Alfred Kershbaum

The Role of Catecholamines in the Free Fatty Acid Response to Cigarette Smoking

The role of the adrenal glands and the sympathetic nervous system in the free fatty acid (FFA) rise after smoking was investigated.In 11 subjects who smoked three cigarettes per hour for a 3-hour period, urinary free catecholamine excretion increased 2.5 &mgr;g./hr. (21 per cent) and total catecholamine excretion increased 3.1 &mgr;g./hr. (16 per cent). FFA elevations occurred in all subjects during the smoking period.In three subjects, repeated control determinations of their FFA response to smoking were made and a rise was observed in each instance. Sympathetic ganglionic blockade was then induced with methaphan camphorsulfonate and the smoking tests were repeated. No rise in FFA after smoking occurred following blockade.Eight patients, who had previously undergone bilateral adrenalectomy for the treatment of hypertension, were studied for their FFA response to smoking. In six subjects there was no significant elevation. In two subjects there was a minimal effect.These findings indicate that for cigarette smoking to cause an increase in serum free fatty acids both the adrenal glands and the sympathetic nervous system must be functioning, probably to produce an effective level of circulating catecholamines.

Effect of cigarette smoking and nicotine on serum free fatty acids based on a study in the human subject and the experimental animal.

The effect of cigarette smoking on serum free fatty acids (FFA) was studied in human subjects. After smoking two cigarettes there was an average maximal elevation in FFA of 351 μEq./L. This usually occurred 10 minutes after smoking and, in most instances, there was still some elevation 20 and 40 minutes after smoking. There was essentially no effect on serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels. In subjects who “chain-smoked” six cigarettes, all showed a rise in FFA during a 60-minute period, one showing a three-fold elevation. The effect of intravenous nicotine on serum FFA was studied in dogs. In 13 of 15 observations there was a rise in FFA. The mean maximal elevation of 166 μEq./L. occurred after 10 minutes of nicotine infusion. These effects are probably due to sympathetic and adrenal stimulation by nicotine. This results in a rise in circulating catecholamines which rapidly effect a mobilization of FFA from the fat stores in the body.

Response of free fatty acids to coffee and caffeine

Abstract The effect of coffee, decaffeinated coffee and a control beverage on plasma FFA was studied in a group of normal human subjects. The effect of caffeine sodium benzoate was also studied in the dog. Significant elevations in FFA were observed after coffee and caffeine which usually reached their peak in 3 or 4 hours. The administration of sucrose significantly reduced the immediate FFA response. The FFA effects with decaffeinated coffee were markedly less than with regular coffee and were similar to that of the control beverage. These effects are considered to be of importance, particularly in that they may be related to other disturbances in lipid metabolism.

Effect of coffee ingestion on catecholamine release

Abstract Urinary catecholamine excretion was studied in 18 young male subjects during a control period and following the ingestion of coffee. This study showed that ingestion of coffee in moderate amounts resulted in a significant increase in the urinary catecholamine excretion. The possible effects of such long-term catecholamine stimulation is discussed, especially with reference to their effect on blood lipids.

Effect of cigarette smoking on free fatty acids in patients with healed myocardial infarction

Abstract The effect of smoking on serum free fatty acids was studied in 17 patients with healed myocardial infarction. There was an elevation of FFA in all subjects after smoking two cigarettes in a 10 minute period. A mean maximal rise of 858 μEq. L. (65.6 per cent) occurred 10 to 20 minutes after smoking, and usually some elevation persisted for 40 minutes. Noncoronary patients and normal subjects also developed FFA elevations of 320 μEq. L. (27.2 per cent) and 292 μEq. L. (24.6 per cent), respectively. It is suggested that the greater FFA response in myocardial infarction patients is the result of a greater catecholamine release after nicotine stimulation.

ELEVATION OF SERUM CHOLESTEROL AFTER ADMINISTRATION OF NICOTINE.

Abstract Dogs were given daily intramuscular injections of nicotine for a 6-week period, and the effect on serum lipids was observed. The mean serum cholesterol level rose from 144 ± 11.8 mg. per cent to 216 ± 15.3 mg. per cent (50 per cent). The elevation of cholesterol was maintained until the administration of nicotine was stopped. It is suggested that this effect may be secondary to a nicotine-induced rise in free fatty acids.

The significance of low voltage of the QRS complex in precordial leads

The significance of low voltage of the QRS complexes in the limb leads of the electrocardiogram has been discussed by many observers.1 There can be little question that, in many instances, low voltage complexes are a result of severe myocardial disease. However, this is by no means always so, for complexes which are definitely below the accepted limits of normal are often observed when there is only slight myocardial involvement, and even when the heart is normal. Although Willius and Killins2 attributed to myocardial disease the low voltage which they found in 32 per cent of 140 cases, they feel that low voltage which is unassociated with other graphic abnormalities neither indicates serious myocardial disease necessarily, nor, ipso facto, is of serious prognostic import. The diagnosis of myocardial disease, although it may be suggested, cannot be made positively upon the evidence of low voltage alone. As far as we are aware, the literature contains no study of the significance of low voltage of the QRS complexes in precordial leads. The lack of correspondence between the amplitude of different precordial leads and that of the limb leads is well recognized.3, 4, 5 Usually, low voltage in the limb leads, even when it results from severe myocardial disease, is accompanied by normal voltage in the precordial leads. Much less frequently have we observed that low voltage was present in both limb and precordial leads. The present study is an attempt to evaluate the factors which are responsible for this agreement, and the significance of curves in which the voltage of the QRS complexes is low in both limb and chest leads.Abstract The significance of low voltage of the QRS complexes in the limb leads of the electrocardiogram has been discussed by many observers. 1 There can be little question that, in many instances, low voltage complexes are a result of severe myocardial disease. However, this is by no means always so, for complexes which are definitely below the accepted limits of normal are often observed when there is only slight myocardial involvement, and even when the heart is normal. Although Willius and Killins 2 attributed to myocardial disease the low voltage which they found in 32 per cent of 140 cases, they feel that low voltage which is unassociated with other graphic abnormalities neither indicates serious myocardial disease necessarily, nor, ipso facto, is of serious prognostic import. The diagnosis of myocardial disease, although it may be suggested, cannot be made positively upon the evidence of low voltage alone. As far as we are aware, the literature contains no study of the significance of low voltage of the QRS complexes in precordial leads. The lack of correspondence between the amplitude of different precordial leads and that of the limb leads is well recognized. 3, 4, 5 Usually, low voltage in the limb leads, even when it results from severe myocardial disease, is accompanied by normal voltage in the precordial leads. Much less frequently have we observed that low voltage was present in both limb and precordial leads. The present study is an attempt to evaluate the factors which are responsible for this agreement, and the significance of curves in which the voltage of the QRS complexes is low in both limb and chest leads.

Effect of cola drinks on serum free fatty acids.

The effect of cola drinks on free fatty acids (FFA) is of considerable interest Diet cola drinks which contain caffeine and artificial sweetener but no sucrose produced significant progressive increase in plasma FFA during the first four hours after ingestion. The regular cola drinks which contain large amounts of sucrose in addition to the caffeine resulted in a decrease in the plasma FFA during the first two to three hours after ingestion, following which there was an increase by the fourth hour. The diminished response of FFA to the cola drinks containing sucrose Is probably due to the suppression of caffeine-in-duced FFA release by the sucrose as a result of its effect on the reesterification of the released FFA. These findings are of interest in view of the relationship of FFA elevation and other lipid fractions, notably, triglycerides and cholesterol.

Original communicationThe significance of low voltage of the QRS complex in precordial leads: Comparison with low voltage in limb leads

The significance of low voltage of the QRS complexes in the limb leads of the electrocardiogram has been discussed by many observers.1 There can be little question that, in many instances, low voltage complexes are a result of severe myocardial disease. However, this is by no means always so, for complexes which are definitely below the accepted limits of normal are often observed when there is only slight myocardial involvement, and even when the heart is normal. Although Willius and Killins2 attributed to myocardial disease the low voltage which they found in 32 per cent of 140 cases, they feel that low voltage which is unassociated with other graphic abnormalities neither indicates serious myocardial disease necessarily, nor, ipso facto, is of serious prognostic import. The diagnosis of myocardial disease, although it may be suggested, cannot be made positively upon the evidence of low voltage alone. As far as we are aware, the literature contains no study of the significance of low voltage of the QRS complexes in precordial leads. The lack of correspondence between the amplitude of different precordial leads and that of the limb leads is well recognized.3, 4, 5 Usually, low voltage in the limb leads, even when it results from severe myocardial disease, is accompanied by normal voltage in the precordial leads. Much less frequently have we observed that low voltage was present in both limb and precordial leads. The present study is an attempt to evaluate the factors which are responsible for this agreement, and the significance of curves in which the voltage of the QRS complexes is low in both limb and chest leads.Abstract The significance of low voltage of the QRS complexes in the limb leads of the electrocardiogram has been discussed by many observers. 1 There can be little question that, in many instances, low voltage complexes are a result of severe myocardial disease. However, this is by no means always so, for complexes which are definitely below the accepted limits of normal are often observed when there is only slight myocardial involvement, and even when the heart is normal. Although Willius and Killins 2 attributed to myocardial disease the low voltage which they found in 32 per cent of 140 cases, they feel that low voltage which is unassociated with other graphic abnormalities neither indicates serious myocardial disease necessarily, nor, ipso facto, is of serious prognostic import. The diagnosis of myocardial disease, although it may be suggested, cannot be made positively upon the evidence of low voltage alone. As far as we are aware, the literature contains no study of the significance of low voltage of the QRS complexes in precordial leads. The lack of correspondence between the amplitude of different precordial leads and that of the limb leads is well recognized. 3, 4, 5 Usually, low voltage in the limb leads, even when it results from severe myocardial disease, is accompanied by normal voltage in the precordial leads. Much less frequently have we observed that low voltage was present in both limb and precordial leads. The present study is an attempt to evaluate the factors which are responsible for this agreement, and the significance of curves in which the voltage of the QRS complexes is low in both limb and chest leads.

Non-Permeability of Blood Clot to Sulfonamide Drugs in Presence of Increased Temperature

Summary The permeability of human blood clot to various sulfonamide drugs under conditions of increased temperature was determined in an in vitro study. Negligible penetration of the clot occurred even in the presence of temperatures up to 41°C. Heparin had no effect on the permeability of the blood clot.