The hepatic zinc content was determined in liver biopsies of patients with alcoholic and nonalcoholic liver disease using proton-induced X-ray emission. The values obtained in postmortem specimens of the liver from 27 patients with no evidence of acute or chronic liver disease served as controls. The mean value and the range of the zinc content in the controls (75 +/- 24 ppm wet weight) are in good agreement with those reported in the literature. The hepatic zinc content in the control group showed no significant age or sex dependence. The mean zinc content was significantly decreased in all groups of patients with alcoholic liver disease. The decrease was comparable in biopsies from patients with alcoholic fatty liver (-56.7%, n = 12), mild alcoholic hepatitis (-50.5%, n = 6) and alcoholic cirrhosis (-45.6%, n = 10). The hepatic zinc content was also distinctly reduced in patients with chronic active hepatitis (-60.3%, n = 15) and in those with chronic persistent hepatitis (-44.9%, n = 8). The estimation of the zinc content in subcellular fractions of the liver performed in postmortem specimens from seven patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis and in six controls revealed a significant reduction in the zinc content in the fraction containing cell nuclei and membranes and in the mitochondrial fraction. A similar decrease was seen in the 100,000 g supernatant; however, the difference did not attain statistical difference. The zinc content of the microsomal fraction in the controls was lower than in the other three cell fractions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Considerations of 201T1 as a myocardial radionuclide imaging agent in man.

Recent reports have suggested the use of intravenous 201T1 (thallium-201) for myocardial imaging with the gamma scintillation camera. In order to better appreciate the possible utility of this agent in humans we examined its distribution and kinetics in 13 patients and in six mongrel dogs, three with experimental coronary artery occlusion. In addition, 201T1 was compared to 86Rb (rubidium-86) in 84 rats. In the rat heart, the concentration of 201T1 was 30% higher than that of 86Rb ten minutes after injection. Moreover, myocardium-to-blood ratios for 201T1 averaged 51:1, but only 32:1 for 86Rb ten minutes after administration. In the dog heart, the distribution of 201T1 paralleled that of radioiodinated (131I) albumin particles injected into the left atrium and, thus, appears to be related to regional blood flow. Its concentration in ischemic regions decreased to 32.3% of the normally perfused myocardium. In the patients with a recent or old myocardial infarction, areas of decreased 201T1 uptake were easily identified and corresponded in location to that by ECG. Repeat scans 24 hours after the initial injection showed a significant retention of 201T1 by the myocardium. 201T1 blood levels in humans 15 minutes after injection were low (averaging 1.06% +/- 0.41% SD of the total dose per liter) and these levels decreased with a biological half-life of 3.1 +/- 0.7 days. Twenty-four hour urinary excretion rates ranged from 0.6 to 6.5% of the total dose and appeared related to urinary flow and the concentation of 201T1 in blood. Because of the higher target to background ratios, 201T1 compares favorably with radioactive rubidium. 201T1 in diagnostic doses remained without detectable adverse effects and appears promising as an agent for visualizing abnormal regional myocardial perfusion in patients with coronary artery disease.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Analysis of lymphoma-specific transcripts in B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients, infected by the human immunodeficiency virus type 1].

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Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of transient myocardial ischemia on the QT interval in man.

Prolongation of the QT interval may be associated with ventricular arrhythmias. Prolongation of the QT interval has been found during the evolution of acute myocardial infarction. To investigate the effect of transient myocardial ischemia on the QT interval, 80 patients admitted to the coronary care unit with unstable angina were studied, 60 retrospectively and 20 prospectively. The corrected QT intervals (QTc) in multiple leads were compared during ischemic pain to those recorded within 24 h in the absence of pain. During pain, the mean +/- SD QTc was 0.44 +/- 0.04 s which was identical to the mean QTc recorded without pain. The mean QTc during pain was not different between patients with and without ischemic electrocardiographic abnormalities, between patients with and without previous myocardial infarction or between patients with single and multiple vessel disease on angiography (P greater than 0.5). In conclusion, the QTc interval does not change during transient myocardial ischemia, regardless of previous infarction, extent of coronary artery disease or therapy with type 1 antiarrhythmic drugs.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Andrologic study in immunosuppressive treatment of chronic aggressive hepatitis].

By andrological and internal investigations in men with chronic aggressive hepatitis the problem is discussed, whether the therapy with Azathioprin can cause damage of the exogenous function of the testes. It would be demonstrated that within an observation time of 1720 days there have not been determined alterations of consistency and volume of the testes, sperm density and motility of spermatozoa, when the maximum of the daily dose was not more than 150 mg. Depending on the individual dose the morphology shows more pathological spermatozoa, but a direct and regular dependence could not be found. The density of spermatozoa did never decrease below values of 40 mill./ml. These results do not allow the suggestion that this cytostaticum is absolutely harmless. The main duty will always be to observe each patient currently and during a long period.

Azathioprine↗