INDOMETHACIN OR PREDNISOLONE AT NIGHT IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS?

Indomethacin, 100 mg orally, was compared with prednisolone,5 mg, as additional therapy at night, in a two-week, double-blind,between-patient study in twenty-four in-patients with rheumatoidarthritis. Both therapies proved equally effective, and significantlylessened morning stiffness and increased grip strength. Twopatients with dyspepsia were discontinued from the indomethacingroup. Using indomethacin at night avoided the central nervoussystem side-effects frequently seen with this compound. ^*Merck Sharp & Dohme Ltd., Hoddesdon, Herts.     

Defective Ultraviolet-Induced DNA Repair in Bone Marrow Cells and Peripheral Lymphocytes of Patients with Refractory Anemia with Excess of Blasts

The extent of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation-induced DNA repairwas measured in bone marrow cells and peripheral lymphocytesof patients with refractory anemia with excess of blasts (RAEB).Bone marrow cells from RAEB, when exposed to a 2 J/m dose ofUV, exhibited 50% lower incorporation of tritiated thymidinethan those of control subjects. A similar finding was observedin the peripheral lymphocytes. These data suggest that bonemarrow cells and peripheral lymphocytes from RAEB are deficientin repair of UV-induced lesions by DNA. Furthermore, this impairedDNA repair efficiency in RAEB was not related to the presenceor absence of a karyotype abnormality.     

Evaluation of non-invasive techniques to assess vasoconstriction in healthy volunteers using methoxamine as a probe drug

Non-invasive methods for assessment of the vascular effects of antimigraine drugs were evaluated with respect to their utility, variability and sensitivity in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, three-period crossover study in six healthy volunteers using an intravenous vasoconstrictor, methoxamine, as a probe drug. Changes in the internal diameter of the brachial and radial arteries were measured using ultrasound which had low between-day and within-day coefficients of variation. Peak systolic velocity (PSV), time-averaged velocity (TAV), total flow, resistance (RI) and pulsatility indices (PI) were measured by Doppler from one arterial wave form. Whilst PSV and TAV increased with methoxamine, because of bradycardia, changes in PI and RI were difficult to interpret. An automatic oscillametric cuff, a mercury-in-silastic strain gauge method and the "Finapres", finger arterial blood pressure monitor were used to follow changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP). The strain gauge technique underestimated arm SBP compared to the oscillometric method but clearly showed drug-related increases whilst the Finapres did not reflect changes in blood pressure detected by the other methods.     

五味子中联苯环辛二烯木脂素类化合物的质谱研究

本文通过低分辨和高分辨质谱和亚稳分析,对五味子甲素(schisandrin A,1)等23个从五味子科(Schisandraceae)植物中分离出的联苯环辛二烯木脂素类化合物进行了质谱裂解方式研究,总结了重要的质谱特征,为今后继续研究五味子科植物及类似新化合物的结构测定提供了可靠依据。     

Practical and technical considerations in establishing an intraoperative radiation therapy program in the community practice

The Radiation Oncology Center in Sacramento, California, has developed a procedure for establishing an intraoperative radiation therapy facility in a community practice. The logistics pertaining to personnel, equipment, physical measurements, and quality assurance are presented. Particular emphasis is given to the most effective means of acquiring the large quantity of data needed to ensure a program of acceptable quality.     

Hyperlipidemia, hypercoagulability, and accelerated thrombosis: studies in congenitally hyperlipidemic rats and in rats and monkeys with induced hyperlipidemia

Inbred Carworth Farms Nelson (CFN) congenitally hyperlipidemic rats had significantly shorter coagulation and prothrombin times and higher levels of coagulation factors, II, V, VII, VIII, and X than did controls. Conversely, congenitally hypolipidemic rats of the same strain had significantly longer coagulation and prothrombin times and lower levels of factors II, V, VII, X and XII and of blood platelets than did controls. A loop-shaped polyethylene cannula was inserted into the aorta to assess the potential for thrombosis. The hyperlipidemic group obstructed this significantly faster and the hypolipidemic group slower than did the controls. Normal CFN rats made hypertensive by unilateral renal artery clip developed hypertension together with significantly elevated serum cholesterol and factor VII and X levels. Rhesus monkeys with diet-induced hyperlipidemia showed shorter prothrombin times and higher factor X levels than did controls on normal diet. By selective breeding, two groups of squirrel monkeys were obtained. Both groups had similar serum cholesterol levels on a normal diet but one group (hyperresponders) showed higher serum cholesterol levels on a cholesterol-containing diet than did the other (hyporesponder) group. Both groups showed significantly elevated levels of factors II, V, VII, IX and X on a cholesterol-containing diet. There was good correlation between the levels of many coagulation factors and serum cholesterol in both rats and monkeys. If thrombosis is important in the genesis of atherosclerosis, these findings could indicate that elevation of plasma lipids may play a role, via the coagulation pathway, in the production of human vascular disease.