Alexander M. Rutenburg

COMPARATIVE DISTRIBUTION OF SUCCINIC DEHYDROGENASE IN SIX MAMMALS AND MODIFICATION IN THE HISTOCHEMICAL TECHNIC

The distribution of succinic dehydrogenase activity was compared in the organs of six mammals. The histochemical localization of the enzyme was improved so as to enable the use of thin frozen sections (10 µ) by the addition of the following ions:bicarbonate, calcium, magnesium and aluminum. The distribution of enzymatic activity by this technic in the organs of the rat was compared with the earlier method.

Comparative response of normal and cirrhotic rats to intravenously injected bacteria.

Summary Labelled (I131) bacteria infused into portal vein of normal rats were promptly cleared and destroyed with release of ionic I131 and its prompt excretion into the urine. In cirrhotic rats the clearance process was normal, but capacity to destroy bacteria was impaired. This resulted in persistence of ingested bacteria and of “bacteria bound” radioactivity in liver, lung, and spleen, and continued reseeding of the blood stream from such foci.

Mechanical circulatory assistance with intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation for major abdominal surgery.

Intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (IABC) provides effective mechanical circulatory assistance (MCA) in many patients with cardiac disease characterized by low cardiac output and/or myocardial ischemia. The intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) has been used almost exclusively in the care of patients with cardiac disease as their primary medical disorder. This report presents use of the IABP in three cases where cardiac disease was present, but abdominal pathology necessitating urgent surgical intervention was the primary medical concern. Experience with these three cases suggest that operative and early postoperative use of IABC in patients with documented heart disease undergoing major non-cardiac surgical procedures may reduce the high incidence of cardiac complications.

Clinical interpretation of serum β-glucuronidase activity

Summary1. Serum β-glucuronidase activity was assayed in 1134 patients with hepatobiliary or pancreatic diseases.2. This test proved to be the most sensitive for the detection of mild to moderate cirrhosis in theanicteric patient. Conversely, the presence of this disease is unlikely if the serum β-glucuronidase is normal. Consequently, the β-glucuronidase assay is a valuable screening test for this disease.3. Increased serum β-glucuronidase activity was as sensitive as index of hepatic dysfunction in patients with acute hepatitis or drug-induced jaundice as the serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase test and was more sensitive than the other hepatic tests commonly employed in the confirmation of these diseases. Furthermore, serial assays were of value in assessing the clinical course of the disease.4. The serum β-glucuronidase test is relatively nonspecific, since elevations were observed in a variety of diseases affecting the liver as well as during pregnancy and after the administration of estrogens. The considerable overlap of values in obstructive and primary hepatic jaundice renders the β-glucuronidase test of limited value in the differential diagnoisis of jaundice.5. The pathophysiologic alterations underlying variations of serum β-glucuronidase activity in hepatobiliary disease are discussed.

Studies with radioactive iodized fat. I. Preparation of radioactive fat with observations on the absorption of fat following subcutaneous and intraperitoneal injection in dogs

The intravenous administration of emulsified fat in concentrations suitable for nutritional purposes is not applicable for clinical use because an emulsion stabilizer free of undesirable effects has not yet been developed. Pending the availability of a satisfactory stabilizer, the possibility of parenteral administration of fat by other routes deserves further exploration. Data reported on the absorption and distribution of fat given subcutaneously, intramuscularly and intraperitoneally to animals (1-6) are equivocal or conflicting largely because of the inadequacy of the quantitative analytical methods used. Fat labelled with a radioactive element can be traced and measured with considerable accuracy. While fat labelled with radioactive carbon (C14) (7) or deuterium (8) is ideal, the measurement in tissue is more difficult than that of fat labelled with radioactive iodine. Although iodized fat is unnatural, its digestion, absorption and metabolic fate after oral and parenteral administration is said to simulate closely that of natural fat (9-15). Since iodine is liberated relatively slowly from iodized fat (16), it should, if radioactive, be useful to follow the absorption and immediate distribution of fat, once it enters the circulation. Accordingly, an emulsion of fat labelled with radioactive iodine was prepared with Demal 14 2 in order to determine with reasonable accuracy, (1) the absorption and distribution of fat introduced subcutaneously or intraperitoneally, and (2) the distribution of radioactive fat emulsions introduced intravenously. This communication presents a method for the preparation of radioactive fat, to-

Nu 445 in the Treatment of Urinary Infections Due to Gram Negative Bacilli.

Summary 1. An in vitro study of the action of Nu 445 shows that this drug occasionally exerts a greater bacteriostatic and bactericidal effect on certain strains of gram negative bacilli than do other sulfonamides. 2. Clinical trial in 20 patients with urinary infections indicated excellent effectiveness of the drug in uncomplicated, monovalent infections due to E. coll or B. proteus. 3. Results of treatment in polyvalent infections and in cases with complicating pathology were poor. 4. The marked lack of toxicity of Nu 445 recommends its use in appropriate cases, in which it will occasionally be found to be more effective than other sulfonamides.

Oral Administration of Aureomycin in the Treatment of Urinary Infections

IN A previous communication1 intramuscular injection of aureomycin hydrochloride was reported to be not only a highly effective antibiotic in a variety of urinary infections but also, in many cases, curative after other antibiotics had failed. Owing to the pain caused by the intramuscular injections, even when the drug is given in a 1 or 2 per cent procaine solution, a subsequent series of 26 patients were treated by aureomycin given orally. Observations These cases comprised an unselected group of 26 acute and chronic urinary infections and included 5 with chronic renal insufficiency. Seventeen patients had had prior treatment with .xa0.xa0.

Aureomycin in the treatment of diffuse peritonitis.

IN A previous communication aureomycin or a combination of aureomycin and penicillin was reported as effective in the treatment of diffuse peritonitis of intestinal origin.1 Our results in 24 cases...

Gallstone ileus, volvulus of the small intestine, incarcerated femoral hernia and peritonitis; report of a case.

THE combination of gallstone ileus, volvulus of the small intestine, incarcerated femoral hernia and diffuse peritonitis is sufficiently unusual to warrant a report. The probable sequence of events...