Influence of ethanol on potentiation of the response to blunt cardiac trauma in rabbits

Acute changes in mechanical performance [spontaneous rate and contractile force of the hearts] were followed after blunt cardiac trauma, ethanol infusion, and ethanol infusion with blunt cardiac trauma in 40 anesthetized male rabbits. Impact was delivered to the whole anterior pericardium by a single blow with a weighted pendulum. Energy delivered, which was calculated as kinetic energy, was 67 +/- 7 m Joules/g. Impact alone caused complete cardiac arrest, followed by sequential ventricular recovery, atrial recovery with atrioventricular [A-V] block, transient normal sinus rhythm, tachycardia and normal sinus rhythm. These transient cardiac dysfunctions were accompanied with significant reductions in the spontaneous rate and contractile force, except the height of auricular contraction during A-V block which showed a significant rise. All animals survived impact and regained nearly normal mechanical performance within 10 minutes after impact. Intravenous infusion of ethanol [average blood alcohol concentration, 65 +/- 1 mg%], resulted in nonsignificant decrease in the mechanical performance, but, when combined with trauma, caused a mortality rate of 75%. All animals died from complete and persistent cardiac arrest after marked slowdown in the spontaneous rate and severe weakness in the contractile force. It is concluded that even low blood alcohol concentrations can significantly reduce cardiac performance in the presence of otherwise nonfatal cardiac injury

Effect of splenectomy on plasma fibronectin in normal rats

Splenectomy in normal rats has no influence on plasma fibronectin [PEN] one, two and three months later. These results might support the valuable participation of liver in consumption of fibronectin in asplenia

Experimental evaluation of hydrofluoric acid and hypocalcemia

Experimental evaluation of the effect of hydrofluoric acid exposures on serum calcium has been achieved in male rats. Five concentration levels [10, 20, 30, 40, 50 percent] of hydrofluoric acid were used in this study; whereas for each concentration, two groups of animals were subjected to either skin or inhalation exposure. Hydrofluoric acid induced hypocalcaemia, in a concentration- related manner, either by skin or inhalation exposure as shown by the significant [P< 0.05, P<0.01 P< 0.001] decrease in serum calcium, except the group subjected to inhalation exposure of 10 percent hydrofluoric acid vapor which revealed non - significant diminution. These results suggest that proper treatment of hydrofluoric acid burns must include administration of intravenous calcium, to replenish the biologically active calcium and to prevent death from hypocalcaemia

Effect of female sex steroid hormones on lipid metabolism

In the present study we demonstrated the effects of female sex steroid hormones [estrogen and / or progesterone] on lipid metabolism in female. Female albino rats were used for this study. After ovariectomy, we injected either estrogen and/ or progesterone every day for 14 days, then all animals were decapitated, blood taken and serum analyzed for total cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids, high density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL.C] and low density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL.C]. We found that estrogen induced significant rise in HDL.C and significant decrease in total cholesterol and LDL.C, while no changes in triglycerides or phospholipids were observed. Progesterone injection resulted in insignificant changes in lipid profile. Combined estrogen and progesterone injection resulted in significant rise in HDL.C and decrease in total cholesterol, LDL.C and insignificant changes in triglycerides or phospholipids. These data may indicate that cyclic fluctuations in lipid levels do occur under the influence of female sex hormones and estrogen use in postmenopausal women is associated with increase HDL.C, which reduces risk factors for coronary artery disease

Synthesis of s-Triazolo [3,4-b] [1,3,4] thiadiazines and s-triazolo [3,4-b] [1,3,4] thiadiazoles

Some novel s-triazolo [3,4-b][1,3,4] thiadiazines [IIa-e] and [IV] and s-triazolo [3,4-b] [1,3,4] thiadiazoles [Va-d], [VI] and [VIIa-d] have been synthesized starting from 3-[2/thienyl]-4-amino-s-triazole-5 thione [I] as interesting compounds for biological screening

effect of proposed training program on some biological changes and performance in gymnastics

In the present work thyroid hormones were taken as an example for the hormones affecting the circulatory system which is the soul of skill performance in gymnastics. There was a significant increase in serum triiodothyronin [T3] of the experimental group before and after the proposed training. On the other hand, there was insignificant decrease in thyroxine [T4] and thyrotropine [T.S.H.] of the same group. Also, insignificant increase in serum T3 and TSH and insignificant decrease in the control under the classic program were found