Effect of sulphur pollutants on some enzymatic activities of streptomyces Rimosus

Some enzymatic activities of Streptomyces rimosus, grown in media containing different concentrations of inorganic sulphur compounds were examined. It seems that exopeptidases were very highly stimulated by sulphite or persulphate, followed equally by thiosulfate or sulphate whereas sulphide was inhibitory. Persulphate induced the maximum activity of endopeptidases, followed by sulphate whereas sulphite exerted no effect, while either thiosulfate or increased with state of oxidation of the sulphur source, though sulphite ion exerted the least effect and induced the maximum stimulation for alkaline phosphatase activity followed by thiosulfate and least by the other sources. Dithionates seemed to be more effective in stimulating GPT than monothionates especially at the higher state of oxidation. GOT activity was hardly affected by the lower concentrations of the sulphur source except sulphate ions that were remarkably stimulatory, followed by sulphite ions. Higher concentrations of the sulphur sources equally enhanced GOT activity

Failure of lidocaine to modify suxamethonium induced biochemical changes

Twenty patients were studied in a prospective double-blind randomized trial to determine the effects of intravenous lidocaine pretreatment on suxamethonium induced biochemical changes. Lidocaine 1 mg. Kg -1 failed to attenuate changes in serum potassium, significantly decreased serum calcium, and prolonged duration of suxamethonium blockade. There were no significant changes in plasmacholinesterase activity or other biochemical parameters. It is concluded that pretreatment with 1 mg. Kg -1 lidocaine failed to attenuate suxamethonium induced biochemical changes

response of a patient with Von Recklinghausen's disease to succinylcholine and atracurium

The anesthetic management of a 17-year-old female with von Recklinghausen's disease [multiple neurofibromatosis] is described. Multiple neurofibromatosis is a rare syndrome characterized by abnormal cutaneous pigmentation and numerous skin tumors. In addition to the usual stigmata of the syndrome, patients with neurofibromatosis have been reported to be either sensitive or resistant to succinylcholine. Further, all reports indicate that response to nondepolarizing muscle relaxants is exaggerated. In this patient, the nerve conduction studies were within limit of normal values. During surgery, neuromuscular function was monitored throughout using the train-of-four mechanical twitch response. The response of this patient to succinylcholine was normal and the response to atracurium was slightly prolonged. It is concluded that atracurium offers advantages over the other nondepolarizing muscle relaxants in patients with von Recklinghausen's disease

Amino acids, a triggering factor for creating phosphokinase induction by selected members of enterobacteriaceae and other pathogenic bacteria

24 amino acids were tested for inducing CPK activity within 40 selected members of entero-bacteriaceae as well as other pathogenic bacteria. Klebsiella remarkably produced the enzyme when incubated with any of the acids [1.7-5.4 U/10[7]/ ml] followed by the shigellae [0.2-1.5 U/10[7] cells/ml] then the vibrios [0.4-1.3 U] then Yersinia [0.4-0.5]. The tested arizonas, escherishias, erwinias or pseudomonas produced appreciable amounts of the enzyme only on one or few amino whereas the proteii as well as Salmonella farmsen failed to do so on any of the tested amino acids. The remaining salmonellas could release the enzyme in several of their amino acids media but S. paratyphi, S. sofia, S. typhi, S. typhimurium or S. wassenaar were the best producers on all tested amino acids [0.2-0.8 U]. Valine, arginine, iso-leucine or glycine was the most active CPK inducers [19-17 organisms the least [12-11 organisms]. The remaining amino acids were intermediate [16-14 organisms]

Anesthetic considerations in Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome

The anesthetic management of a thirty-month-old male with Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome is described. The presentation and features of this syndrome are described and the problems of providing anesthesia in such patients are discussed