A.F. Sabato

Plasma free amino acids in trauma: clinical and therapeutic implications.

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the plasma free amino acid patterns in patients suffering from traumatic shock. Changes found in the behaviour of single free amino acids appear to indicate that the nutritional infusate solutions should not contain glutamic acid, high concentrations of arginine or a ratio of essential free amino acids to total nitrogen of more than 3.2.

A simple rapid identification of psychotropic drugs by infrared spectrophotometry in emergency — Preliminary description

Abstract A large number of pharmaceutical products has been analysed by this original method. It is based on the extraction with chloroform of the active principles followed by infrared absorption spectrometry. Comparison of the spectra obtained with those for compounds previously obtained allows the prompt identification of unknown samples.

Changes in blood viscosity and plasma proteins in myocardial infarction

A clinical study of some biological and biochemical factors was carried out on patients with acute myocardial infarction. It was shown that: (i) the plasma viscosity was highly correlated to the clinical evolution of myocardial infarction; (ii) the variations of plasma viscosity were related to changes in the connection of fibrinogen and globulin; (iii) the highest correlation was between the plasma viscosity and alpha2-globulin concentration. The monitoring of these may be useful in the clinical evaluation of myocardial infarction.

The amino acid cerebral pool after toxic doses of lidocaine and mexiletine. An experimental study on guinea pigs.

Lidocaine and Mexiletine are two anti-arrhythmic drugs which when administered in toxic doses cause alterations in the central nervous system (convulsions, tremors, coma). An experimental study was carried out to clarify some neurological side-effects caused by these two drugs, by studying the variations of the brain amino acid pool. With Lidocaine one can observe an increase of phenyl-alanine and tyrosine, a decrease of glycine, GABA, alanine, aspartate and glutamate, while taurine and ammonia showed no significant changes. After Mexiletine one can observe an increase of ammonia, a decrease of GABA, glutamine, glycine and alanine, while glutamate, taurine, phenyl-alanine and tyrosine remain within normal values. In conclusion, on the basis of the data obtained by comparing the two drugs, one could say that Lidocaine has a greater interference on the catecholaminic precursors which are little influenced by Mexiletine. For the rest, the data obtained are practically super- imposable .

Biochemical changes in neurosurgical patients under critical care treated with mannitol

A Study was carried out on ten patients undergoing operations for brain tumors, who were treated with mannitol solutions. This caused a significant depletion of serum sodium ion and in an increase of discriminate osmolality (to 60 mosM/kg H2O). A hypothesis about the particular biochemical mechanism, involving the electrolyte and water distribution, is presented.

Plasma cortisol monitoring in acute myocardial infarction

A study of the concentration of unconjugated plasma cortisol in nine patients with acute myocardial infarction has been made. The effectiveness of monitoring this factor in assessment of the clinical course and establishing early treatment in this condition is also reported.

Concentrations of free amino acids in plasma and brain in experimental coma due to flunitrazepan in guinea pigs

Abstract The concentrations of free amino acids in plasma and brain after Flunitrazepam administration have been analyzed in guinea pigs. The changes observed indicate effects on the catecholaminergic, citrate and glutamate metabolic pathways.

An electronic system of infrared spectral data for toxicological analysis

Abstract A large number of non-volatile poisons have been analyzed by infrared spectroscopy and spectral indices have been stored as standards. Comparison of the spectra of unknown samples with the standard spectra allows identification of the unknown samples. This comparison is carried out by computer.

Lysine hydrochloride for the control of metabolic alkalosis: A clinical report

Many physiopathological states can produce metabolic alkalosis that must be promptly corrected as soon as it is dangerous. In our study we report the effectiveness of lysine hydrochloride to correct this condition in patients. This drug lowers the pH, reduces the bicarbonate stores, and leads to normal blood gases.

The brain amino acid pattern in experimental coma due to phenytoin in guinea pigs

An experimental study was carried out on 50 guinea pigs to evaluate the amino acid pattern in the whole brain after a toxic dose of phenytoin (1 g . kg-1 body wt). One group of 25 guinea pigs was treated with the drug which made them comatose, and their brains removed by craniotomy and frozen in liquid nitrogen; 25 guinea pigs were used as a control group. The brain amino acid pattern was determined by ion-exchange chromatography. All the amino acids, except threonine and methionine, decreased. Hypotheses about the particular cerebral metabolic pathways involved are discussed.