[en] This paper discusses a study whose results showed that in 53 hospitalized patients undergoing cardiovascular catheterization, incubation of their blood samples with varying concentrations of an ionic contrast medium (Angiovist-370, 60--631 mM) induced a significant (P < .005) amount of histamine release from whole blood (3.5%--10%), as compared with the histamine release following incubation with a nonionic contrast medium. Data suggest that the use of nonionic contrast media may induce minimal histamine release and thereby involve less patient risk from the histamine-mediated allergic and hemodynamic side effects associated with radiographic contrast media procedures

[en] It has been suggested that aspirin is somehow linked with the onset of Reye's syndrome (RS). A general feature of Reye's syndrome is severe impairment of mitochondrial monoamine oxidase (MAO) function. The main objective of this investigation was to study the effect of salicylate on platelet mitochondrial MAO activity in three groups: group A (healthy children, n = 21) and group C (healthy adults, n = 10). Platelet MAO was measured by radio-enzymatic technique with ¹⁴C-tyramine as a substrate. The results showed that salicyclate (10 mM) had a 20 to 60 percent inhibitory effect on platelet MAO function in only 1, 3 and 2 of the subjects in group A, B and C. Furthermore, there was an association between low enzyme activity and salicylate MAO inhibitory effect in these subjects. These preliminary findings suggest that salicylate may induce deterioration in mitochondrial function in susceptible individuals and that the assessment of salicylate MAO inhibitory effect may identify those who may be at risk to develop aspirin poisoning and Reye's syndrome

[en] Antiserum against 3-0-methyldopamine (MD) was produced in rabbits immunized with MD hapten conjugated to hemocyanin. The antiserum was used to develop a radioimmunossay (RIA) for MD. As little as 0.5 ng of MD in 0.1 ml can be detected. The major catecholamines and the phenolic aromatic amines (dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, octopamine, and tyramine) and their metabolites (normetanephrine, metanephrine, homovanillic acid and 4-hydroxy-3methxymandelic acid) did not bind significantly to the antibody. The RIA of MD was used to assay the endogenous level of MD in urine and plasma of hospitalized children. In children (7 mo to 13 yr), average concentration of MD in plasma was found to be 0.47 +- 0.11 ng/ml, and in urine 0.15 +- 0.05 μg/mg of creatinine (45.0 +- 16.3 μg/24 hr). In children with neuroblastoma, there was a 3- to 10-fold increase in urinary excretion and plasma level of 3-0-methyldopamine. In adults, the average urine and plasma levels were found to be 87.4 +- 3.4 μg/24 hr and 0.6 +- 0.2 ng/ml. The diagnostic applicability of the RIA of MD is discussed

[en] An enzyme-radioimmunoassay for the measurement of dopamine is described. It is based on the incubation of plasma or urine in the presence of catechol-0-methyltransferase and S-adenosylmethionine. The 0-methylated dopamine metabolite formed (3-0-methyldopamine) was characterized by radioimmunoassay. As little as 0.5 ng of dopamine can be detected. The assay was found to be specific, since no cross-reactivity was noted for several compounds related to dopamine. The enzyme-radioimmunoassay of dopamine was used to determine the concentrations of dopamine in urine and plasma of normal volunteers. In this group, urinary dopamine averaged 182.1 +- 2.2 μg/24 hr, and the plasma concentration 0.211 +- 0.052 ng/ml. However, in children wPth neuroblastoma, there was a several-fold increase over controls in the average urinary and plasma levels of dopamine (8,500 μ/24 hr and 2.3 ng/ml). The assay was also used to monitor blood levels of dopamine following the administration of L-dopa and dopamine to patients with cardiomyopathy

[en] Allergen-mediated histamine release from human leukocytes represents an important model for in vitro studies of allergic reactions. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the measurement of histamine released in allergic patients (pts) by radioenzymatic assay following mixing of their blood with common allergens represents a reliable index for diagnosis of atopic allergy. Three categories of allergies were used: (1) housedust and mite; (2) cat and dog dander; (3) trees and grasses and ragweed mixture. The presence of allergy was established by intradermal skin testing in the study group of 82 pts. Significant atopy was defined as ≥ 3+ (overall range 0-4 +, negative to maximum) on skin testing. The test was carried out in tubes with 0.5 ml heparinized blood, 0.5 ml tris albumin buffer, and one of the allergens (60-100 PNU/ml). In 20 controls without allergy, there always was ≤ 4% histamine release (normal response). A significant allergen-mediated histamine release, ranging from 12 to 30% of the total blood histamine content, was observed in 96% of the pts with skin test sensitivity of ≥ 3+. There was good agreement between skin testing and histamine release in terms of the allergen causing the response. Thus, measurement of histamine release in blood in response to allergen challenge represents a clinically useful in vitro test for the diagnosis of atopic allergy. Because data can be obtained from a single sample and are highly quantitative, this new method should have application to the longitudinal study of allergic pts and to the assessment of interventions

[en] Tyramine induces coma in phenelzine-treated dogs. Development of coma in these animals is associated with brain edema, abnormal brain scans of Tc-99m-diethylene-triamine-penta-acetic acid (Tc-99m-DTPA), and elevated levels of CSF catecholamines. We found that the intravenous administration of 6-7 mg/kg of a single dose of L-644,711 given fifteen minutes after the oral administration of tyramine to phenelzine-pretreated animals followed by an infusion of normal saline containing 6-7 mg/kg of the drug given over a period of 2 hr caused reversal of brain injury. This was accompanied by full recovery within a period of 24 hr of all the animals tested. A follow-up study revealed that 24 hr after treatment with L-644,711 CSF levels of catecholamines and brain images of Tc-99m-DTPA were indistinguishable from normal controls. Animals that received no drug died from unresolved coma within 4 to 24 hr. Animals that had recovered due to therapy with L-644,711 were given 10-14 days rest followed by a repetition of the phenelzine and tyramine treatment but denied L-644,711 therapy. These animals also died of unresolved coma within 24 hr. This preliminary study suggest that the use of L-644,711 may constitute an important advance in treatment of brain edema of a wide range of neurological disorders

[en] A radioenzymatic assay for the measurement of histamine is described, based on the incubation of histamine in the presence of histamine-N-methyl-transferase from rat kidney and [³H-methyl]-S-adenosyl-L-methionine (sp act 15 Ci/mmol) in phosphate buffer, 0.05 mole/l, pH 7.9, at 37⁰C for 60 min. The N-[³H-methyl]histamine generated was selectively extracted into toluene/isoamyl alcohol (3:2) and the quantity of the tritium in the sample was determined by liquid-scintillation counting. As little as 1 nmol/l of histamine can be detected. The assay is specific, with no cross-reactivity noted for several compounds closely related to histamine. The assay was used to measure the released histamine of a group of allergic subjects following the incubation of their blood with various allergens. A good correlation was found between histamine release from whole blood and the response of skin mast cells to intradermal antigen administration

[en] A radioenzymatic assay for measurement of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) is described, based on the incubation of L-[3H]tyrosine (10(6) cpm, spec. acty. 1.88 Ci/mol) in the presence of the apoenzyme tyrosine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.25) from Streptococcus faecalis and PLP in phosphate buffer (0.1 mol/L, pH 5.5) at 37 degrees C for 60 min. The decarboxylated metabolite formed, [3H]tyramine, was selectively extracted into ethyl acetate, and the tritium radioactivity in the sample was determined by liquid scintillation counting. As little as 0.5 nmol of PLP can be detected per liter. The assay is specific, no cross reactivity having been noted for several compounds closely related to PLP. With this we could directly measure the concentrations of PLP in plasma without prior deproteinization and ether washing of the samples. Using the assay to determine plasma concentrations of PLP in healthy adult populations, we found results that were comparable with previously reported data

[en] Tyramine (T) induces coma in phenelzine-treated dogs. The objective of the present investigation was to examine the influence of T in MAO-inhibited dogs on the kinetics of Tc-99m-DTPA during its first passage through the brain by nuclear imaging. The study began with anesthetized dogs (n=10) in a supine position over the camera detector. Data acquisition was started simultaneously following the rapid intracarotid injection of Tc-99m-DTPA (30 mCi) and 60 0.5 second images of the brain were taken. T induced increased uptake with a concomittant impairment in the elimination of Tc-99m-DPTA from the brain of these treated animals as compared to controls. This was accompanied by an appreciable reduction in hemispheric cerebral blood flow (CBF) (56 +/- 19 vs 110 +/- 16 ml/100g/min). Increased cerebrovascular permeability of Tc-99m-DTPA and decreased CBF correlated significantly with development of intracranial hypertension and elevation in CSF catecholamines in these animals. T may have implication in the development of cerebral edema of Reye's syndrome

[en] Melanoma is one of a group of neoplasms that is characterized biochemically by abnormal tyrosine metabolism. The main objective of this paper is to establish whether or not the measurement of plasma L-dopa represents a specific indicator for the biochemical diagnosis of melanoma. Two groups of patients were studied: group 1 consisted of 20 patients with stage 2 and 3 disseminated melanoma, and group 2 consisted of 20 patients with non-malignant melanoma. L-dopa in plasma was measured by a radio-enzymatic technique. The method was based upon the incubation (37⁰C, 40 min) of 50 μl of plasma in the presence of catechol-O-methyltransferase, dopa decarboxylase and S-[3H]-adenosylmethionine (5 μCi, sp. act. ci/mmol). The formed methylated decarboxylated metabolite 3H-3-0-methyldopamine was characterized by radiochromatographic analysis. The results of the study showed that plasma L-dopa was elevated significantly in patients with disseminated melanoma (av 4.9 ng/ml) as compared with non-malignant melanoma patients (av 0.9 ng/ml) and control subjects. The measurement of plasm L-dopa represents a specific marker for detection of metastatic melanoma