AUTOMATED DETECTION OF MALARIAL RETINOPATHY USING TRANSFER LEARNING.

Cerebral Malaria (CM) is a severe neurological syndrome of malaria mainly found in children and is associated with highly specific retinal lesions. The manifestation of these indications of CM in the retina is called malarial retinopathy (MR). All patients showing clinical signs of CM are commonly diagnosed and treated accordingly; however, 23% of them are misdiagnosed as they suffer from another infection with identical clinical symptoms. Due to these underlying symptoms, the false positive cases may go untreated and could result in death of the patients. A diagnostic test is needed that is highly specific in order to reduce false positives. The purpose of this study to demonstrate a technique based on a transfer learning technique using images from three different retinal cameras to identify the hemorrhages and whitening lesions in the retina which can accurately identify the patients with MR. The MR detection model gives a specificity of 100% and a sensitivity of 90% with an AUC of 0.98. The algorithm demonstrates the potential of accurate MR detection with a low-cost retinal camera.

Predictors of complications from stoma closure in elective colorectal surgery: an assessment from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACSNSQIP).

BACKGROUND: There is significant morbidity after diverting ileostomy closure, so identifying predictors of complications could be of great benefit. The aim of our study was to evaluate the incidence and risk factors for postoperative morbidity after elective ileostomy closure. METHODS: The ACS-NSQIP dataset was evaluated for elective ileostomy closures from 1/1/2015 to 12/31/2016. Demographic characteristics, operative, and postoperative outcomes were evaluated. The primary outcome was 30-day major morbidity (Clavien class III and greater). Secondary outcomes were rates and predictors of major morbidity, superficial site infection (SSI), reoperation, and readmission from multivariate logistic regression modeling. RESULTS: We retrospectively evaluated 1885 patients. The median operative time was 65 (IQR 50-90) minutes and median length of stay was 3 (IQR 2-5) days. Major morbidity was recorded in 6.7%, including mortality (1.0%), deep/organ space SSI (2.6%), dehiscence (0.8%), reintubation (0.5%), sepsis (1.7%), septic shock (0.8%), and reoperation (3.7%). Readmission was recorded in 9.7% and 6.2% had SSI. Multivariate logistic regression showed male sex (OR 1.584; 95% CI 1.068-2.347; p = 0.022) and longer operative time (OR 1.004; 95% CI 1.001-1.007; p = 0.009) were among those variables associated with increased odds of major morbidity. Dyspnea (OR 2.431; 95% CI 1.139-5.094; p = 0.021) and longer operative time (OR 1.003; 95% CI 1.001-1.007; p = 0.034) were among the independent risk factors for SSI. Male sex (OR 2.246; 95% CI 1.297-3.892; p = 0.004, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR 2.959; 95% CI 1.153-7.591; p = 0.024), and longer operative time (OR 1.005; 95% CI 1.001-1.009; p = 0.011) were associated with increased odds of reoperation. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR 2.578; 95% CI 1.338-4.968; p = 0.005), wound infection (OR 2.680; 95% CI 1.043-6.890; p = 0.041), and inflammatory bowel disease (OR 2.565; 95% CI 1.203-5.463; p = 0.015) were associated with increased odds of readmission. CONCLUSIONS: Elective stoma closure has significant risk of morbidity. Patients with longer operative times were at increased risk for major morbidity, overall SSI, and reoperation. From the analysis, factors specifically associated with major morbidity, overall infectious complications, readmissions, and reoperations were identified. This information can be used to prospectively prepare for these high-risk patients, potentially improving postoperative outcomes.

Frailty in older patients undergoing emergency colorectal surgery: USA National Surgical Quality Improvement Program analysis.

BACKGROUND: Frailty is associated with advancing age and may result in adverse postoperative outcomes. A suspected growing elderly population needing emergency colorectal surgery stimulated this study of the prevalence and impact of frailty. METHODS: Elderly patients (defined as aged at least 65 years by Medicare and the United States Census Bureau) who underwent emergency colorectal resection between 2012 and 2016 were identified from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program population database. The five-item modified frailty index (mFI-5) score was calculated, and patients stratified into groups 0, 1 or 2 + . Main outcome measures were the prevalence of frailty, and its impact on 30-day postoperative morbidity, mortality, reoperation, duration of hospital stay (LOS), discharge destination and readmission. RESULTS: A total of 10 025 patients were identified with a median age 75 years, of whom 41·8 per cent were men. The majority (87·7 per cent) had an ASA fitness grade of III or greater and 3129 (31·2 per cent) were frail (mFI-5 group 2+). Major morbidity occurred in one-third of patients and the postoperative mortality rate was 15·9 per cent. Some 52·0 per cent of patients had a prolonged hospital stay and 11·0 per cent were readmitted. Although most patients (88·0 per cent) lived independently before surgery, only 45·4 per cent were discharged home directly. Frailty (mFI-5 2+) predicted mortality, overall and major morbidity, reoperation, prolonged LOS, discharge to an institution and readmission, but frailty was independent of sex. CONCLUSION: Frailty is associated with morbidity, mortality and loss of independence in elderly patients needing emergency colorectal surgery.

ANTECEDENTES: la fragilidad se asocia con la edad avanzada y puede ocasionar resultados adversos postoperatorios. Un presunto aumento de la población mayor que necesita cirugía colorrectal urgente fue el motivo de efectuar este estudio sobre la prevalencia e impacto de la fragilidad. MÉTODOS: Pacientes mayores (definidos como ≥ 65 años por Medicare y la Oficina del Censo de los Estados Unidos) sometidos a resección colorrectal de urgencia fueron identificados a partir de la base de datos poblacional del ACS-NSQIP desde 2012 a 2016. Se calculó el índice de fragilidad modificado de 5 factores (5-factor modified frailty index, mFI-5), y los pacientes se estratificaron en grupos de 0, 1, y 2+. Las medidas de los resultados principales fueron la prevalencia y el impacto de la fragilidad en la morbilidad postoperatoria a los 30 días, mortalidad, reoperación, duración de la estancia hospitalaria (length of stay, LOS), destino al alta y reingreso. RESULTADOS: De 10.131 pacientes, 31,2% (n = 3.129) eran frágiles/mFI-5 de 2+ con una mediana de edad de 75 años y 41,8% eran varones. La mayoría tenían una puntuación ASA 3 o mayor (n = 87,7%), aparecieron complicaciones mayores en un tercio de los pacientes y la mortalidad postoperatoria fue del 15,9%. Se observó una LOS prolongada en 52,0% y 11,0% fueron reingresados. Aunque la gran mayoría (88%) vivían de forma independiente antes de la cirugía, solo el 45,4% fueron dados de alta directamente a su domicilio. Un mFI-5 of 2+ predijo mortalidad, morbilidad global y mayor, reoperación, LOS prolongada, alta a una institución, y reingreso, pero la fragilidad fue independiente del género. CONCLUSIÓN: La fragilidad se asoció con morbilidad, mortalidad y pérdida de independencia en pacientes mayores que necesitan cirugía colorrectal de urgencia.

Evaluating the association of the new National Surgical Quality Improvement Program modified 5-factor frailty index with outcomes in elective colorectal surgery.

BACKGROUND: The 5-factor modified frailty index (mFI-5) is a new, NSQIP-based, predictive tool for mortality and postoperative complications. The mFI-5's predictive ability has been validated within the large-scale NSQIP database but applicability in institutional databases has not been investigated. We sought to assess the association between the mFI-5 and morbidity/mortality at the institutional level. METHODS: A divisional database was queried for 2017 elective colorectal resections and an mFI-5 calculated. The main outcome measure was the association and predictive value of the mFI-5 with major morbidity/mortality and minor complications. Univariable analyses were performed via the Cochran-Armitage Test and Cramer's V. Logistic regression evaluated the relationship between the mFI-5 and morbidity/mortality while accounting for demographics and pre-operative risk factors. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to visualize the predictive strength for outcomes. RESULTS: Four hundred and twelve patients were analyzed. 8.7% had major morbidity/mortality and 31.6% minor complications. The mFI-5 categorized patients into 0 (n = 335), 1 (n = 58), and 2+ (n = 19) groups. Univariable analysis showed a higher mFI-5 was associated significantly with major morbidity/mortality (P = 0.004), but not minor (P = 0.281). Multivariable logistic regression showed a strong association between an mFI-5 score of 2+ with major complications (Major: OR = 4.616, CI [1.442-14.776], P = 0.010). ROC curves showed the mFI-5 was poor for predicting outcomes and performed better when other risk factors were added to the model. CONCLUSION: The mFI-5 tool has an independent association with major morbidity/mortality in an institutional dataset for elective colorectal surgery, but is not predictive. Its predictive ability is enhanced when other patient-specific risk factors are incorporated.

Developing the combined magnetic, electric and air flow (KLME) separator for RMSW processing.

The authors are working on the development of a mechanical-physical processing plant to prepare non-selectively collected residual municipal solid waste (RMSW) in the Zalaegerszeg region of Hungary. A key element of this processing plant is the newly developed KLME separator (the name KLME is the Hungarian abbreviation of 'combined magnetic, electric and air flow'). This separator is a combination of three widely applied separators, namely a magnetic separator, an eddy current separator and two types of air flow separators designed without the ordinarily necessary cross connecting belt conveyors and feeders. Extensive RMSW and WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment) sampling and analyses were carried out in three municipalities to obtain model materials before designing the technology. After fundamental research and laboratory-scale testing, a pilot-scale KLME separator prototype (1.5 ton/h) was made. It has one input stream and five output streams targeted towards five types of products: two-dimensional materials (foils), three-dimensional light materials, magnetic materials, electrically conductive materials and heavy inert materials. Systematic pilot scale testing was carried out and 18 discrete technological setups were tested. The technology as well as the machine were continuously improved and modified based on on-site observations. The best yields and the experience gained are being utilised for the design of an industrial size machine.

Xenobiotic metabolism gene expression in the EpiDermin vitro 3D human epidermis model compared to human skin.

There is an urgent need to validate in vitro human skin models for use in safety testing. An important component of validation is characterizing the metabolizing capacity of these models. We report comparison of the expression of 139 genes encoding xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes in the EpiDerm model and human skin. In microarray analysis, the expression of 87% of the genes was consistent between the EpiDerm model and human skin indicating the presence of similar metabolic pathways suggesting commonality in function. Analysis of EpiDerm models constructed from four donors showed highly comparable expression of xenobiotic metabolizing genes demonstrating reproducibility of the model. Overall, the expression of Phase II enzymes appeared to be more pronounced in human skin and the EpiDerm model than that of Phase I enzymes, consistent with the role of skin in detoxification of xenobiotics. Though the basal expression of CYPs in particular was low in EpiDerm, significant induction of CYP1A1/1B1 activity was observed following treatment with 3-methylcholanthrene. These results indicate that the xenobiotic metabolizing capacity of the EpiDerm model appears to be representative of human skin. Models such as EpiDerm provide a valuable in vitro approach for evaluation of metabolism and toxicity of cutaneous exposures to xenobiotics.

Arthropod touch reception: structure and mechanics of the basal part of a spider tactile hair.

Our previous studies on spider tactile hairs concentrated on the mechanical behavior of the hair shaft and the electrophysiological properties of the sensory cells. Here we focus on the structure and mechanical properties of the coupling of the hair shaft and the sensory terminals. 1. The functional "design" of the coupling provides for a combination of high sensitivity and protection against mechanical damage and overstimulation. The dendritic sheath is not directly coupled to the hair shaft. Rather, there is "terminal connecting material" between the dendrites and the hair shaft. 2. The hair shaft forms a first-order lever. Its acentric axis of rotation is located ca.3.5 microm from its inner end. Displacement of the hair tip is scaled down by a factor of ca.750:1, not even considering the outer hair shaft's bending. 3. At threshold the dendrite sheath displacement is ca. 0.05 microm by forces in the order of 0.4-4x10(-6) N. 4. The hair shaft bends within the socket even before contacting it. The elasticities representing its suspension and bending in the socket can be described quantitatively by measuring the hair's restoring moments (range: 10(-9) Nm) and bending at different degrees of deflection.

CD spectrometric methods for the simultaneous determination of ethisterone and its delta5-isomer.

Quick and accurate direct and indirect circular dichroism (CD) spectrometric methods were developed for the simultaneous determination of ethisterone (17alpha-ethinyl-17-hydroxy-4-androstene-3-one) and its delta(5)-isomer (delta(5)-ethisterone). The direct method is based on the selective negative Cotton effect of the delta(4)-3-oxo group in ethisterone (negative maximum at 348 nm in dioxan) and measurement of the ellipticity at 296 nm (positive maximum of delta(5)-ethisterone), where the measured ellipticity is the sum of those of the two isomers. In the indirect procedure delta(5)-ethisterone is transformed to ethisterone by base-catalysed isomerization and the ellipticities are measured at 339 nm in ethanol before and after isomerization. Preliminary experiments show the usefulness of CD detector in the HPLC determination of the mixture of the isomers. A major advantage of the direct CD spectrometric and the HPLC/CD methods is that the delta(5)-isomer with extremely low UV activity can also be directly measured with high sensitivity.

Ecological risk assessment framework for low-altitude aircraft overflights: I. Planning the analysis and estimating exposure.

An ecological risk assessment framework for low-altitude aircraft overflights was developed, with special emphasis on military applications. The problem formulation and exposure analysis phases are presented in this article; an analysis of effects and risk characterization is presented in a companion article. The intent of this article is threefold: (1) to illustrate the development of a generic framework for the ecological risk assessment of an activity, (2) to show how the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ecological risk assessment paradigm can be applied to an activity other than the release of a chemical, and (3) to provide guidance for the assessment of ecological risks from low-altitude aircraft overflights. The key stressor for low-altitude aircraft overflights is usually sound, although visual and physical (collision) stressors may also be significant. Susceptible and regulated wildlife populations are the major assessment endpoint entities, although plant communities may be impacted by takeoffs and landings. The exposure analysis utilizes measurements of wildlife locations, measurements of sound levels at the wildlife locations, measurements of slant distances from aircraft to wildlife, models that extrapolate sound from the source aircraft to the ground, and bird-strike probability models. Some of the challenges to conducting a risk assessment for aircraft overflights include prioritizing potential stressors and endpoints, choosing exposure metrics that relate to wildlife responses, obtaining good estimates of sound or distance, and estimating wildlife locations.

Effects of space flight on endocrine system function in experimental animals.

The effects exposing rats to space flights of various lengths in a series of COSMOS satellites are reported based on an evaluation of plasma hormone levels and several enzyme activities in the tissues. The results after space flights are compared with those obtained from rats exposed to acute or repeated stress. Space flight induced selective morphological responses in the corticotrophs and gonadotrophs of the pituitary. Plasma levels of ACTH did not change, but plasma growth hormone and TSH levels decreased after longer space flights (>14 days), while prolactin in the plasma increased after short flights (5-7 days). Plasma corticosterone was higher after all flights. Catecholamine levels in plasma increased only after long space flights. These changes in plasma hormone levels affected the activities of enzymes involved in the amino acid metabolism of the liver and lipolysis in the adipose tissues. Norepinephrine level and catecholamine synthesizing enzyme activity in the hypothalamus did not change in flight rats. The norepinephrine content, however, decreased in several nuclei selected from the hypothalamus of flight rats. Increases in plasma insulin and glucose were noted in rats after space flight. Glucagone values in plasma remained unchanged. Comparing these results from flight rats against rats exposed to acute or repeated stress indicate that long stays in microgravity do not represent intensive stressogenic stimulus of the adrenocortical and sympathetic adrenomedullar systems, and hormone alterations observed after space flight may be due primarily to acute stressor activity resulting from a return to Earth's gravity (gravitational stress).

Advanced slit lamp techniques with an understanding of pathology.

1. Knowledge of slit lamp illumination techniques along with solid concepts of the disease processes can allow an understanding of the visible morphologic structures seen in the disease process during examination with the biomicroscope. 2. Inflammation can be defined as the interaction between a stimulus and a host, frequently resulting in some degree of structural change within the host. 3. The cellular responses include a predictably sequential order of events. The four cardinal signs of inflammation are redness, swelling, heat, and pain, phenomena explained at the cellular level.

Basic slit lamp techniques.

Get the patient comfortable in the chin rest by manipulating the machine distance, elevation of the chair, and correct angling of the machine to the patient. Elderly patients need time and assistance to get positioned. Make sure they are elevated enough to get their foreheads against the headrest with comfort, or they will tend to easily drift backward during the exam, and your focusing power will be inaccurate. A little time taken positioning the patient can mean a more expedient and efficient exam. Align the eye marker on the headrest to the lateral canthus of the eye. Always speak calmly and logically to your patient. As soon as you have positioned the patient's chin on the rest, tell the patient to look at your right ear when examining the patient's right eye, and vice versa. The patient needs something to concentrate on as soon as positioned. Practice makes perfect. If you can visualize the three main components that make up the slit lamp--the head and chin rest for the patient, the microscope, and a housing for the illumination and the diaphragm controls--the machine becomes less overwhelming and better understood. Utilizing the biomicroscope effectively can allow great views of the dynamics in ocular anatomy and physiology.

Impact of bone density corrections on target dose delivered to the prostate with 4 MV, 6 MV, 10 MV, and 18 MV photons.

Doses for definitive prostate irradiation have been derived empirically using low-energy megavoltage equipment without availability of bone density corrections. With their increased availability, higher energy photons are being used more frequently because of their improved depth of penetration. Although inhomogeneity corrections lead to greater accuracy of dose delivery, the clinical utility of corrections in the pelvis is unclear. This study evaluates the effect of bone density on the dose delivered with respect to the photon energy employed. Contours and volumes for 10 patients were taken from computed tomography scans at the center of the prostate gland. Treatment plans for bilateral prostate arc fields were run on the Capintec Treatment Planning System for 4, 6, 10, and 18 MV photon energies. The monitor units needed to deliver 6500 cGy to isocenter without bone correction were used for calculations, both with and without bone correction using the equivalent path length algorithm. The median dose to the isocenter was 6500 cGy for all energies without bone correction. The median doses using the uncorrected monitor units for the 4 MV, 6 MV, 10 MV, and 18 MV photon beams corrected for bone density were 6033, 6062, 6166, and 6228 cGy, respectively. The variance in target doses observed in our patient sample was +/- 2.3%, +/- 2.2%, +/- 1.7%, and +/- 1.4%, respectively, for the 4 MV, 6 MV, 10 MV, and 18 MV beams with bone correction. The increased density of bone in the pelvis does alter the actual dose to the prostate from external beam treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effect of space flights on plasma hormone levels in man and in experimental animal.

An important increase of plasma hormone levels like insulin, TSH and aldosterone was observed in human subjects after space flights, however in the changes of plasma content of ACTH, cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline the individual variations were observed in relation to number and duration of space flight. For evaluation of the effects of these changes in plasma hormone levels on metabolic processes also the experiments with small animals subjected to space flights on a board of biosatellite of Cosmos series were running. An elevation of plasma levels of corticosterone, adrenaline, noradrenaline and insulin was found in rats after the space flights of duration from 7 to 20 days. It was demonstrated, that the increase of corticosterone in plasma is followed by the activation of enzymes involved in the amino acid metabolism in rat liver (tyrosine aminotransferase, tryptophanpyrolase, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase). After a short recovery period (2 to 6 days) the plasma corticosterone concentration and also the activity of liver enzymes returned to control levels. The exposition of animals to stress stimuli during this revcovery period showed higher response of corticosterone levels in flight rats as compared to intact controls. The increase of plasma catecholamine levels was not followed by elevation of lipolysis in adipose tissue. This is due to lower response of adipose tissue to catecholamine because a decrease of the stimulation of lipolysis by noradrenaline was observed in animals after space flight. The increase of insulin was not followed by adequate decrease of glucose concentration suggesting a disturbances in glucose utilization similarly as in cosmonauts after a long-term space flight. These results showed that changes in plasma hormone levels, observed after space flight, affected the regulation of metabolic processes in tissues.

The effect of space flight on the board of the satellite Cosmos 2044 on plasma hormone levels and liver enzyme activities of rats.

The aim of present experiment was to study the changes of corticosterone, insulin and glucose levels in plasma, of the activity of enzymes involved in aminoacid metabolism in liver and the binding of insulin to specific receptors of cell membrane from liver and also of adipose tissue of rats exposed to space flight for 14 days on biosatellite Cosmos 2044. Adult male Wistar rats (body mass 300-370 g) were divided into five groups: intact control rats (AC), rats exposed to space flight (F), animals in synchronous model experiment (S), rats in antiorthostatic hypokinesia (A) and so called operated control group (C). Half of all groups (5 animals) except the intact control were operated 3 days before the experiment (fibulas on both hind legs were broken). The flight animals were sacrificed 5-6 hours after landing. It was observed that plasma insulin levels are increased in rat exposed to 14-day space flight and in synchron experiments. A significant increase of plasma glucose levels was found in flight rats in spite of high insulin concentrations suggesting that in rats exposed to 14-day space a deterioration of tissue sensitivity to insulin could by present. No significant differences of specific insulin binding to liver plasma membrane fraction in flight and intact control animals were observed. A decrease of insulin binding capacity in liver was found in rats in antiorthostatic hypokinesia (A). However in the membrane of adipocytes an important increase of insulin receptors was noted in rats subjected to space flight. These results suggest, that the liver and adipocyte insulin receptors of flight rats did not respond to the increased plasma insulin levels by "down regulation". The determination of plasma corticosterone levels showed that in flight rats and animals exposed to antiorthostatic hypokinesia the plasma hormone levels are significantly elevated. A significant increase of tyrosine aminotransferase and tryptophan pyrrolase activities in liver of flight rats and those exposed to hypokinesia was observed. Also the elevation of alanine amino-transferase in liver was observed in flight rats, while, the activity of aspartate aminotransferase in liver was similar in control and flight animals. These results showed that the changes in liver enzyme activities in rats after 14-day space flight are in agreement with the results observed in previous experiments after a shorter space flight (7 days).

Deletions within the amino-terminal half of the c-src gene product that alter the functional activity of the protein.

To examine how amino acid sequences outside of the catalytic domain of pp60c-src influence the functional activity of this protein, we have introduced deletion mutations within the amino-terminal half of pp60c-src. These mutations caused distinct changes in the biochemical properties of the c-src gene products and in the properties of cells infected with retroviruses carrying these mutant c-src genes. Cells expressing the c-srcNX protein, which contains a deletion of amino acids 15 to 89, displayed a refractile, spindle-shaped morphology, formed intermediate-sized, tightly packed colonies in soft agar, and contained elevated levels of cellular phosphotyrosine-containing proteins. Thus, deletion of amino acids 15 to 89 can activate the kinase activity and transforming potential of the c-src gene product. Deletion of amino acids 112 to 225, however, did not increase the kinase activity or transforming ability of pp60c-src; indeed, deletion of these sequences in c-srcHP suppressed phenotypic alterations induced by pp60c-src. Cells expressing the c-srcNP or c-srcBS gene products (containing deletions of amino acids 15 to 225 and 55 to 169, respectively) displayed a fusiform, refractile morphology and formed diffuse colonies in soft agar; the mutant proteins displayed an increased in vitro protein-tyrosine kinase activity. However, only a few cellular proteins contained elevated levels of phosphotyrosine in vivo. Thus, deletions downstream of amino acid 89 severely restricted the ability of c-src to phosphorylate cellular substrates in vivo without affecting the intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity of the c-src gene product. These results suggest the existence of at least two modulatory regions within the amino-terminal half of pp60c-src that are important for the regulation of tyrosine kinase activity and for the interaction of pp60c-src with cellular substrates.

Diminished growth hormone secretion in blind males after L-dopa stimulation.

Growth hormone secretion after L-dopa administration (1000 mg p.o.) was investigated in young adult normal and blind volunteers. The average increment of plasma growth hormone after L-dopa stimulation in the blind was below the criterion for a positive response (less than 5 ng ml-1). The control volunteers showed normal response. After L-dopa stimulation there was a significantly diminished growth hormone response in the young adult blind compared to control volunteers.

Dose dependent reversal by i.v. glucose administration of the stimulation of rat liver glycogen phosphorylase by epinephrine infusion.

Infusion of 0.5 ml kg-1 min-1 20% glucose i.v. failed to suppress the stimulatory effect of 0.25 microgram kg-1 min-1 epinephrine dissolved in and infused together with the above glucose solution on the activity of liver glycogen phosphorylase in adult male rats. However, 40% glucose solution administered in the same way abolished the effect of the epinephrine infusion completely. An i.v. pulse of 1 g kg-1 glucose in the form of a 40% solution immediately before the infusion of the same dose of epinephrine in saline had only a temporary inhibitory effect on epinephrine induced increase of phosphorylase activity. Finally, i.p. administration of 10 mg kg-1 phentolamine 60 min before epinephrine infusion in saline completely blocked the increasing effect of the latter on both liver phosphorylase and serum glucose, while that of 4 mg propranolol 30 min before the hormone failed to exert any influence. This reconfirmed the well known mediation of the glycogenolytic effect of catecholamines in adult male rats by alpha type adrenergic receptors.

[Development and significance of estrogen-induced increase in the activity of several liver enzymes]. / Vorkommen und Bedeutung östrogenbedingter Aktivitätssteigerung einiger Leberenzyme.

In experiments on adult, female rats, the author confirm the stimulatory effect of 50 micrograms kg-1 17-beta-estradiol daily, s.c., for more than 1 week on the activity of liver tyrosine aminotransferase and tryptophan pyrrolase and describe experiments suggesting an increased glucocorticoid sensitivity, as a consequence of the estrogen treatment. The study contributes to the information on potential side effects of hormonal contraception.