Alternative pathways of 5-hydroxyindole metabolism. II. The role transamination in the metabolism of D-5-hydroxytryptophan in the rat.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M Sandler.
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.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Two patients with phaeochromocytoma having atypical biochemical features are described. Total catecholamine excretion was normal in one and only slightly raised in the other; both had a diagnostic rise in output of metadrenaline and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymandelic acid whilst 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylglycol excretion was increased in one of them. During hypertensive attacks adrenaline excretion became greater than that of noradrenaline. The diagnostic usefulness of separate adrenaline and noradrenaline estimations in addition to catecholamine metabolite assay is discussed. A lack of relationship between tumour catecholamine content and urinary catecholamine output is emphasized.
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.
Alrestatin, an aldose reductase inhibitor, was administered orally to 10 normal men. Its effect on basal plasma glucose, insulin and glucagon levels and on the response of glucose, insulin and glucagon to an oral alanine load was assessed and compared to that of a placebo. There was a significant suppression of both the mean basal insulin level and the mean insulin response to alanine in the group pretreated with alrestatin as compared to the placebo group (p less than 0.05 at 0 and 60 min). Glucagon levels rose slightly in both groups but tended to be lower in the alrestatin-treated subjects, and blood sugar levels fell slightly. There was a significant inverse correlation between the mean insulin and glucose levels in individual subjects. The possible significance and mechanisms of insulin suppression are discussed.
In a series of 19 identical and 16 fraternal twin pairs, the activities of the two forms of the enzyme, phenolsulphotransferase, denominated M and P, were investigated in blood platelets. Both were shown to be under a high degree of genetic control. No differences were found between 11 schizophrenic patients from discordant twin pairs, compared with their well cotwins and 12 male and female volunteer twin pairs, for either form of the enzyme.
There is a considerable overlap in migraine and depression incidence, and both conditions may be associated with low levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). During a migraine attack there is evidence for low levels of platelet 5-HT and possibly also low Vmax for 5-HT uptake; both these findings are also associated with the depressed state. Both conditions can be treated by tricyclic and monoamine oxidase inhibiting antidepressants. However, there are also clear differences: migraine attacks are brief and self limiting. Part of the migraine cascade occurs outside the blood brain barrier, presumably involving blood vessels and, unlike depression, migraine attacks can be ameliorated by drugs which only act peripherally. In addition, migraine patients, especially males, often have permanently low levels of platelet monoamine oxidase activity, whereas patients with unipolar depression tend to have raised levels of this marker. This low enzyme activity may reflect part of the vulnerability to migraine, often associated in the prodromal phase with agitation or hyperactivity. Migraine may form part of a family of brief recurrent self-limiting disorders, which involve disturbances of both mood and monoamines; during the headache phase of the attack, the links with depression are most apparent.
A thymic mass was diagnosed by computed tomography in a young male with an anterior mediastinal mass demonstrated by chest X-ray. The association of thymic hyperplasia and thyrotoxicosis is discussed and the importance of CT in the evaluation of anterior mediastinal masses in patients with thyrotoxicosis is emphasized. Micronodular enlargement of the thymus is a common association of Graves' disease in contradistinction to the rare detection of radiologically visible thymic masses in this condition.
We describe the use of dynamic breath-hold gadolinium-enhanced 3D MRI for the evaluation of intraarterial masses and its potential use in differentiating thrombus from neoplasm. This rapid technique overcomes the flow artifacts that may obscure intraarterial masses on contrast-enhanced ECG-gated SE MR and can be performed on patients who otherwise cannot be ECG gated.
Between November 1988 and January 1989 a prospective survey was undertaken on patients aged 65 years and over who were discharged from the care of geriatricians in seven District General Hospitals. The survey aimed to provide a regional perspective on patient dependency by relating dependency at discharge to the discharge destination. The findings show that the majority of patients were relatively independent and most returned home. A significant number of the very dependent patients were discharged to the community with private residential and nursing homes making an important contribution to the placement of highly dependent patients.
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.
Isatin is an endogenous compound recently discovered in mammalian tissues and body fluids. It has a distinct distribution in rat brain, with a highest concentration, in the hippocampus, of 0.1 microgram/g. Its origin and metabolic pathways remain unclear. In vitro, isatin selectively inhibits monoamine oxidase (MAO) B (IC50 3-8 microM, Ki approximately 20 microM) and, more potently, atrial natriuretic peptide(ANP) binding (IC50, 0.4 microM). Convulsant doses of pentylene tetrazole result in increased isatin level in the brain. Small amounts of isatin are anxiogenic in rodent models, but higher doses cause sedation and possess anticonvulsant action. Isatin administration also increases monoamine levels in the brain and reduces daily urine output.