Intragastric self-infusion of ethanol by ethanol-preferring and -nonpreferring lines of rats

An ethanol-preferring line of rats, developed by selective breeding, consumed as much as 9.4 +/- 1.7 grams of ethanol per kilogram of body weight per day through intragastric self-infusions, yielding blood ethanol concentrations of 92 to 415 milligrams per 100 milliliters. By contrast, the ethanol- nonpreferring line self-administered only 0.7 +/- 0.2 gram per kilogram per day. These findings indicate that the reinforcing effect of ethanol is postabsorptive and is not mediated by the drug's smell or taste. Hence the ethanol-preferring line of rats may be suitable animal model of alcoholism.     

Alcohol breath tests: gross errors in current methods of measuring alveolar gas concentrations

Transitory contact of ethanol with the mucous membranes of the mouth or nasal passages, or both, is sufficient to drastically alter measurements of concentrations of ethanol in so-called "alveolar" gas for more than 20 minutes after such contact. Various concentrations of ethanol were taken into the mouth by human subjects and were expectorated. Readings of so-called "blood alcohol" were then taken at short intervals by means of the Breathalyzer(R) and were continued up to 1 hour after exposure. These readings were compared with blood-alcohol concentrations measured by quantitative chemical analysis of venous blood. When true concentrations of blood alcohol were at or close to zero (plus possible error of 0.0001 gram per 100 milliliters), readings of greater than 0.40 gram per 100 milliliters were obtained on the Breathalyzer. Repeated mouth washing and gargling with water, changes in the nature of the solvent, and stomach loading each had only a slight effect in diminishing these errors.     

Potamotrygon spp.: elasmobranchs with low urea content

All previously reported species of Chondrichthyes, from both marine and fresh water, have contained urea at concentrations ranging from about 300 to 1300 milligrams of urea nitrogen per 100 milliliters of fluid. Body fluids from two species of Potamotrygon, permanent residents of the Amazon basin, contained only 2 to 3 milligrams of urea nitrogen per 100 milliliters. Although they have abandoned the retention of urea exhibited by other chondrichthyans, the extent to which they have lost the mechanisms of retaining and tolerating urea in a hypertonic medium has not been determined.     

Evidence against a role of acetaldehyde in electroencephalographic signs of ethanol-induced intoxication

Acetaldehyde, the proximate metabolite of ethanol, when injected intravenously in rats produced electroencephalogram (EEG) changes similar to those observed after ethanol administration; that is, low doses activated the cortical EEG and higher doses caused activation followed by synchronization. However, when acetaldehyde was administered as a continuous infusion to simulate production of ethanol-derived acetaldehyde, only synchronization occurred, and then only at the higher doses. At low infusion dosage when the EEG was unaffected, concentrations of acetaldehyde in the blood were equal to or greater than those which occur during intoxication. Thus, acetaldehyde by itself cannot account for ethanol-induced EEG synchronization.     

Plasminogen: purification from human plasma by affinity chromatography

Plasminogen was prepared from human plasma by affinity chromatography on L-lysine-substituted Sepharose. Thirty milligrams of plasminogen, with a specific activity of 100 caseinolytic units (Committee on Thrombolytic Agents) per milligram of nitrogen, were obtained from 340 milliliters of plasma. This corresponds to over 200-fold purification from plasma. Disc-gel electrophoresis at pH 8.3 indicated seven distinct bands, all of which contained activity.     

Dopamine-related tetrahydroisoquinolines: significant urinary excretion by alcoholics after alcohol consumption

Concentrations of dopamine-related tetrahydroisoquinolines (salsolinol and O-methylated salsolinol) were significantly higher in the daily urine samples of alcoholic subjects admitted for alcohol detoxification than in the daily urine samples of nonalcoholic control subjects. Salsolinol concentrations in alcoholic subjects appeared to drop to trace (control) values 2 to 3 days after admission, following the disappearance of ethanol and its reactive metabolite acetaldehyde from the blood. These results indicate that physiologically active tetrahydroisoquinolines increase in humans during long-term alcohol consumption, presumably because of acetaldehyde's direct condensation with catecholamines. The presence of these or similar condensation products in the urine could be useful as clinical indicators of prior blood acetaldehyde concentrations in chronic alcoholics.     

Pyrazole and induction of fatty liver by a single dose of ethanol

Pyrazole (4 millimoles per kilogram or 272 milligrams per kilogram of body weight), given to fasted rats 10 minutes before gavage with ethanol (4 grams per kilogram), completely prevented both the disappearance of ethanol from the blood over a 16-hour period and the ethanol-induced reduction in the ratio of oxidized to reduced hepatic nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide. However, it did not affect the accumulation of triglycerides in the liver after the administration of ethanol. These results indicate that metabolism of ethanol is not required for production of fatty liver by a single, large dose of ethanol.     

Groundwater contamination by road salt: steady-state concentrations in east central Massachusetts

The average steady-state contamination of groundwater by road salt in the suburban area around Boston, on the assumption that current rates of application of salt will continue, is about 160 milligrams of sodium chloride per liter of water (100 milligrams of chloride per liter). This value is compared with values of 50 to 100 milligrams of chloride per liter found rather commonly now in town wells in eastern Massachusetts. These salt concentrations may be of concern to persons on low-sodium diets and to persons who obtain water from wells in the vicinity of major highways where salt concentrations could be several times higher than average.     

Disposition of morphine in man

The disposition of morphine was investigated by means of radioimmunoassay after a single intravenous dose (10 milligrams per 70 kilograms) was administered to 10 adult normal male subjects who had not received other drugs for 2 weeks preceding the study. A multiphasic decline in serum concentrations of morphine occurred. Detectable blood concentrations of morphine, or of a metabolite, or of both persisted for 48 hours after a single intravenous dose.     

L-dihydroxyphenylalanine: effect on S-adenosylmethionine in brain

Forty-five minutes after intraperitoneal injection of a single dose (100 milligrams per kilogram) of L-dihydroxyphenylalanine, the concentration of S-adenosylmethionine in rat brain was lowered by 76 percent. As little as 10 milligrams of L-dihydroxyphenylalanine per kilogram decreased content of S-adenosylmethionine in the adrenal medulla by 51 percent, whereas 100 milligrams per kilogram did not significantly depress concentration of S-adenosylmethionine in the liver in this time interval. Concentration of S-adenosylmethionine in the brain varied diurnally; L-dihydroxyphenylalanine lowered this concentration whether administered at the daily peak or at the nadir.     

Estimate of the contribution of biologically produced dimethyl sulfide to the global sulfur cycle

Atmospheric dimethyl sulfide (DMS) measurements were made on the Atlantic Coast of the United States at Wallops Island and Cape Henry, Virginia, during June 1975. The very low concentrations, typically less than 30 parts per trillion observed at the Cape Henry site, were thought to result from the smog chemistry associated with the Norfolk metropolitan area. Atmospheric DMS concentrations at the Wallops Island site were much higher, having a geometric mean of 58 parts per trillion and a geometric standard deviation of 2.1. At this site the DMS source strength was estimated to be 6 milligrams of sulfur per square meter per year. Because of wind conditions during this experiment, the DMS source strength is thought to be representative of the DMS source strength of the ocean in the Wallops Island area and is much less than the 130 milligrams of sulfur per square meter per year needed to balance the ocean-atmosphere portion of the global sulfur budget.     

Rhizomorph Production by Armillaria mellea Induced by Ethanol and Related Compounds

Armillaria mellea produced abundant rhizomorphs when grown on a chemically defined medium containing ethanol at concentrations as low as 50 parts per million. In the absence of ethanol no rhizomorphs were formed. Rhizomorph production was also stimulated by I-propanol, isopropanol, and 1-butanol as well as by acetaldehyde (to a lesser extent). Potassium acetate had very slight stimulating effect, and methanol was completely ineffective.     

Blood function in the hydrothermal vent vestimentiferan tube worm

Extracellular hemoglobin in the whole blood of Riftia pachyptila has a high oxygen affinity (P50 = 1.8 millimeters of mercury at 3 degrees C), a moderate decrease in oxygen affinity at higher temperatures (P50 = 2.7 millimeters of mercury at 14 degrees C), a small effect of carbon dioxide on oxygen affinity (Delta log P50/Delta pH =-0.12), and a high oxygen carrying capacity (up to 11 milliliters of oxygen per 100 milliliters of blood). These characteristics are compatible with the high oxygen demand of chemoautotrophic metabolism in the variable vent environment.     

Blood viscosity: influence of erythrocyte aggregation

The addition of purified canine or bovine fibrinogen to suspensions of canine erythocytes in Ringer solution caused an increase in viscosity and the formation of aggregates of erythocytes. Both of these effects became increasingly pronounced as the fibrinogen concentration was raised, and they approached plateaus with 1 gram of fibrinogen per 100 milliliters. An increase in shear rate (or shear stress) reduced both the effect on viscosity and the aggregate size. The data suggest that fibrinogen causes an increase in blood viscosity and a departure from Newtonian behavior by interacting with erythrocytes to form cell aggregates which can be dispersed by shear stress.     

一氧化氮处理对冬枣贮藏期间乙醇代谢及相关品质的影响

 【目的】研究NO处理对冬枣贮藏期间乙醇代谢及相关品质的影响，探讨NO对冬枣褐变软化的作用机理,为NO应用于冬枣的贮藏保鲜提供理论依据。【方法】用0、10、20、30 µl•L-1 NO气体熏蒸4 h白熟期冬枣，研究了冬枣室温[（22±1）℃]贮藏和冷藏[（4±1）℃]期间外观品质变化的相关参数，丙酮酸、乙醇、乙醛等含量以及乙醇脱氢酶（ADH）和乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）活性的变化。【结果】20 µl•L-1 NO处理明显地减少了果实中乙醇、乙醛和丙酮酸的含量，且延缓了丙酮酸含量高峰的出现；显著抑制了乙醇脱氢酶（ADH）和乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）活性。30 µl•L-1 NO处理促进了冬枣果实在室温或冷藏期间的酒化软化。【结论】20 µl•L-1 NO处理可以减少乙醇积累对冬枣的毒害，有效抑制了冬枣果实贮藏期间的褐变软化。     

Urinary phenyl acetate: a diagnostic test for depression?

The compound 2-phenylethylamine is an "endogenous amphetamine" which may modulate central adrenergic functions. 2-Phenylethylamine is mainly metabolized by monoamine oxidase to form phenyl acetate (PAA). The 24-hour urinary excretion of PAA was measured in normal healthy volunteers and depressed patients. Patients were diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, edition 3. In 70 percent of healthy volunteers of both sexes, the excretion of PAA ranged between 70 and 175 milligrams per 24 hours (mean = 141.1 +/- 10.2). Inpatients with major depressive disorder (unipolar type) (N = 31) excreted less PAA (68.7 +/- 7.0 milligrams per 24 hours) and 55 percent of them excreted less than 70 milligrams per 24 hours; there were no significant differences in the PAA excretion between untreated patients (N = 13) and those treated with antidepressants that were not effective (N = 18). The PAA excretion was reduced to a lesser extent in 35 less severely depressed unipolar outpatients (drug-free for 1 week) (86.3 +/- 11.8 milligrams per 24 hours). These results suggest that low PAA urinary excretion may be a reliable state marker for the diagnosis of some forms of unipolar major depressive disorders.     

Lead contamination around secondary smelters: estimation of dispersal and accumulation by humans

A high rate of lead fallout around two secondary lead smelters originated mainly from episodal large-particulate emissions from low-level fugitive sources rather than from stack fumes. The lead content of dustfall, and consequently of soil, vegetation, and outdoor dust, decreased exponentially with distance from the two smelters. Between 13 and 30 percent of the children living in the contaminated areas had absorbed excessive amounts of lead (more than 40 micrograms per 100 milliliters of blood and more than 100 micrograms per gram of hair) as compared with less than 1 percent in a control group. A relationship between blood and hair was established which indicated that the absorption was fairly constant for most children examined. It seemned that the ingestion of contaminated dirt and dusts rather than "paint pica" was the major route of lead intake. Metabolic changes were found in most of 21 children selected from those with excessive lead absorption; 10 to 15 percent of this group showed subtle neurological dysfunctions and minor psychomotor abnormalities.     

Effect of Nitric Oxide on Alcoholic Fermentation and Qualities of Chinese Winter Jujube During Storage

This article investigates the effects of nitric oxide （NO） on alcoholic fermentation and the qualities of Chinese Winter Jujube during storage, and explores the action mechanisms of browning and softening of fruits to provide theoretical proofs for using NO in the storage of Chinese Winter Jujube. Chinese Winter Jujube fruits were fumigated with different concentrations of NO gas （0, 10, 20, 30 μL L^-1） under anaerobic conditions and stored at 22±1℃ and 4± 1℃. The changes in appearance qualities, the contents of pyruvate, ethanol, acetaldehyde, and the activities of alcohol dehydrogenase （ADH） and lactate dehydrogenase （LDH） were investigated. The contents of pyruvate, ethanol, and acetaldehyde were significantly reduced, and the peak of pyruvate content was delayed by 20 μL L^-1 NO. The activities of ADH and LDH in 20 μL L^-1 NO treated fruits were also significantly inhibited. However, the alcoholic fermentation and softening of Chinese Winter Jujube fruits were promoted by 30 μL L^-1 NO during storage. The results indicated that 20 μL L^-1 NO could mitigate the injury of ethanol on Chinese Winter Jujube and effectively delay the browning and softening of fruits during storage.     

Air lead: relation to lead in blood of black school children deficient in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase

Forty-four black children at two elementary schools within 0.7 mile of a battery plant had significantly higher (P < .001) concentrations of lead in their bloods (34.1 +/- 9.7, micrograms per 100 milliliters, mean +/- standard deviation) than 122 students (26.3 +/- 7.1) at seven schools 1 to 3 miles distant; 5 months later there was a comparable difference between red cell lead values (54.1 +/- 18.5 versus 37.4 +/- 12.6). Among the blacks, those deficient in glucose-6-phosphate dehydro-genase had a higher (P < .005) concentration of lead in the blood after correction for anemia (32.9 +/- 9.7) than the nondeficient (25.7 +/- 8.8), and a higher concentration in the red cells (47.3 +/- 14.7 as compared to 35.6 +/- 15.8, P < .001); the enzyme effect was independent of geographic location.     

Induction of liver acetaldehyde dehydrogenase: possible role in ethanol tolerance after exposure tobarbiturates

Mice were injected twice a day for 4 days with saline or phenobarbital or ethanol. Treatment with phenobarbital, but not ethanol, increased the amount of liver acetaldehyde dehydrogenase activity. More rapid removal of acetaldehyde, which is a toxic metabolic intermediate of ethanol, may contribute to the alcohol tolerance exhibited by persons who use barbiturates regularly.