The sudanophilic lesions around the aortic ostia of 10 fetuses, 10 newborns and 10 children aged up to 1 year were studied using a polar coordinate mapping method. The periorificial sudanophilic lesions develop initially distal to the orifices and show a continuous increase with age in percentage and extent. In children the lesions nearly completely surround all the ostia with a significant distal peak. There was no sex difference; the involvement of the right and left side was comparable. The comparison of the morphological data from the parents and children with anamnestics showed no relationship.
Prostacyclin (PGI2) was administered by inhalation (50 μg/min) and intravenous infusion (15 ng/kg/min) in 5 healthy male volunteers. Irrespective of the route of administration this substance was shown to have no effects on respiratory indices studied, whereas a significant inhibition of ADP-induced platelet aggregation and a fall in vascular resistance could be demonstrated. Mainly because of the latter action it is suggested that PGI2, or a stable synthetic analogue, might become a potent drug in various pathological conditions, in which hypertension of various causes is a problem.
Various defects in platelet function have been reported as being associated with multiple myeloma. In 30 myeloma patients and 15 healthy controls, we investigated platelet survival using in vitro labeling of autologous platelets with 111indium-oxine and measuring the in vivo kinetics of the radioisotope. Significantly shortened platelet half- life in patients averaged 73 hours, while platelet half-life in the healthy controls averaged 107 hours. In myeloma patients, serum levels of thromboxane B2, beta-thromboglobulin, and platelet factor 4 were significantly elevated; aggregation indices were within the pathological range; platelet counts and spleen-liver indices, however, were comparable to those of the healthy control group. No statistical correlation was found between platelet half-life and paraprotein concentrations. Our findings suggest an initial--so far unexplained-- intravascular process of platelet activation and consumption that finally manifests in shortened platelet half-life. It seems that overt thrombocytopenia develops only when the compensatory capacity of the bone marrow finally becomes exhausted. Further studies should be able to elucidate the pathophysiologic processes involved.
Homocysteine, a product of the methionine cycle, is known to play an important role in cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders and embryology, and in very important, fast growing fields concerning obstetrics and gynaecology. Therefore, we attempted an actual overview on possible obstetrical and gynaecological disorders as a consequence of an impaired methionine cycle. We tried to evaluate all mechanisms concerning homocysteine metabolism in order to look for hypothetical possibilities of therapeutic interventions. Using MEDLINE starting in January 1966, a search was conducted for articles published in which homocysteine was included as a subject heading or a text word. This search was also specified in combination with other key words such as obstetrics, pregnancy, gynaecology and cancer. Additional sources were identified through cross-referencing. All sources found were examined with regard to providing substantial information on our topic. The information obtained was divided into articles dealing with homocysteine and the methionine cycle itself, homocysteine and pregnancy, and homocysteine and hormones, including menopause, hormone replacement therapy and oral contraceptives. Another group was concerned with other special gynaecological aspects of the methionine cycle. We suggest that elevated concentrations of homocysteine could be a marker and perhaps a cause of, or contributive to, a wide range of obstetrical and gynaecological disorders.
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