Preliminary study on the suppression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in the Lewis rat with spirogermanium.

Spirogermanium (SG) is an azaspirane compound that incorporates the element germanium into a heterocyclic ring structure. It is currently being tested in phase II clinical trials as an anti-neoplastic agent and, in experimental animals, has suppressed adjuvant arthritis. In this study, SG suppressed experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in the Lewis rat. Suppression was a dose-dependent phenomenon and doses of 28 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg given intraperitoneally five through 14 days postinoculation gave significant protection. Perivascular inflammation in the central nervous system was also suppressed in animals receiving effective doses. Although these doses were well tolerated, cytoplasmic lamellar-bodies were found in the central nervous system of all SG-treated animals. Also, animals treated with SG developed diarrhea and weight loss, although histologic study of the gastrointestinal tract revealed no lesions.

Prazosin treatment during the effector stage of disease suppresses experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in the Lewis rat.

As part of a study on the role of vasoactive amines in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), we have found that treatment beginning 7 days post-inoculation (dpi) with the specific alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin can significantly suppress clinical signs of disease in the Lewis rat. In this paper we have addressed the effect of treatment with prazosin commencing at varying times in the disease process. The results show that treatment during the early inductive stage (1 to 6 dpi) has no effect on the clinical course of the disease, whereas treatment commencing at the time of onset of early clinical signs (10 to 16 dpi) still significantly suppresses EAE. Leakage of serum proteins into the central nervous system (CNS) and histologic expression of EAE are also suppressed. Prazosin had no effect on lymphocyte responses to mitogen or antigen as determined by lymphocyte transformation tests when lymphocytes were exposed to prazosin in vitro, and the responses of lymphocytes from prazosin-treated animals were similar to those from saline-treated animals. These results support the hypothesis that prazosin suppresses EAE through a direct vascular effect although they do not preclude an immunologic component to its mechanism of action.

Safety of autologous blood donation prior to elective surgery for a variety of potentially "high-risk" patients.

We studied 342 potentially "high-risk" patients, including patients with severe heart disease, elderly patients, children, and pregnant women, to determine the incidence of complications related to phlebotomy. Our patients had an adverse reaction rate associated with blood donation of 4 percent, which is no greater than would be expected among normal volunteer blood donors. No patient experienced a dangerous complication associated with phlebotomy. We conclude that many patients currently denied the opportunity to donate blood preoperatively are actually suitable candidates for autologous blood transfusion programs.

Isolation of drugs from blood serum by the Du Pont Prep I Automated Sample Processor and a C18 bonded phase adsorption column.

We describe a fast and efficient method for the isolation of drugs from blood serum by use of the DU PONT PREP I Automated Sample Processor and octadecyl bonded phase columns. Drugs are selectively adsorbed onto C18 bonded phase and eluted with methanol. The recovered residue is essentially free of sample matrix chromogens and shows very low background on thin layer chromatography. It is also suitable for analysis by gas liquid chromatography and high pressure liquid chromatography. Recovery of drugs added to serum is greater than 90 per cent for most drugs studied which include weakly acidic, neutral and alkaline drugs. The method offers tremendous savings to the user in time and dollars, since it is fully automated from the extraction step to the drying of the extract, and the columns are reusable at least 10 times. Up to 12 samples can be processed simultaneously in less than 60 minutes.

Use of long-term leukapheresis in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

We used repeated leukapheresis in the long-term management of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Twelve patients with far-advanced disease that was refractory to standard forms of therapy, were studied. Six patients completed a predefined course of therapy. Although a single patient responded favorably for a period of time, no other patient was benefited by this treatment. While circulating lymphocyte counts in these patients always could be reduced, generally, this was not associated with improvements in pancytopenia, hypogammagobulinemia, adenopathy, organomegaly, or constitutional symptoms of lethargy, fevers and night sweats. Mean survival was only ten months from onset of therapy. We conclude that long-term leukapheresis is ineffective in the management of far-advanced chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Autologous blood transfusion in coronary artery bypass surgery.

Forty-four patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery participated in an autologous blood donor program. Blood was collected at weekly intervals up to three days prior to the scheduled date of surgery. Sixteen patients donated a total of two autologous units each, and 28 patients donated one autologous unit each. No donor morbidity or mortality was encountered during or following blood donation. Autologous blood accounted for more than one-third of all blood required by these patients throughout their hospital courses. Autologous transfusion appears to be a safe procedure for patients with severe coronary artery disease.