Role of atrial natriuretic factor in sodium and water retention in patients with schistosomal hepatic fibrosis.

Fifty subjects divided into three groups were studied: Group I: 10 normal adult subjects as controls. Group II: 20 patients with schistosomal hepatic fibrosis (SHF) without ascites (compensated stage). Group III: 20 patients with SHF with ascites. In all these patients plasma atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), serum aldosterone and serum osmolality were determined. There was a significant decrease in the plasma ANF in groups II and III compared to group I. There was a significant increase in the serum aldosterone level in group III compared to groups I and II. No significant difference was noted in serum sodium and potassium levels among the three groups. There was a significant decrease in serum osmolality in groups II and III compared to group I.

The prognostic value of the brain sodium-potassium ATPase enzyme concentration in head injury.

Sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) enzyme was determined in the brain tissue of 11 patients with head injury and 6 control patients. Patients with head injury included in this study were selected from two categories: (a) patients in deep coma due to severe head injury [Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) less than 8; 6 cases]; (b) patients with depressed skull fractures with dural tears who were conscious and able to give an adequate verbal response (GCS greater than 10; 5 cases). The level of the enzyme was significantly reduced in comatose patients with severe head injury as compared to the controls (P less than 0.001) or to conscious patients with depressed fractures (P less than 0.001). In the group of conscious patients with depressed fractures, the enzyme level was no different from that of the controls (P = 0.4215). All comatose patients with severely reduced enzyme levels subsequently died, whereas those with depressed fractures with normal enzyme levels survived. The relationship between a low enzyme level and brain edema in severe head injury is discussed.

Effect of prostaglandin A1 on renal hemodynamics in pregnancy toxemia.

PGA1 was infused at a constant rate for 2 hours in 35 pregnant women in the third trimester. Twenty-five patients had clinical manifestations of pregnancy toxemia and 10 served as control subjects. Two dose levels (0.5 to 1.0 mug/kg/min) were investigated and obstetric aspects as well as renal hemodynamics were evaluated. At the high-dose level, the drug induced labor in half the subjects (toxemia patients and control subjects) and elicited a hypotensive response only in hypertensive cases. A marked increase in GFR and RPF was achieved at both dose levels in all cases. Plasma electrolytes, osmolality, and urea levels were unaltered. Also, the infusions did not induce any appreciable diuresis or natriuresis. Tph mechanisms of the induced changes and possible etiologic involvement of PGA1 in toxemia are discussed.

Hepatic intracellular sodium in schistosomal hepatic fibrosis.

This study was performed on 15 male non-ascitic schistosomal cases to estimate hepatic intracellular electrolytes content. Another 10 non-schistosomal non-cirrhotic cases were taken as control. It has been found that, serum sodium and potassium concentration and hepatic intracellular potassium content were within normal range with no statistical difference in the values obtained in both schistosomal and control group. The hepatic intracellular sodium content was higher than normal in all our cases, with a significant statistical difference between the schistosomal and the control group. It has been concluded that, in schistosomal patients increase in the intracellular sodium content is an early finding before the development of ascites.

Effect of ATP on liver function tests in experimental diabetes.

Liver function tests were performed in severe and mild diabetic rats and under the influence of ATP. In mild diabetics the serum cholesterol was significantly increased, while in severe diabetes the serum cholesterol was significantly lower than in mild diabetes. The decreased serum cholesterol in severe diabetes may be an indication for the development of fatty liver. The serum alkaline phosphatase and serum bilirubin were significantly increased in both the severe and mild diabetic states, while the thymol turbidity test was insignificantly changed in both states of diabetes. Serum albumin was significantly decreased in 10 days mild diabetes, while it was insignificantly changed in 48 hrs severe diabetic animals. The effect of ATP was investigated in mild diabetes. ATP resulted in a significant increase in serum albumin and a decrease in total globulins with the resultant increase in A/G ratio. The serum alkaline phosphatase exhibited a significant reduction under the influence of ATP. The elevated cholesterol of mild diabetic rats remained significantly elevated and was not reduced by ATP, though the fat content of the liver showed a significant reduction. This may be due to more rapid mobilisation of fat from the liver under the influence of ATP. ATP showed no significant effect on serum bilirubin and thymol turbidity test. the histopathological examination of the liver revealed that administration of ATP to alloxan diabetic rats had a beneficial effect. It resulted in disappearrance of the fat globules from the liver cells.

Effect of repeated doses of ATP on serum protein pattern and fat content of the liver in experimental diabetes.

A comparison of serum protein fractions (electrophoretic separation) between control and mild alloxan-diabetic rats examined 10 days after alloxan indicates a decrease in total protein, a decrease in percentage albumin accompanied by a decrease in A/G ratio. In severe diabetic rats examined 48 hours after the administration of alloxan, there were no changes in total protein or in serum-protein fractions. The changes in the serum protein and serum albumin in mild diabetic cases are not the result of the degree of diabetes only. But they are rather explained by the longer time interval of the uncontrolled diabetic state. ATP administered to mild diabetic rats producing the following changes: two injections of 5 mg per rat exhibit a lowering effect on the blood glucose, with a decrease in liver fat. ATP resulted also in a significant increase in serum albumin and a decrease in beta-globulin with a consequent increase in the A/G ratio. Comparison of the different protein fractions of male and female control rats did not show any significant difference. ATP administered to control animals did not alter the normal electrophoretic pattern.

Human tubal fluid collection via vagina and its quantitative variations during the menstrual cycle.

The culdoscope was used for easy approach to the fallopian tube, which was delivered into the vagina, and a Foley catheter (No. 8 French) was introduced through its fimbrial end for collection of human tubal secretion. It was left from one to eight days. The technique was successful in 54 cases out of 60, but we succeeded in collecting enough fluid in 44 cases only. The volume of human tubal fluid was studied in relation to the phase of the cycle. A peak of fluid volume was found to occur at the midcycle.

The effect of chromium III on the intravenous glucose tolerance of rats given diets of different protein values.

The effect of chromium administration on glucose utilization was investigated in 32 rats fed either high or low protein diet. In rats fed a low protein diet of NDpE% 4.3 the glucose removal rate increased significantly following the administration of chromium. However, the administration of chromium has no effect on the glucose removal rate in rats fed high protein diet of NDpE% 10.1. The glucose removal rate of rats kept on a diet of high protein value free from chromium was significantly higher than those kept on a low protein diet. Chromium deficiency did not appear to be the only responsible cause for the impaired glucose tolerance in animals fed low protein diet. It could be concluded that both chromium supplementation and protein ingestion promote insulin secretion.

Maternal nutrition and lactation performance: a study in urban Alexandria.

PIP: Prolonged breastfeeding has been reported to protect the child from grossly defective weaning foods used in most developing countries. Even grossly malnourished mothers have been known to produced enough milk to keep their children alive. Hytten and Thompson reported that there is no evidence that maternal nutrition affect lactation. This study investigates the lactation performance of an unselected group of nursing mothers from a poor to moderate socioeconomic background, and determines the possible effects of their nutritional state on their breast milk and their infants. 41 urban mothers of a moderate to poor socioeconomic status (aged 18 to 38 years) and with an average of 4 pregnancies resulting in 3 surviving children comprised the study population. The mothers were divided into malnourished M group (n=17) and clinically apparently healthy H group (n=24). Biochemical assessments were made of the mothers and their infants, and an NSIM (Nutritional State Index of the Mother) and NSII (Nutritional State Index of the Infant) were made. The malnourished state of the mothers of group M was confirmed by dietary histories and biochemical assessments. 9 mothers in the H group had 'low' serum albumin values, and only 5 had a urea nitrogen/creatinine nitrogen ratio of above 30. The data suggest that the women were consuming a diet poor in protein but adequate in calories. Both groups of mothers produced milk of suboptimal but nonetheless acceptable composition, those in group M having lower concentration of protein and calories than those in group H. On the average, group H mothers produced a normal amount of milk, while group M mothers produced 22% less milk. Most of the infants were found to be of suboptimal nutritional status like the mothers. There was a high correlation between the NSII and amount of milk and of proximate constituents. NSIM correlated very highly with NSII. Nutrition of pregnant women should be improved to control infant malnutrition.^ieng