Richard D. Ruppert

The effect of chronic alcohol administration on the immune responsiveness of rats

Abstract A series of studies were carried out to determine the effect of chronic alcohol administration on cellular and humoral immunity in the rat. Alcohol-treated rats received an alcohol liquid formula diet for 3 months, and this uniformly resulted in the development of a fatty liver. In alcohol-treated rats there was a delay in antibody production to both typhoid H and B. abortus antigens following a primary immunization. The peak titers obtained, however, were not significantly different from those of the control animals. The secondary response to typhoid H antigen was not affected. The expression of cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity to a potent skin sensitizing chemical, 2, 4-dinitrofluorobenzene, was also depressed in alcohol-treated rats. Animals receiving alcohol also had markedly atrophic thymuses and small spleens. The normal thymuses and adrenal glands found in control animals treated with ACTH injections indicate that the changes were not due to hyperactivity of the adrenal cortex in a stressful situation. It is postulated that the deleterious effects of alcohol on the immune system of rats may be due to alteration in either reticuloendothelial or thymic function.

Intestinal atony in progressive systemic sclerosis (scleroderma)

Abstract Small bowel involvement in systemic sclerosis is common, but grossly impaired peristalsis resulting in intestinal atony develops in only a small number of patients. This report describes such a patient who experienced repeated episodes of nausea, emesis and abdominal distention and in whom refractory stasis of intestinal contents with severe malabsorption ultimately developed. Excessive enteric protein loss was demonstrated by a Cr 51 -albumin test. Electron microscopic studies of the jejunum revealed atrophy of smooth muscle associated with striking collagen deposition and a marked paucity of smooth muscle nexuses (cell junctions). It is suggested that the extensive fibrosis and loss of muscle cell to muscle cell contact resulted in nonsynchronized muscular contractions and the development of intestinal dilatation and atony.

Pheochromocytoma, neurofibromatosis and thyroid carcinoma

Abstract This is the first case report of the simultaneous occurrence of pheochromocytoma, neurofibromatosis and carcinoma of the thyroid. A 25 year old white female with a 4 year history of intermittent hypertension died in irreversible shock. The autopsy findings confirmed the presence of neurofibromatosis, pheochromocytoma and carcinoma of the thyroid with multiple metastases. The association of neurofibromatosis and pheochromocytoma is explained on an embryologic basis. The relationship of carcinoma of the thyroid is postulated to be caused by the intermittent stimulation of the thyroid tissue by the catecholamines.

Protein-losing enteropathy associated with gastrointestinal allergy

Abstract A case of hypoproteinemia and protein-losing enteropathy occurring in association with gastrointestinal allergy is described. The excessive enteric loss of protein, documented by a Cr 51 -albumin test, was corrected by corticosteroid therapy with a return of serum proteins to normal levels. A specific food intolerance was correlated with the symptoms of gastrointestinal involvement and changes in the intestinal mucosa. The patient was challenged with various foods in a manner in which he could not identify the food being administered. A bland food produced no symptoms. However, after challenge with a food to which he was intolerant, tachycardia, nausea, emesis, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, leukocytosis and increased eosinophilia developed. Biopsy specimens from the small intestine obtained after challenge demonstrated an increased infiltration of eosinophils but no significant change in jejunal histamine or serotonin concentrations. Since an exhaustive workup failed to reveal any other cause for the patients protein-losing enteropathy, it is proposed that the excessive enteric loss of protein was due to injury to the gastrointestinal mucosa by specific food allergens.

Use of Medium Chain Triglycerides in Malabsorption

Excerpt Recent clinical observations have indicated that triglycerides containing medium chain fatty acids may be useful in decreasing the steatorrhea associated with a variety of malabsorptive dis...

Gastric secretion in ulcerogenic tumors of the pancreas.

Excerpt Eleven years have elapsed since Zollinger and Ellison (1) reported the association of peptic ulcer disease and tumors of the pancreas. To date, over 400 cases have been reported. However, i...

Inhibition of Protein Synthesis: A Mechanism for the Production of Impaired Iron Absorption

Treatment of rats with cycloheximide results in a defect in intestinal iron transport. A similar defect occurs after the parenteral administration of iron. Under both conditions there is impaired uptake of iron into the mucosal cells as well as defective transfer from the intestinal mucosa. It is suggested that the interference in iron transport may be due to a deficiency of an unidenti-fild carrier Substance.

Effect of acute and chronic ethanol treatment on the absorption of iron in rats.

Recent studies have suggested that ethanol may influence iron absorption. Since chronic alcoholism is frequently associated with nutritional cirrhosis, which itself may influence iron absorption, the question arises whether ethanol per se affects iron absorption. Studies were carried out to determine the effect of acute and chronic treatment with alcohol and whiskey on the absorption of ferrous iron in the rat. Isolated intestinal loops and everted duodenal gut saes were utilized. In rats given a single large dose of 86 proof blended whiskey or ethanol (3.2 gm/kg), there was a significantly decreased absorption of radioiron from intestinal loops. In contrast, there was no difference in iron absorption in rats given daily intraperitoneal injections of ethanol or an ethanol liquid formula diet for four weeks as compared to controls. Similarly, there was no change in the mucosal to serosal transfer of ferrous sulfate utilizing everted duodenal gut saes obtained from rats given the ethanol formula diet or daily injections of ethanol for four weeks. The data indicate that ethanol treatment of the rat, given in a variety of regimens, does not result in the increased absorption of ferrous iron despite the induction of a fatty liver.

Severe metabolic acidosis in the rat induced by toxic doses of tetracycline.

Summary Treatment of rats with tetracycline in a dosage of 400 mg/kg results in a syndrome somewhat similar to reported cases in humans of death following intravenous administration of large doses of tetracycline. The rats rapidly developed a severe metabolic acidosis with arterial pH levels frequently decreasing to values below 7.10 units. The acidosis was disproportionately severe for the degree of azotemia present. In addition, marked hyperkalemia frequently developed within 4-8 hours after administration of tetracycline. It is suggested that death resulted from an overwhelming metabolic acidosis or cardiac arrhythmias due to hyperkalemia.