M. Don Turner

Importance of medium solutes in polarographic measurement of low oxygen consumption rates

Abstract 1. 1. Solutes in biological media change both the solubility and the activity coefficient of oxygen. 2. 2. When 0.5% glucose was added to a buffered electrolyte medium, the Clark electrode oxygen consumption (blank), as measured by the rate of fall in pO 2 , increased precipitously and was not reproducible thereafter. 3. 3. With 0.02% glucose present the electrode was relatively stable for 2 days, but the standard deviation of the blank was 4–6 times greater than without it. 4. 4. The magnitude and variability of the electrode blank must be determined in the medium to be employed to preclude significant error in polarographic measurement of low rates of oxygen consumption.

Steroid metabolism in man: Hydrocortisone output of adrenal glands

STEROID METABOLISM IN MAN: HYDROCORTISONE OUTPUT OF ADRENAL GLANDS. James D. Hardy and M, Don Turner, with the technical assistance of Thelma Carter and Virginia Ward. Dept. of Surgery, Univ. of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Miss. At laparotomy timed collections of blood flow were taken from the left central adrenal vein (which represents virtually the entire venous drainage of this organ), and free and conjugated hydrocortisone values were compared with those in systemic blood in ten patients. The average measured adrenal vein blood flow was 25 cc./min., the average adrenal \renous plasma level of free hydrocortisone 224 gamma per cent, and the average of conjugated hydrocortisone 125 gamma per cent. In systemic blood the average preoperative values for free and conjugated forms were 5.6 and 7.8 gamma per cent; 24.0 and 16.7 during operation; and 9.9 and 25.2 gamma per cent for free and conjugates, respectively, four hours after operation. The relative preponderance of conjugated forms postoperatively perhaps reflected the rapid conjugation of the large amount of free hydrocortisone secreted by the adrenal cortices during operation. It is estimated on the basis of plasma values that during operation the combined hydrocortisone output of both adrenals was 77 gamma per minute, red cell steroid content not considered. The hydrocortisone output by both adrenals was estimated on the basis of plasma values to be 34 mg. per twenty-four hours. The methods of Nelson and Samuels, and of Bongiovanni were employed.

ELECTRICAL Anestheisa: V. Survey of Clinical Progress with Illustrative Cases

OR MANY YEARS the possibility of emF ploying electrical current as a means of providing local, spinal, or general anesthesia has offered a fascinating field for investigation. H i s t o r i cally , such work probably dates back to the time of Benjamin Franklin ; but the work d’Arsonval in 18901 is often cited as the most important pioneering effort. In this investigation d’ Arsonval observed t h a t rabbits could be safely and rapidly anesthetized by applying direct current, interrupted 2500 to 10,000 times per second, to the heads of these animals.