Plasma and intraerythrocyte amino-acid levels during and after haemodialysis in acute renal failure.

A study is carried out on the variations of plasma and blood red cells free amino acid concentrations secondary to haemodialysis in patients suffering from acute renal failure. A reduction in plasma free amino acid pool has been observed in patients undergoing to many periodic haemosialysis, but no significant differences occur in plasma aminogram between before and after a single dyalitic procedure. Significant alterations were also observed in blood red cells aminogram, and this may be interpreted as reflex of intracellular omeostatic mechanisms for the maintenance of normal plasma free aminoacid pattern.

The action of phosphocreatine and fructose 1,6-diphosphate on blood in vitro.

Blood in vitro has been used to evaluate the effects of phosphocreatine and fructose 1,6-diphosphate on the adenylate cycle. These compounds, following different metabolic pathways, increased the ATP concentration, phosphocreatine through a direct action on the adenylic phosphate cycle and fructose 1,6-diphosphate mainly by it glycolytic effect.

Biochemical changes in extracorporeal circulation in patients.

The effect of priming extracorporeal perfusion pumps with 50% and 80% diluted homologous blood on the serum electrolytes, acid-base status and plasma osmolality has been investigated in 103 patients undergoing open-heart surgery for congenital and acquired heart disease. The value in prognosis of plasma osmolality is discussed.

Rheological and biochemical changes in open heart surgery with extracorporeal circulation and moderate hypothermia.

The plasma enzymes, glucose, urea nitrogen, total and conjugated bilirubin, osmolality, acid--base balance and rheological data have been studied in a group of patients who underwent open heart surgery to replace the stenotic or insufficient aortic valve. The aim of this study was to assess our operative conditions and to compare results with those obtained by other authors.

Distribution of free amino acids in coma due to acute barbiturate poisoning in guinea pigs.

The cerebral protein and amino acid concentrations in guinea pigs coma due to barbiturate poisoning have been studies. Some significant alterations in systemic and central amino acid patterns have been found, giving rise to a hypothesis about the biochemical pathways involved in the coma. An attempt to correlate the amino acid changes and cerebral energetic 'need' is also reported.

Acute renal failure: biochemical evaluation of total parenteral nutrition with essential L-amino acids.

Plasma amino acid patterns were studied in three groups: one of 10 healthy subjects used as control, one of five patients in acute renal failure treated by haemodialysis plus a standard high-calorie non-protein diet, and one of five patients with the same clinical condition and treated in the same way except that the total parenteral nutrition consisted of a mixture of carbohydrate and essential L-amino acids. Our results indicate that haemodialysis seems to be responsible for some part of the depletion of amino acids and that their administration reduces this effect both for the essential and for the non-essential amino acids.

The acid--base status: a mathematical approach to its definition.

The respiratory and non-respiratory factors of acid--base status have been evaluated mathematically. New units of measurement for derangements of the acid--base balance are proposed.

Concentrations of free amino acids in plasma, erythrocytes and cerebrospinal fluid in coma.

The concentrations of free amino acids were measured in plasma and erythrocytes in 15 patients, and in cerebrospinal fluid in eight patients, who were in coma. Although there was a variety of causes of coma, there seemed to be a characteristic pattern of the concentrations of amino acids for coma, and the plasma/cerebrospinal fluid ratios also showed constant patterns.

An attempt to control cerebrospinal fluid acidosis in coma due to head injury.

The acid-base status of the arterial blood, jugular venous blood, peripheral venous blood and lumbar cerebrospinal fluid and the free amino acids in the cerebrospinal fluid have been studied in 12 patients suffering from coma due to head injury. They were given S adenosyl-methionine (10 mg/kg/day). Significant statistical differences of acid-base balance and CSF free amino acids have been obtained after the administration of te compound. The clinical and biochemical significance of the use of S adenosyl-methionine in severe brain injuries is discussed

Amino acid distribution in guinea pig plasma, cerebrospinal fluid and brain tissue in acute experimental hypoxia.

An experimental study of 150 guinea pigs has been carried out to analyze the amino acid pattern in plasma, cerebrospinal fluid and brain tissue in acute hypoxia. The distribution of these compounds changed, and hypotheses about particular cerebral metabolic pathways involved are presented.

Intravenous sodium lactate administration in respiratory alkalosis secondary to severe brain injuries.

In acute cerebrovascular accidents the uptake of lactate by the brain tissue is enhanced, possibly in an attempt to buffer the increased local lactic acidosis. In this paper the results obtained by the administration of the lactate in 78 cases of hyperventilatory syndromes secondary to acute brain injuries, and the biochemistry of the cerebrospinal fluid and blood, are reported.

Lysine hydrochloride for the control of metabolic alkalosis: a clinical report.

Many physiopathological states can produce metabolic alkalosis that must be promptly corrected as soon as it is dangerous. In our study we report the effectiveness of lysine hydrochloride to correct this condition in patients. This drug lowers the pH, reduces the bicarbonate stores, and leads to normal blood gases.

Biochemical changes in neurosurgical patients under critical care treated with mannitol.

A Study was carried out on ten patients undergoing operations for brain tumors, who were treated with mannitol solutions. This caused a significant depletion of serum sodium ion and in an increase of discriminate osmolality (to 60 mosM/kg H2O). A hypothesis about the particular biochemical mechanism, involving the electrolyte and water distribution, is presented.

The significane of measurement of osmolality in critically ill patients.

The plasma and urine osmolality and their ratios were measured in 774 patients in critical care. We found that changes in osmolality were related to the alterations of ratios of sodium ion, glucose, blood urea nitrogen and unknown metabolites, and this knowledge may be of therapeutic and prognostic value.

A comparative study of free amino acids in coma of different aetiologies.

A comparative study of the concentrations of free amino acids in the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid in cases of coma of different origins has been made. Hypotheses are put forward to explain the biochemical steps involved in cerebral metabolism of protein.

Free amino acids in plasma and erythrocytes during and after cardiopulmonary by-pass in open-heart surgery.

The concentrations in plasma and erythrocytes of free amino acids before, during and after cardiopulmonary by-pass have been determined. During by-pass and the early postoperative period the total alpha-amino nitrogen decreased, mainly because of changes in glucogenic amino acids; ketogenic amino acids, on the other hand, increased. The phenylalanine/tyrosine ratio was markedly increased in all cases.

Plasma cortisol monitoring acute myocardial infarction.

A study of the concentration of unconjugated plasma cortisol in nine patients with acute myocardial infarction has been made. The effectiveness of monitoring this factor in assessment of the clinical course and establishing early treatment in this condition is also reported.

Plasma cortisol in open-heart surgery.

In view of disagreements about changes in plasma cortisol, during and after open-heart surgery, a group of patients was studied with both unconjugated plasma cortisol, and anaesthetic, surgical and pharmacological factors that could interfere with the response, being analysed.

Changes in blood viscosity and plasma proteins in myocardial infarction.

A clinical study of some biological and biochemical factors was carried out on patients with acute myocardial infarction. It was shown that: (i) the plasma viscosity was highly correlated to the clinical evolution of myocardial infarction; (ii) the variations of plasma viscosity were related to changes in the connection of fibrinogen and globulin; (iii) the highest correlation was between the plasma viscosity and alpha2-globulin concentration. The monitoring of these may be useful in the clinical evaluation of myocardial infarction.

Osmolality measurements in heart disease.

A study of the variations of plasma and urinary osmolality in patients with acute myocardial infarction and heart failure of different origin was made. It was shown that the plasma osmolality may be related to the clinical evolution of heart disease. The effectiveness of monitoring the osmolality in establishing the alterations of water-electrolyte balance is also reported.