John A. Cardarelli

Potassium depletion in hepatic cirrhosis. A reversible cause of impaired growth-hormone and insulin response to stimulation.

Abstract Seven of 17 patients with cirrhosis and impaired carbohydrate tolerance were found to have potassium depletion as judged by rises of body potassium from 12.7 to 35.8 per cent of the initial value during potassium chloride administration. Plasma insulin and growth-hormone response to the administration of glucose or arginine was initially below normal in the potassium-depleted patients but elevated above normal in those without potassium depletion. Administration of 180 mEq of potassium chloride daily for a period of two or more weeks resulted in increased body potassium, improved glucose tolerance and increased insulin and growth-hormone responses in the seven potassium-depleted cirrhotic patients, but no significant change in any of these measurements in the others. These observations indicate that potassium depletion in cirrhotic patients is associated with a diabetic glucose tolerance test and reduced output of both insulin and growth hormone and that potassium repletion may be accompanied by ...

Analysis of stable iodinated insulin by neutron-activation techniques

Abstract Neutron activation analysis of stable iodinated insulin has been performed [127I(n, γ)128I]. Using a lithium-drifted germanium detector for counting the 128I gamma ray of 0·442 MeV, we have successfully analyzed less than one microgram of iodine without the necessity of pre- or post-irradiation chemistry. The theoretical lower limit for 128I using this technique appears to be 40–50 ng of iodine. Increased sensitivity was achieved by using a NaI (Tl) well detector with post-irradiation chemistry. The results indicated that with this destructive method, we should be able to measure as low as 1–2 ng of iodine. Excellent recovery of insulin by immunoassay, after neutron activation, provided evidence that the technique using freeze drying of insulin and a Ge (Li) detector did not damage the insulin molecule. We conclude that using two different detector systems after neutron activation, accurate and reliable studies could be performed with iodinated insulin and other proteins in biological functions studies.