26858 research outputs found
Sort by
Persistence of cadmium-induced metabolic changes in liver and kidney
No full textDaily intraperitoneal injection of cadmium chloride (1 milligram per kilogram) for 45 days enhanced gluconeogenesis as evidenced by significant increases in the activities of liver and kidney cortex pyruvate carboxylase, phosphopyruvate carboxylase, hexosediphosphatase, and glucose-6-phosphatase, the quartet of key, rate-limiting enzymes involved in the biotransformation of noncarbohydrate precursors into glucose. Whereas cadmium treatment decreased the level of hepatic glycogen, the concentration of blood glucose and urea was significantly elevated by this heavy metal. Discontinuation of the heavy metal treatment for 28 days, in rats previously injected with cadmium for 45 days, failed to restore the observed biochemical alterations in hepatic and renal carbohydrate metabolism to control values. Evidence indicates that cadmium augments the glucose-synthesizing capacity of liver and kidney cortex and that various metabolic changes persist even after a 4-week period of withdrawal from exposure to the heavy metal
Neutrophil function in chronic granulocytic leukaemia before and after busulphan treatment
No full textNeutrophil mobilization, phagocytic index (PI) and nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) dye reduction were reduced in 12 untreated patients with chronic granulocytic leukaemia whilst the serum lysozyme (SL) was increased. After nine patients had been treated with a standard dose of busulphan neutrophil mobilization was normal in six patients and NBT dye reduction normal in all nine patients but although the PI rose towards normal a slight defect which was possibly due to Busulphan therapy remained. The SL fell towards normal in nine patients after treatment but remained significantly different from a control group
Testicular and prostatic cyclic amp metabolism following chronic cadmium treatment and subsequent withdrawal
No full textDaily intraperitoneal injection of cadmium chloride (1 mg/kg) for 45 days decreased prostatic and testicular weights of mature male rats. In the prostate gland, chronic treatment with cadmium reduced cyclic AMP levels to 57% of normal values which appeared to be due to the decrease in adenyl cyclase activity since cyclic AMP metabolism by phosphodiesterase was not significant altered. Cyclic AMP binding to prostatic protein kinase was increased following cadmium administration, as was the activity of the cyclic AMP dependent form of protein kinase. In contrast to the prostate, testicular adenyl cyclase was stimulated by cadmium treatment. However, the endogenous cyclic AMP levels remained unaffected since the increase in testicular adenyl cyclase was offset by a concomitant increase in the activity of phosphodiesterase. Although the activities of the cyclic AMP dependent and the independent forms of testicular protein kinase were significantly depressed, the binding of cyclic AMP to protein kinase from testes of cadmium treated rats was not affected. Discontinuation of treatment for 28 days in rats that had previously been given the heavy metal for 45 days resulted in a reversal of several of the cadmium induced changes in cyclic AMP metabolism of the prostate gland. However, the weight of the prostate glands remained essentially in the same ranges as that seen in the 45 day \u27treated group\u27. In the case of testes, cessation of cadmium treatment restored adenyl cyclase and protein kinase (the cyclic AMP dependent form) activities back to normal. However, endogenous cyclic AMP levels, the cyclic AMP binding capacity of protein kinase, as well as testicular phosphodiesterase and the cyclic AMP independent form of protein kinase were still significantly reduced in the \u27withdrawal group\u27. ata suggest that cyclic AMP metabolism in both the primary and the secondary reproductive organs of the male rat is altered following chronic cadmium treatment and that the metabolic changes persist even 28 days following the termination of daily exposure to the heavy METAL
Alterations in striatal acetylcholine, acetylcholine esterase and dopamine after methadone replacement in morphine-dependent rats
No full textChronic treatment of rats with morphine was found to produced a significant increase in endogenous ACh and DA as well as a decrease in AChE activity of rat striatum. Narcotic withdrawal for 48 hr resulted in a reversal of morphine-induced changes in striatal ACh levels and AChE activity whereas the enhanced striatal DA remained unaltered. Methadone replacement failed to affect the changes in striatal ACh and AChE activity but abolished the increases in striatal DA seen in morphine-withdrawn rats. Our results suggest that ‘morphine addiction’ in rats may involve alterations in the cholinergic and dopaminergic mechanisms of the striatum and that methadone replacement influences primarily the changes in the dopaminergic system produced by chronic morphine and its subsequent withdrawal
The influence of electrical stimulation of the leg during surgical operations on the subsequent development of deep-vein thrombosis
Full text linkThe effect of galvanic stimulation of the calf muscles during surgical operations on the development of postoperative deep-vein thrombosis was assessed using 125I fibrinogen in 64 patients over 40 years of age undergoing major surgery. Alternate legs were stimulated in alternate patients using the opposite leg as a control. No significant difference in the incidence of deep-vein thrombosis was observed either in the immediate postoperative period or later
Proptosis of eye: an atypical presentation of prostatic malignancy.
Full text linkOrbital metastasis is a rare occurrence found only in about 3 - 10% of all prostate cancers. A 72 years male presented with proptosis of the left eye associated with pain, blurred vision and frequent headaches for the past 8 months. Past medical history had symptoms of bladder outflow obstruction for 3 years. MRI brain and orbit with contrast was consistent with a large soft tissue mass in the left frontal region. The mass was surgically excised in order to achieve palliation. Histopathology revealed poorly differentiated malignant neoplasm with immunohistochemistry favoring metastatic prostate carcinoma. Postoperative radiotherapy was administered with a palliative intent. CT scan identified an enlarged prostate with a nodular lesion, abdominal lymphadenopathy and soft tissue density lesion in the apical segment of left lung. Serum PSA level was 149 µg/L. Bone scan was also consistent with metastatic disease