Analysis of amphetamine and congeners in illicit samples by liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis.

Screening methods based on liquid chromatography (HPLC) and capillary electrophoresis (CE) have been developed for the identification and determination of amphetamine, methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, and 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine in illicit tablets. Diethylpropione, (-)-ephedrine, and 3-amino-1-phenylbutane were also included in the study as amphetamino-related compounds. The HPLC-diode-array detection method involved on-line photochemical derivatization to enhance the selectivity of detection allowing amphetamines to be distinguished from related compounds such as diethylpropione (amfepramone). When the CE approach was adopted, two identification parameters (UV spectra and migration index) were used and the enantioresolution of the racemic amphetamines was achieved using hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin as chiral selector.

Fetal pancreatic function in infants of diabetic and rhesus-isoimmunized women.

OBJECTIVE: To measure insulin and glucagon concentrations in amniotic fluid (AF) collected near term in basal conditions and after an arginine test in diabetic, rhesus-isoimmunized, and control pregnant women. METHODS: At baseline, AF was collected from 44 diabetic, 32 rhesus-isoimmunized, and 27 control pregnant women in late pregnancy. Fifty-two diabetic, six rhesus-isoimmunized, and nine control pregnant women had amniocentesis 2 hours after arginine infusion (30 g intravenous/30 minutes) at 33-36 weeks. RESULTS: Baseline AF glucose concentrations were significantly greater in diabetic women than the other conditions, and they related to the gestational age in the women with hemolytic disease of the newborn. Insulin and glucagon AF content of isoimmunized pregnancies overlapped controls, whereas insulin and insulin/glucagon molar ratios were significantly higher, and glucagon values lower, in diabetic pregnancies compared with isoimmunized and control pregnancies. In isoimmunized pregnancies, the AF concentrations of glucose, insulin, and glucagon were correlated with gestational age (less than 34, 34 weeks or more). The samples collected after arginine infusion, compared with those collected at baseline, showed significantly greater insulin and insulin/glucagon molar ratio values in diabetic (28 +/- 5 versus 11 +/- 1 microU/mL, P = .001; 29.4 +/- 1.7 versus 12.0 +/- 2.8, P = .001) and in Rh pregnant women (18 +/- 6 versus 7.7 +/- 0.7 microU/mL, P = .001; 30 +/- 9 versus 3.4 +/- 0.4 I/G, P = .001), whereas no significant difference was observed in the controls. CONCLUSION: Basal islet hormone concentrations in AF are modified by maternal diabetes and further influenced by arginine administration. Arginine produces an AF response that is similar in pregnancies complicated by diabetes mellitus and rhesus-isoimmunization, despite different (hyperglycemia and euglycemia) maternal blood glucose levels.

Glycosaminoglycan analysis in amniotic fluid and in cultured fibroblasts from normal and holoprosencephalic human embryonic organs.

Glycosaminoglycans are polysaccharides involved in epithelial-mesenchymal interaction and cell differentiation and provide a meshwork which is essential to maintain a proper intercellular milieu. The development of embryonic organs can be accompanied by alterations in the glycosaminoglycan pattern. In pregnancies with malformed fetuses, there are alterations in total glycosaminoglycans and their components (chondroitin 4-6 sulphate, dermatan sulphate, and hyaluronic acid) in amniotic fluid. We examined total glycosaminoglycans and the percentage variations of the single classes in both amniotic fluid and culture medium of fibroblasts from heart, lung, and skin obtained from five normal human fetuses and one with holoprosencephaly. In the amniotic fluid total glycosaminoglycans and their sulphate classes were increased, whereas hyaluronic acid was decreased, compared with controls. The extracellular glycosaminoglycans showed hyaluronic acid reduction in skin, while chondroitin 4-6 sulphate plus dermatan sulphate and heparan sulphate were higher in skin and heart. Our data demonstrate that variations in the glycosaminoglycan pattern are associated with alterations of the cellular environment, which can prevent normal organogenesis.

Telemedicine in the treatment of diabetic pregnancy.

Good diabetic control requires that treatment be continuously adapted to the patient behavior. We investigated whether the use of telemedicine could present an advantage to the management of the diabetic woman during pregnancy. A system completely automatic (DIANET system) was used. Twenty IDDM women participated in the study: 10 treated by telemedicine and 10 by conventional system, at times "entry" (9.5 weeks), "basal" (9.5-16.8 weeks), "1st month" of investigation, and "end" (near delivery). All women used intensified protocols of insulin administration. The treatment with DIANET vs conventional showed a better metabolic control as estimated by profile of blood glucose absolute values (at time "end": values significantly lower before breakfast: 87 +/- 6 vs 104 +/- 4 mg, lunch: 85 +/- 5 vs 104 +/- 4 mg, and after dinner: 102 +/- 5 vs 124 +/- 6 mg). These results were associated with higher insulin doses in the DIANET vs conventional treatment, and a significant reduction of hypoglycemic reaction in both group. Our results suggest that telemedicine-DIANET is a practical way of providing specialist care in the pregnancy area.

Serous tumors of the ovary: ultrastructural observations.

One borderline primary serous ovarian tumor and six carcinomas were studied by means of electron microscopy. Borderline malignant tumor evidenced concomitant presence of both benign and malign serous epithelium. Ultrastructural observations revealed differentiation characteristics which involved complex architecture of cell arrangement and polarity in the distribution of the organelle and intercellular junctions. The cilia believed to be more frequent in benign tumors were also reported in poorly differentiated carcinomas and so may not be considered as reliable prognostic markers.

Developmental heterogeneity of mesenchymal glycosaminoglycans (GAG) distribution in chick embryo lung anlagen.

The presence and distribution of mesenchymal components in the extracellular matrix during lung development in the chick embryo (from 5 1/2/6 to 18 incubation days) has been examined histochemically. Attention is focused mainly on glycosaminoglycans (GAG). Morphological reconstructions show three main stages: first (5 1/2/6-8 days), formation of 2nd-order branching; second (9-12 days), proliferation of parabronchi and third (from 13th day on), formation of air capillaries. In the first phase, hyaluronic acid (HA) prevails around the mesobronchus, but chondroitin sulfate (CS) dominates the 2nd-order branches. Basement membranes of 2nd-order branches are strongly positive for sulphated GAG. In the second phase, CSA increases in the ground substance of mesenchyme. This increase is irregular, being smaller in older areas (mesobronchus, branches of 2nd order) and larger in the more recent parabronchi, which extend into the lateral and dorsal areas of the rudiment. An increase in both sulfated GAG and glycoprotein (GP) occurs in basement membranes. In the third phase, GAGs are uniformly distributed in the mesenchymal septa and around the interlobular vascular network. This concentration decreases while the GP concentration increases. Basement membranes around every branch of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd orders possess large quantities of GP. Mesenchymal GAG occurs in every stage of lung development, temporally correlating with the morphogenesis and differentiation of epithelium. Our results provide necessary information, which has not been available so far. Experimental studies specifically designed to clarify the developmental significance of such a heterogeneous distribution may be interpreted in the light of this information.

Smear biopsy for on-the-spot diagnosis in stereotactic surgery of CNS tumors. Experience of 101 cases.

We report the correlation between cytological and histological diagnoses in 101 stereotactic biopsies performed on space-occupying lesions of the CNS. Diagnostic accuracy was 89%, in line with the rates reported by other workers.

[Experimental intrauterine surgery. Morphological study of lung development in the sheep fetus with congenital diaphragmatic hernia]. / Chirurgia sperimentale endouterina. Studio morfologico dello sviluppo polmonare nel feto di pecora con ernia diaframmatica congenita.

Experimental comparison of the lungs of 7 sheep foetuses with surgically induced CDH and 7 controls permitted an assessment to be made of the changes that take place in lung growth, generally described as hypoplasia, through a study of their morphology and histology, and the lung: lamb weight ratio. Changes increased in gravity in function of the duration of hernia. They included: reduced alveolar expansion, fewer generations of bronchi and alveoli, and septal thickening. An increase in the smooth muscle component of 5th-6th generation arteries (i.e. resistance) may offer an explanation of the hypertension characteristic of CDH, and the non-reactivity of these vessels in response to vasodilators. It is also suggested that damage to the mesenchyma can be regarded as the sole cause of the changes in lung growth observed in CDH. Early treatment before these changes become irreversible is thus advisable.

[Migration of hepatic macrophages after cyclophosphamide or whole body irradiation]. / Migrazione di macrofagi epatici dopo ciclofosfamide o panirradiazione.

The liver macrophages behaviour after cyclophosphamide or total-body irradiation (1000 rads - 60Co) has been studied in the mouse previously injected with colloidal carbon. In these conditions an early increase of carbon-laden macrophages in the central zone of the liver lobules has been observed. Carbon-containing mononuclear cells were also observed in the lumina of the hepatic collecting system. Possible implications of these findings are discussed; a migration of macrophages from the liver to elsewhere is suggested.