Massive bilateral phaeochromocytomas in association with Von Hippel Lindau syndrome in pregnancy.

We report a rare case of large bilateral phaeochromocytomas in pregnancy, found coincidentally by ultrasonography at 26 weeks' gestation, in a woman with a family history of Von Hippel Lindau syndrome. Further, we report maternal and fetal serum and amniotic fluid phenoxybenzamine levels from this case.

A comparison of the effects of three positive inotropic agents (amrinone, milrinone and medorinone) on platelet aggregation in human whole blood.

Amrinone, milrinone and medorinone inhibit platelet aggregation in human whole blood. They are particularly potent inhibitors of arachidonic acid induced aggregation, inhibiting by 50% (IC50) at concentrations of 1.5 microM (milrinone), 7.5 microM (medorinone) and 48 microM (amrinone). Each drug was less potent at inhibiting ADP and collagen-induced aggregation. The rank order for inhibition of arachidonic acid - induced aggregation correlated well with the rank order of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase inhibition for these drugs when compared to the response of a reference cAMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor (CI-930) and a reference cGMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor (M & B 22948). Since inhibition of platelet aggregation in vitro occurred at clinically relevant concentrations, it is evident that these agents have potentially beneficial antithrombotic properties.

Glucose and fructose utilization by rat spermatozoa within the uterine lumen.

Concentrations of glucose, fructose and spermatozoa in the lumen of the rat uterus were measured at intervals after mating with fertile or vasectomized males. The results suggest that rat spermatozoa within the uterus utilize both glucose and fructose, and that the glucose is used preferentially.