Polymorphonuclear leukocyte function in psoriasis vulgaris

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) migration was assessed in vitro using the agarose plate method in patients with psoriasis vulgaris, and compared with an age- and sex-matched control group. No significant difference was found between the two groups in the PMN response to the chemotactic substances F-Met-Leu-Phe (FMLP) or zymosan activated serum (ZAS). Equally, the chemokinetic or chemotactic potential of psoriatic serum did not differ from control serum. Our results do not support a primary abnormality of PMN function in psoriasis.     

1 alpha(OH)D3 (ETALPHA) treatment and receptor studies in 16 patients with chronic and myeloproliferative disorders

10 patients with CLL and 2 with CML were treated with gradually increasing doses of 1 alpha(OH)D3, up to 4 micrograms daily during 6 wk. 3 patients with preleukemia and 1 with myelofibrosis were treated with 2 micrograms daily of 1 alpha(OH)D3 for a prolonged period up to 17 wk. The treatment with 1 alpha (OH)D3 did not result in changes of disease parameters in any of the patients under study. Receptor studies for 1,25(OH)2D3 were performed in 8 CLL patients and revealed only 1 patient with increased specific receptor binding capacity. The maximum tolerable dose of 1 alpha(OH)D3 varied individually, but was in the range of 2-4 micrograms daily.     

Carnitine status in Reye and Reye-like syndromes

Fourteen children with the following Reye and Reye-like syndromes were studied to determine each patient's carnitine status: valproate-induced Reye-like attack, ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency, systemic carnitine deficiency, methylmalonic acidemia, and propionic acidemia. Reduced free carnitine and increased serum and urine acylcarnitine levels were found in all patients except for 2 with Reye syndrome, in whom serum creatinine levels were mildly elevated and serum free carnitine levels were not reduced. The renal free carnitine reabsorption rate was reduced in all cases. The free carnitine content of autopsied liver samples were reduced in 2 Reye syndrome patients, 2 OTC deficiency patients, and in a single systemic carnitine deficiency patient. The observed secondary free carnitine deficiency may be a factor in the pathogenesis of Reye and Reye-like syndromes.     

Alpha-adrenoreceptor reagents. 4. Resolution of some potent selective prejunctional alpha 2-adrenoreceptor antagonists

The resolution of three 2-substituted derivatives of idazoxan is described. The enantiomers show large separations in activity in a variety of in vitro and in vivo tests, and the active isomers are all potent and selective antagonists at the alpha 2-adrenoreceptor. The significance of these results in relation to those published on the enantiomers of idazoxan and to those on optically active alpha 2-adrenoreceptor agonists is discussed.