Experiences with fetal phonocardiographic telemonitoring and future possibilities.

Phonocardiography (PCG) makes possible the examination of some fetal cardiac anomalies which otherwise usually remain undetected during pregnancy. The application of PCG in a telemonitoring system enhances its diagnostic capabilities, allowing long-term measurements even at home. The paper summarizes the intensive fetal monitoring campaign carried out in Hungary during the last three years that yielded useful experience regarding recent and future possibilities of fetal monitoring. Results collected from a large number of measurements suggest that PCG home monitoring may be a suitable screening method for fetal congenital heart diseases, even if surgical intervention in this phase of pregnancy is not easy.

Testing the efficacy of fermented wheat germ extract against Mycoplasma gallisepticum infection of chickens.

The effect of fermented wheat germ extract (FWGE, Immunovet-HBM) was studied in chickens challenged with Mycoplasma gallisepticum. Ninety M. gallisepticum- and M. synoviae-free 3-wk-old chickens were exposed to aerosol infection of M. gallisepticum. One group (30 birds) was treated with FWGE, a second group with tiamulin, and a third group was untreated. The fourth group was exposed to PBS aerosol as a negative control. On d 9, all chickens were slaughtered and examined for the presence of gross and histological lesions, the presence of the challenge strain in the organs and specific antibodies in the serum. Body weight gains and feed conversion rates were recorded. In the groups treated with FWGE and with tiamulin, the chickens remained clinically healthy: their BW gains were 441.7 g and 446.8 g, respectively. Feed conversion ratios were 1.72 and 1.71 for FWGE- and tiamulin-treated birds, respectively. Control birds had BW gain of 480.8 g, and feed conversion ratio of 1.78. The numbers of birds with gross lesions (15 and 11, respectively) and lesion scores (25 and 25, respectively) of the FWGE- and tiamulin-treated groups were significantly lower than in the infected untreated group (25 birds, lesion score of 190). No mycoplasma was reisolated from brain, liver, spleen, heart, or kidneys of the FWGE-treated birds, and the number of mycoplasma isolations from the respiratory tract samples was less frequent (10) than from the infected untreated group (64). In addition, 35 samples from other internal organs were also positive. Twenty percent of the birds treated with FWGE showed serological response with a 5.0% reaction score, whereas in the infected untreated group, 83.3% of birds were reactors, with a 62.5% reaction score.

Effects of pinealectomy on glucagon responsiveness to hypoglycaemia induced by insulin injections in fed rats.

The glucagon response to insulin-induced hypoglycaemia was tested in rats that had been pinealectomised (Px), pinealectomised and fitted with melatonin implants (Px + MLT), or sham-operated (SO). The glucagon response to hypoglycaemia observed in SO rats (216 +/- 27 pg x ml(-1) at baseline versus 397 +/- 35 pg x ml(-1) at the hypoglycaemic peak, mean +/- S.D.) was stronger than that in Px rats (180 +/- 37 pg x ml(-1) and 229 +/- 21 pg x ml(-1), respectively) and weaker than that in Px + MLT rats (256 +/- 19 pg x ml(-1) and 516 +/- 11 pg x ml(-1), respectively). Our data indicate that the capacity to release glucagon during insulin-induced hypoglycaemia is altered in pinealectomised rats.

Alteration of body composition in rats: effect of organic chromium and L-carnitine.

A growth trial was carried out to test the effect of organic, trivalent chromium and L-carnitine on the body composition of growing rats. At the same time, an evaluation of different measurement methods (weight of epididymal fat pad, adipocyte morphometry, total body electrical conductivity) was performed. Outbred Wistar rats of 30 days of age were fed diets of different (0, 10 and 20%) protein level. The diets were supplemented with 4 mg/kg Cr as chromium nicotinate, and 100 mg/kg L-carnitine. The experimental feeding lasted 15 days, after a 5-day-long adjustment period. It was found that Cr addition increased feed intake. Both treatments caused changes in body composition, increasing fat and protein deposition. Organic chromium had no effect at either protein level, while L-carnitine improved the protein retention only at an optimum (20%) protein supply. No statistically significant correlation was found between total body electrical conductivity (TOBEC) and body composition, which could be attributed to the great individual differences. A close correlation was found among total body fat percentage, weight of epididymal fat pad and the adipocyte surface. The data suggest that there is an interaction between dietary protein supply and the effect of repartitioning agents.

Effects of beta-phenylethylamine on the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis in the male rat.

beta-Phenylethylamine (PEA) is a trace neuroactive amine implicated in the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) response to stress. To test this hypothesis, effects of subchronic levels of PEA (50 mg/kg/day treatment for 10 days) on the corticotroph function were studied. PEA treatment induces: (i) a significant increase of corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH) immunoreactivity in the median eminence (ME), as measured by semi-quantitative immunofluorescence labeling techniques, (ii) a significant increase in CRH mRNA levels in paraventricular nuclei, as detected by in situ hybridization, and (iii) an increase in plasma adreno-corticotrophin hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone levels in responses to stress. PEA treatment has no effect on the number of binding sites and on the dissociation constant of the glucocorticoid receptors in any structure studied. Results of the dexamethasone suppression test were similar in PEA- and saline-treated rats. Taken together, these results suggest that PEA treatment stimulated the HPA axis activity levels directly via the CRH hypothalamic neurons, without altering the negative feed back control exerted by the glucocorticoids.

Ethanol's effect on rat pituitary adrenal axis is prevented by purine metabolic pathway inhibitors.

This study investigated the in vitro dose effects of ethanol (EtOH), adenosine (ADO), and urate (URA) on the basal and CRF stimulated ACTH production of pituitary tissue culture (PTC). Furthermore, the effects of low (LE = 0.5 g/kg bodyweight) and high (HE = 2.5 g/kg bodyweight) concentrations of EtOH were tested in rats on plasma ACTH and corticosterone concentration (PCC), with or without the following ADO metabolic pathway inhibitors: 6-mercaptopurine (6MP) (salvage pathway) and purpurogallin (PPG) (xanthine dehydrogenase). EtOH at 0-50 mM does not increase the in vitro basal or CRF (10-7 M) stimulated ACTH secretion in PTC; in fact doses up to 20 mM tended to be inhibitory. ADO significantly increased only basal ACTH secretion whereas URA increased both basal and CRF-stimulated ACTH secretion. Pretreatment with PPG or 6MP + PPG significantly increased both in vivo ACTH and PCC over control values in rats. HE versus LE significantly increased ACTH and PCC in the control (H2O) and 6MP pretreated groups whereas in the PPG pretreated animals, only ACTH was increased significantly by HE. However, combined pretreatment with 6MP + PPG prevented the effect of HE on ACTH and PCC. The current experiment suggests that purine metabolism is involved in ethanol's effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

Research priorities and concerns of plastic surgical nurses.

The advancement of nursing knowledge to improve clinical plastic surgical nursing practice was identified as a priority for the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgical Nurses (ASPRSN). The purpose of this investigation was to determine the specific research priorities and perspectives of practicing plastic surgical nurses. In addition, nurses were asked to rank their current concerns for the future of plastic surgical nursing.

Body composition of mice of different body condition score and sex.

After a critical review of recent research on the whole body chemical composition of laboratory animals, especially that of the mouse, the authors present data on the body composition of a mouse line of different body condition score, varying from normal to double-muscled ("culard", "compact") type. One hundred male and 100 female mice of different compact categories were measured in vivo, using total body electrical conductivity (TOBEC method), then by direct chemical analysis performed on day 77 of life. In male mice, body weight and protein content were found to increase while fat content decreased parallel to the increase in phenotypic condition score. Female mice showed a rather constant fat, protein and ash content in the dry matter of the body. The precision and validity of TOBEC data under 40 grams of body weight proved to be insufficient.

Influence of a deficient intake of high and low degradable protein on body composition, metabolic adaptation, production and reproductive performance in early lactation dairy cows.

High-yielding dairy cows (n = 34) were divided into high (HD) and low (LD) protein degradability groups after delivery, and used for a feeding trial which lasted up to day 80 +/- 10 of lactation. The cows were regularly weighed, their body condition was scored (BCS), and their reproductive status assessed. Blood samples were taken simultaneously, and ruminal fluid was collected on the last day of the trial. On postpartum day 45 +/- 6 and 11 days thereafter two prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) injections were administered. The ammonia and urea concentrations of the ruminal fluid were higher in cows of group HD. The C2:C3 ratio was 2.7:1 vs. 2.3:1 in HD and LD cows, respectively. The amino acid and lipid composition of blood reflected the dietary treatments. The BCS and blood urea concentration were slightly higher in HD animals. The average daily milk production of LD cows was 1.5 kg higher than that of HD cows. The pregnancy rates of the two groups at day 200 after calving did not differ, but LD cows showed their first visible oestrus and reconceived significantly (p < 0.05) later. It can be concluded that--at a marginal energy supply-a moderate (13%) deficiency of rumen-degradable protein during the first 10 weeks after calving can be more detrimental to reproductive performance than a severe (27%) deficiency of undegradable protein.

Pancreatitis caused by reovirus in guinea-fowl.

Pancreatitis caused by a reovirus was observed among 8- to 22-day-old guinea-fowls held under extensive conditions in groups of 10,000 birds. With the virus isolated from the affected birds the disease entity could be reproduced experimentally. Both the naturally affected and the experimentally infected birds showed depression, lack of appetite and weakness, followed by recumbency, opisthotonus and, occasionally, convulsions. A proportion of the survivors were retarded in growth and stunted. At the acute stage, the pancreas showed 2- to 5-fold enlargement and bright yellowish discoloration, was tense to the touch, and had haemorrhages and necroses both on its surface and within its substance. The main findings revealed by histopathological and electron microscopic examination included the degeneration and necrosis of secretory cells of the exocrine glands responsible for the secretion of digestive enzymes, and the intensive replication of viral particles in the cytoplasm of these cells. The subacute stage of the disease was characterized by an irreversible depletion of the glandular substance and reparative phenomena. The activity of amylase, trypsin, total protease and lipase significantly decreased in the infected birds' intestinal content; at the same time, in the injured pancreatic tissue the activity of these enzymes showed an increase. Hepatic deiodinase activity of the experimentally infected guinea-fowls underwent a significant decrease; parallel to that, serum T4 level increased and serum T3 concentration decreased.

Effectiveness and safety of captopril (Tensiomin) in patients with hypertension.

Twenty patients with moderate (4) to severe (16) hypertension, whose blood pressure (BP) could not be controlled on the previous combined antihypertensive therapy, were investigated. In acute studies the first doses of captopril, 25 and 50 mg led to a significant drop in BP 30 min after administration. The maximum fall in BP was recorded at 90-120 min and this effect was maintained throughout the whole observation period (8 hours). The fall in BP was similar in supine and standing positions and there was no change in the heart rate. During long-term (14.5 months) therapy only 2 out of the 20 patients exhibited continuing good BP control with captopril monotherapy of a maximum daily dose of 150 mg. A comparison of the acute and chronic BP lowering effects of captopril showed that the first dose of captopril caused a significantly greater decrease in BP than chronic monotherapy. However, combined captopril with a diuretic or with a diuretic and calcium antagonist or beta blocker provided a sustained BP control, significantly better than the previously used anti-hypertensive combinations (182 +/- 27/115 +/- 11 mmHg vs 164 +/- 20/104 +/- 11 mmHg p less than 0.05). The Hungarian captopril preparation (Tensiomin), similarly to other captopril products, through its angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition, caused an increase in plasma renin activity and in concentration of plasma angiotensin I and a decrease in plasma angiotensin II. Eight out of the 20 patients developed side effects, which disappeared spontaneously in 4 patients within 2-14 days. Captopril was withdrawn in 3 patients for not achieving satisfactory BP control and/or because of side effects. It is concluded that captopril is safe and effective in the long-term treatment of hypertension, however, majority of the patients with severe forms of hypertension required double or multiple combinations.

Incidence of side effects during the application of placebo and active therapy (Tobanum) in patients suffering from hypertension, angina pectoris and arrhythmia.

In a single blind clinical trial the effects of Tobanum (chloranolol), a beta-adrenergic receptor blocker, on 450 patients were examined. The side effects were detected by placebo control. Complaints were recorded on a questionnaire in the placebo period as well as in the active treatment period. Every fourth patient reported complaints in the placebo period and every third had a new complaint in the active period. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the complaints indicated that Tobanum has mainly cardiorespiratory side effects judging from the beta-blocker characteristics. The study draws attention to the need for awareness of complaints in the placebo period for correct evaluation of side effects.

Comparison of methods to detect side-effect on clinical application of chloranolol, a beta-adrenergic receptor inhibitor.

The incidence of side-effects on administration of chloranolol (Tobanum), a beta-adrenergic receptor blocking drug, to 2066 patients with hypertension, angina pectoris or arrhythmias was measured by three different methods. In 600 patients in an efficacy trial (Group 1) both spontaneously reported complaints and objective signs were tabulated. A side effect - directed method, utilising a questionnaire containing a list of possible side-effects was also used, with the questionnaire being completed by the physician. 35 questions referred to anticipated and other side-effects. The trial was performed in two groups: in 537 patients a placebo was also given (Group 2), and in another set of 929 patients (Group 3) the questionnaire inquiry was performed uncontrolled, without placebo. All three groups were comparable in their distribution of sexes, ages and diagnoses, the mean daily dose of chloranolol its use alone or in combination, and in a similar duration of treatment. 55% of all patients received chloranolol therapy for a period of more than 3 months. The ratio of in- and outpatients was 1:5. The side-effect incidence was independent of the age and sex of the patients and of the dose of chloranolol. The incidence was also unaffected whether chloranolol was used alone or in combination. The number of side-effects differed markedly between the three groups, their ratio was 1:10:24 in Groups 1, 2 and 3. Two-thirds of the side-effects subsided spontaneously within 1 month of their onset.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cardiovascular effects of a potent opioid peptide, (D-Met2, Pro5)-enkephalinamide.

The cardiovascular effects of morphine and a potent enkephalin analogue, D-Met2, Pro5-enkephalinamide (D-Met2, Pro5-EA) have been examined in pentobarbitone anesthetized cats with their vagi cut and in awake normotensive and genetically hypertensive rats. In cats both opioids only moderately decreased the blood pressure and the heart rate, but the enkephalin analogue considerably attenuated the carotid occlusion pressor response. Neither substance influenced the blood pressure and the heart rate in normotensive rats, but both induced moderate hypotension and considerable bradycardia in spontaneously hypertensive rats, the potency of D-Met2, Pro5-EA being much stronger than that of morphine. These observations confirm the conclusions from the literature that, under physiological conditions, endorphins play no primary role in the regulation of the cardiovascular functions but they might be mobilized in certain cases of pathological elevation of the blood pressure probably as a part of a compensatory process.

[Investigation of house-dust allergy in children (author's transl)]. / Beitrag zur Hausstaub-Allergie bei Kindern.

Authors were studying the relationship between the history data, the diagnostic difficulties, the skin tests and ventilatory functions after provocative inhalation and specific IgE positivity in connection with 40 cases of bronchial asthma. The most important feature of the treatment is the specific hyposensibilisation, which was performed by a depot house-dust preparation, manufactured by the Vaccine Producing Institute "Human", Budapest. Full success was given in 61,1% of the treated asthmatics.

Cellular action of gastrointestinal polypeptide hormones.

The present state of chemistry, structure-activity relationship and cellular mode of action of gastrointestinal polypeptide hormones (gastrin, secretin, cholecystokinin-pancreozymin, caerulein and bombesin) are reviewed. Possible structure of polypeptide receptors and the mechanism of peptide--receptor interaction are described, and the role of acetylcholine and histamine in secretion discussed. The present data support the hormonal-receptor significance of cyclic nucleotides (cAMP, cGMP) in the cellular regulation of secretion.