The extent and variability of effects of culture conditions on the secretion of human chorionic gonadotrophin and interleukin-6 by human, term placental explants in culture.

Culture of explants derived from third trimester human placenta is used in a range of contexts as an experimental model that retains tissue architecture. This study aimed to explore the variability between, and within, individuals of secretion by explants of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Standard culture medium contained hydrocortisone, insulin, retinoic acid and serum. Under these conditions explants displayed significant differences in the time-course and extent of hCG secretion. Peak hCG secretion varied between 1.19 and 242 mIU/mg protein/h (coefficient of variation (CV) = 111%) and could occur between days 4 and 7 of culture. hCG secretion was more variable if explant protein was < 400 microg. Unadjusted day 7 hCG secretion showed marked variation: intra-placental CV = 15%, inter-placental CV = 86%. When day 7 hCG secretion was standardised by day 6 secretion, intra-placental CV was 6.9%, inter-placental CV was 4.0%. When this standardisation was applied, hCG secretion during day 7 of culture was not affected by removal of hydrocortisone, insulin or serum from the medium or by the addition of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). The secretion of IL-6 during day 7 of culture (standardised by taking natural logarithms) was increased markedly by the addition of TNF-alpha but unaltered by removing hydrocortisone, insulin or serum. Thus, we have shown that although variable, secretion by placental explants can be used to investigate how placental tissue adapts to different culture conditions. However, explants of the same protein content may have markedly different secretory properties.

Ethanolamine oleate and acute renal failure.

Two patients suffered from acute renal failure following the use of a larger than usual volume of ethanolamine oleate during the injection of varicose veins. Prominent symptoms of headache, nausea and epigastric pain were associated with the onset of acute renal failure. Spontaneous recovery occurred.

Drug overdoses: Is one stomach washing enough?

Naso-gastric tube aspirates were taken from patients with drug overdoses who had been given a gastric lavage and admitted to the resuscitation ward. Although care was taken to conduct thorough washouts, it was found that these were not always efficient. In several cases an amount equivalent to a therapeutic dose of drug was recovered in later aspirates. There was no correlation between the amount of drug recovered in the initial stomach washings and that found in the aspirates. It was concluded that routine aspiration of gastric contents at hourly intervals after admission was of considerable value in removing any residual drugs.