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NaCl cotransport carrier is known to be involved in transepithelial fluid absorption and secretion in various tissues. Recent studies indicate that Na-K-2Cl cotransport carrier also exists in the choroid plexus cells and that inhibition of the carrier decreases cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) production. In this study, we used large-dose intravenous furosemide, an inhibitor of Na-K-2Cl carrier, to determine the effects on cisternal CSF ionic composition in acute respiratory acidosis. In pentobarbital-anesthetized mechanically ventilated dogs, renal pedicles were ligated to prevent furosemide-induced diuresis. The experimental group (group II, n = 7) received 400 mg/kg of furosemide intravenously, and group I (control group, n = 7) received the vehicle. In group II, serial serum and CSF furosemide concentrations were approximately 10(-3) and 10(-5) mol/l, respectively. During 5 h of acute respiratory acidosis in both groups, the mean arterial PCO2 increased approximately 25 Torr, with comparable changes in CSF PCO2. In both groups, CSF [HCO3-] and [H+] rose approximately 3 meq/l and 20 neq/l, respectively. Changes in CSF [Na+], [K+], [Cl-], and [Na(+)-Cl-] were also similar and were not significantly different from each other when the two groups were compared. These data show that furosemide at the dose that inhibits NaCl cotransport carrier does not significantly alter ionic composition of cisternal CSF.

Air lead and blood lead data, recorded over a period of 3 years for 972 employees at an automobile battery factory as part of a lead control program, were summarized and statistically analyzed. The air lead values were measured by mobile area samplers for approximately 2 years and then by personal samplers for approximately 1 year. Blood lead analyses were usually performed once a month for most of the workers. The trend in air lead levels was significantly upward in the 1st year and significantly downward in the 2nd year while the trend in blood lead levels was significantly downward in the 1st year and in the 3rd year. There were no other significant trends. To assess the relationship between air lead and blood lead, data were used whenever an air lead obtained by personal sampler was followed within 1 month by a blood lead on the same worker. The variables age, job tenure, and department identity were included in an analysis of covariance. Only air lead and departments were significant, accounting for 9% and 13% of the variance in blood lead, respectively. From these data 95% confidence limits were calculated for predicting blood leads from given air leads for an individual worker. These were 30-68 micrograms/100 ml at 200 micrograms/m3, 25-62 micrograms/100 ml at 100 micrograms/m3, and 22-60 micrograms/100 ml at 50 micrograms/m3.

To investigate metabolic relationships between alcohol ingestion and fasting plasma high density lipoprotein cholesterol (C-HDL) and triglycerides, seven young normal males were assessed with isocaloric substitution of alcohol for carbohydrate in the diet. For a 5-week study period, an isocaloric low cholesterol diet containing 20% of the calories as protein, 40% as fat, and 40% as carbohydrate, with < 300 mg cholesterol per day, P/S 1.5/1, was ingested. In weeks 2 and 3, 35 and 53 g/day of 100 proof Vodka were ingested, with isocaloric substitution of alcohol for dietary carbohydrate during these study weeks. In week 5, 1.35 g/day of lecithin linoleate was added to assess another putative nutritional approach to increasing C-HDL levels. By two-way analysis of variance and Scheffe's paired t tests, there were no significant differences in either C-HDL or triglyceride levels for any of the five metabolic diet, alcohol substitution diet periods; additionally, there were no significant effects of lecithin on plasma lipids or lipoproteins. The general question asked, "Does alcohol affect C-HDL levels?" is answered negatively for isocaloric alcohol substitution, on a cholesterol-poor, high P/S, and relatively carbohydrate restricted diet, for a 2-week period of moderate alcohol intake. Alcohol's effect on C-HDL and triglyceride probably involves an interaction with total calories, and perhaps with dietary composition (cholesterol, saturated fat, carbohydrate content), as well as the amount of ethanol ingested, and duration of intake.

Summary: This study was designed to focus upon within-culture differences in plasma lipids and lipoproteins in Venezuelan schoolchildren having different socioeconomic and nutritional backgrounds and also to provide cross-cultural comparisons of lipids, lipoproteins, and anthropometric measurements between Venezuelan and American schoolchildren. The study was carried out in 1298 schoolchildren, ages 7 to 12 years, 428 in private and 870 in public schools in Merida, Venezuela, with comparison to 472 public schoolchildren in the (Cincinnati, OH) Princeton School District. Within Venezuelan schools, private schoolchildren were heavier, taller, had marginally higher Quetelet indices, and had considerably higher fasting plasma cholesterol, plasma high-density lipo-protein (C-HDL), and plasma low-density lipoprotein (C-LDL) levels. These lipid-lipoprotein differences were highly significant after adjusting (by covariance analysis) for Quetelet index, sex, and age. Children from private Venezuelan schools ingested more total calories, more protein, more fat, and more carbohydrate. When the diet compositions were calculated as percentage of total calories, the private schoolchildren ingested nearly twice as many calories as fat and a somewhat lower proportion of calories as carbohydrate, with a comparable proportion as protein, when compared to the public Venezuelan schoolchildren. Male-female comparisons within Venezuelan schools revealed patterns of sex-related lipoprotein differences which were qualitatively similar to those in Princeton schoolchildren. Thus, 7- to 12-year-old females had higher total plasma cholesterol and triglyceride, lower C-HDL, and higher C-LDL. Within sex, cross-cultural comparisons of lipids, lipoproteins, and Quetelet indices revealed two major differences. Venezuelan children had significantly higher fasting plasma triglyceride and lower C-HDL levels, differences not attributable to systematic differences in measures of ponderosity, because Quetelet indices in Venezuelan and Cincinnati schoolchildren did not differ appreciably. In regard to total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, Venezuelan and Princeton public schoolchildren were remarkably comparable, although Venezuelan private schoolchildren had somewhat higher plasma cholesterol and C-LDL levels than did Princeton public schoolchildren. We speculate that increasing "westernization" and "urbanization" of Venezuelan society is associated with convergence of Venezuelan and American pediatric plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels. Maintenance of comparable total plasma cholesterol and C-LDL levels with lower C-HDL into adulthood in Venezuela would, in fact, suggest augmented risks for coronary heart disease for Venezuela within this lipid-lipoprotein frame of reference. Speculation: We speculate that increasing "westernization" and "urbanization" of Venezuelan society is associated with convergence of Venezuelan and American pediatric plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels. Maintenance of comparable total plasma cholesterol and plasma low-density lipoprotein levels, with lower plasma high-density lipoprotein levels into adulthood in Venezuela would, in fact, suggest augmented risk for coronary heart disease in Venezuelans, within this lipid-lipoprotein frame of reference.

Fecal lead excretion (PbF) was studied in young children with elevated lead exposure. PbB was generally 40-70 microgram/dl. The children's home environments were classified as to lead-base paint hazard and traffic density. There was a significant correlation between paint hazard classification and PbF but not between traffic density and PbF. There also was a correlation of PbB with paint hazard classification. Long-term fecal collections were instituted using 10 children who lived in high hazard homes and three children with low PbB's, whose PbF's were considered normal. Among the children living in high hazard homes, median fecal lead excretion generally was only moderately elevated. Grossly elevated amounts of led were found only occasionally and only in a few of the children. Movement of two children from a high hazard home to a low hazard home resulted in prompt and substantial reduction in PbF. By contrast, PbB fell only very slowly.

Total daily caloric intake was measured in 10 obese subjects when sucrose polyester (SPE), a nonabsorbable synthetic fat, covertly replaced conventional fats in a single crossover study consisting of three periods: a period of 7 to 14 days to determine baseline caloric intake and two 20-day study periods. An average of 60 g SPE/day replaced conventional fat in one of the two study periods. During both study periods, 60% of the base line caloric intake was "required intake" at mealtime; an additional 60% of base line caloric intake was allowed as "free choice" foods at a specified snacktime. It was thus possible during both study periods to consume more than 100% of the base line caloric intake. In the SPE study period, 40 g SPE replaced 40 g conventional fat for every 1200 kcal of required intake, resulting in a 30% reduction in mealtime caloric intake. Mean total caloric intake (meal and snack) fell 23% during the SPE period (p less than 0.05), despite an average daily weight loss of 0.18 kg. Snack caloric intake did not increase significantly to compensate for caloric dilution of the meals during the SPE period. These results indicate that the obese may not detect or may not compensate for covert dilution of fat calories with SPE. In addition, during the SPE period, there was a 10% reduction in total plasma cholesterol, a 14% reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and a 10% reduction in triglyceride concentration. Thus, fat replacement with SPE may benefit weight reduction regimens in obese subjects by facilitating decreased caloric intake and by improving the circulating lipoprotein profile as well.