Gunnar Westberg

Beneficial effect of captopril on systemic lupus erythematosus-like disease in MRL lpr/lpr mice

MRL lpr/lpr (MRL/l) mice exhibit a disease similar to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in humans. To investigate the influence of antihypertensive treatment on this disease, four groups of MRL/l mice were treated with the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril (n = 25), with the sympathetic blocker bretylium (n = 15), and with cyclophosphamide (n = 10). Thirty-five mice did not receive any treatment and served as controls. Survival rate, blood pressure, incidence of proteinuria and hematuria, renal pathology, lymphoid hyperplasia and dermatitis were studied. The survival at the age of 36 weeks was significantly improved by captopril as compared to controls (60 vs. 25%, p = 0.035). The cyclophosphamide group showed no mortality at that time and the bretylium group did not differ from the control group. Captopril and bretylium reduced systolic blood pressure significantly while cyclophosphamide was without effect. Captopril and cyclophosphamide diminished significantly the glomerular damage with less proliferative changes and a decreased incidence of proteinuria. The bretylium-treated animals also exhibited an improved renal pathology index but they did not differ from the controls with respect to proteinuria and hematuria. Lymphoid hyperplasia and dermatitis were decreased only by captopril and cyclophosphamide. It is concluded that captopril improves survival in SLE disease of MRL/l mice, counteracting lymphoid hyperplasia, renal disease, dermatitis and decreasing arterial blood pressure.

Effect of captopril on murine systemic lupus erythematosus disease

The MRL/1 and New Zealand black-New Zealand white cross (NZBxW) mice spontaneously develop a disease similar to systemic lupus erythematosus in man. The effect of antihypertensive treatment on MRL/1 and NZBxW mice was studied with respect to survival, blood pressure, proteinuria, haematuria and renal histopathology. The treatment consisted of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (captopril and enalapril) and bretylium, a sympathetic blocker. Tail systolic blood pressure was measured with a strain gauge technique. All antihypertensive drugs caused a reduction in blood pressure in both strains. In MRL/1 bretylium and both ACE inhibitors improved renal histopathology, but only captopril prolonged survival, and it decreased proteinuria and haematuria. In NZBxW captopril decreased proteinuria but did not influence survival or renal histopathology. Bretylium was without any effect on these parameters. At the doses used captopril improves survival in MRL/1 mice and decreases proteinuria and haematuria in both MRL/1 and NZBxW mice. Since bretylium and enalapril lack this property despite a similar blood pressure reduction, it seems to be a drug-specific action.

Rhabdomyolysis and Acute Renal Failure Associated with Influenza Virus Type A

Two patients with rhabdomyolysis-induced acute renal failure due to influenza A virus infection are presented. Both had influenza symptoms, with high fever and severe muscular pain leading to walking problems. In addition, they were dehydrated due to vomiting and diarrhoea. Both had evidence of an ongoing influenza infection according to serological tests. Muscle injury due to the viral infection gave rise to rhabdomyolysis with efflux of myoglobin from the muscles, causing renal failure. In conclusion, influenza A virus infection can cause rhabdomyolysis accompanied by reversible acute renal failure.

Effect of Eicosapentaenoic Acid Rich Menhaden Oil and MaxEPA on the Autoimmune Disease of Mrl/l Mice

The Mrl lpr/lpr (Mrl/l) mouse is a model for systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis in humans. The diet of Mrl/l mice was supplemented with EPA (see Introduction) in menhaden oil or in the commerical fish oil MaxEPA. The survival of mice was not affected by the dietary manipulations. The addition of menhaden oil decreased the severity of the renal pathology. However, MaxEPA containing the same amount of eicosapentaenoic acid was considerably less effective. A diet deficient in polyunsaturated fatty acids did not ameliorate any manifestations of the disease. Anti-DNA antibody levels in serum were not influenced by the therapy. Myocardial abscesses and/or ulcerating valvular lesions were observed in about one third of the mice, irrespective of the diet given.

Free doctors and medical students detained in Nepal

On April 8 2006 the government of Nepal arrested seven physicians during a peaceful demonstration in Kathmandu. They were detained for 3 months in Duwakot prison. On April 19 Mathura Prasad Shrestha President of Physicians for Social Responsibility Nepal who has been in detention at Maharajgunj police academy in Kathmandu for several months on frivolous charges had his detention extended for another 3 months. According to a Nepalese medical student 39 medical students were also arrested while taking part in peaceful demonstrations. Two were kept in secret detention for 48 h and beaten. Later on about 30 armed police backed by Unified Command which includes the Royal Nepalese Army and the Armed Police Force entered the hostel of Tribhuwan University Teaching Hospital indiscriminately beating around 20 students injuring at least seven three of them critically. (excerpt)

Can Cyber Attacks Prevent Wars

Cyber attacks have in many instances interrupted production facilities, banking, management of public and private enterprises and also interfered with military planning and military exercises. I propose here that cyber attacks can promote conflict resolution and prevent war. The possibilities and limits of this form of “asymmetric warfare to promote peace” are analyzed. Will the method work best to avert an attack by a large state on a small country, or can conflicts between large powers also be delayed and maybe solved by the use of cyber threats? Is secrecy needed and is it possible? Today, when the risk of nuclear war is said to be increasing, it is increasingly important to find non-military ways to defuse and avoid conflicts.