Richard W. Whitehead

EFFECT OF HYDROCORTISONE ON ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE IN CULTURED CANCER CELLS.

Summary The effects of prolonged exposure to hydrocortisone on the alkaline phos-phatase activity of HeLa, J111, and H. Ep2 cells have been investigated by enzymatic and histochemical methods. Exposure of HeLa cells to hydrocortisone produced a 12.5-fold increase in activity, while exposure of Jill and H. Ep2 cells to the compound caused a 7- and 1.5-fold decrease respectively. The observations are in agreement with those obtained by other investigators using variants of cell strain EUE.

Studies on diffusion respiration. VII. The cortical electrical activity of dogs

Abstract 1.1. The behavior of the cortical electrical activity of dogs held in apnea by an overdose of Pentothal sodium for 45 min. under conditions permitting diffusion respiration has been studied. 2.2. The EEG exhibited initial slowing followed by periodic suppressions and finally complete and continuous suppression. Continuous suppression appeared at an average of 19 min. of respiratory arrest and lasted until the apnea was artificially terminated, or for an average of 26 min. 3.3. The CO 2 content of the blood progressively increased throughout the apnea and at the 45th min. of respiratory arrest the average venous blood pH had fallen from a control of 7.29 to the low value of 6.69. 4.4. The EEG of all animals returned to normal within 1 week following the experiment.

Side effects of three antihistaminic drugs

Abstract 1.1. A comparison of Benadryl, Pyribenzamine, and Hydryllin was made on the basis of their effect in therapeutic dosage on mental ability, reaction time, two point discrimination distance, pulse rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate. 2.2. Mental ability, reaction time, and minimum distance of two point discrimination were appreciably altered by these drugs in over one-half the subjects tested. 3.3. Pyribenzamine caused a greater number of individuals to show a decrease in efficiency than did Benadryl, but the latter occasionally caused decreases of considerably greater magnitude. 4.4. Hydryllin caused an increased efficiency in a majority of the subjects but adversely affected a few. 5.5. It is suggested that patients begun on therapy with these antihistaminic drugs be at first kept under strict observation.

RESPONSE OF RABBIT AORTIC STRIPS UNDER PULSED-TENSION TO CATECHOLAMINES.

Summary A technique for studying the pharmacology of vascular smooth muscle has been described. This technique utilizes pulsed tension rather than the static tension customarily employed and has permitted the following observations: Contraction responses to the catecholamines have shown accelerated onset and recovery with increased uniformity of response. A differential sensitivity to norepinephrine has been shown to exist in segments taken from different parts of the same aorta. A progressive reduction in sensitivity to norepinephrine was observed from the arch to the origin of the superior mesenteric artery.

Purine metabolism in cobalamin-depleted Lactobacillus leichmannii 7830

Abstract The purine requirement for growth of L. leichmannii in the absence of cobalamin has been examined and the results of this study do not substantiate an involvement of cobalamin in purine synthesis. Excessive adenine accumulation, excretion, and toxicity, resulting in part from a rapid conversion of guanine (or derivative) to adenine appears to be responsible for the nutritional purine requirement. Growth of this organism may be obtained in the absence of purines and cobalamin if organisms pregrown in the presence of cobalamin are supplemented with high concentrations of 5-amino-4-imidazole carboxamide. The purine requirement is thought to be initiated by events which become manifested by a retarded rate of DNA synthesis.

The combined effect of radiogold and nitrogen mustard and radiogold and certain other compounds on the ehrlich ascites carcinoma

Nitrogen mustard and radiogold in combination markedly inhibit growth of the intraperitoneal ascitic form of the Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in mice. The best inhibiting dose of radiogold, 15 mc/kg, was the most toxic one; 7.5 mc/kg was found to be the most effective dose with the least toxicity. The results of similar experiments using several other drugs, without significant success, are briefly presented. Advantages in the use of an ascitic tumor in research of this nature are discussed.