion in animals. The pathophysiology of the renal dysfunction may involve the renin-angiotensin system. Blockade of the renin-angiotensin system was studied in a canine model during occlusion of the thoracic aorta. Saralasin, a competitive blocker of angiotensin II, and the converting enzyme inhibitor MK422 were studied. Sixteen animals were separated into three treatment groups: control (five animals), saralasin (five), and MK422 (six). All dogs underwent clamping of the thoracic aorta for 60 minutes. In control animals, plasma renin activity increased from 0.16 +/- 0.04 to 6.41 +/- 1.57 ng/ml/hr at 30 minutes after thoracic aortic occlusion (p less than 0.05). Thirty minutes after cross-clamp release, plasma renin activity remained 10 times greater than baseline, 1.47 +/- 0.20 ng/ml/hr (p less than 0.05). Renal blood flow was measured with 15 micron microspheres before, during, and after thoracic clamping. In control animals, renal cortical blood flow decreased during cross-clamping and remained below baseline after clamp release: baseline, 7.05 +/- 0.98 ml/gm/min (standard error of the mean); 30 min after clamp release, 3.77 +/- 0.43 ml/gm/min (standard error of the mean) (p less than 0.05). In the MK422 group, renal cortical blood flows returned to baseline after cross-clamp release: baseline, 6.38 +/- 0.49 ml/gm/min; 30 minutes after clamp release, 7.30 +/- 1.6 ml/gm/min. Infusion of MK422 after placement of the thoracic aortic cross-clamp resulted in normal renal blood flow after clamp release. This protective effect was not seen with saralasin. The resumption of normal renal cortical blood flow after the administration of the converting enzyme inhibitor MK422 suggests that elevated plasma renin activity may contribute to renal dysfunction after thoracic aortic occlusion.

Angiotensin II↗

Psychogenic polydipsia and water intoxication--concepts that have failed.

Ten patients (8 men, 2 women; mean age 38.7 +/- 8.1 years), 7 of whom had schizophrenic disorders and 3 of whom had bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness), manifested psychosis, intermittent hyponatremia, and polydipsia (PIP syndrome). The relationship between serum sodium and urinary water excretion among the 10 PIP patients is described in detail. The success of lithium in improving serum sodium levels and in decreasing urinary water excretion among the three PIP patients with bipolar disorder and the failure of changes in urinary water excretion to explain changes in serum sodium levels among the 10 PIP patients argue against "psychogenesis" as the explanation for the polydipsia and excessive water intake as the sole explanation for hyponatremia or complications ascribed to water intoxication.

Adult↗