Document zdzqY5zrprXamn5qD5eEq61e0

rf m t From: 858 456 76'195` _ Page: 2/4 Date: 3/30/2005JJ :23:21AM w _ CAREER SCIENTISTS -- HEALTH RESEARCH COUNCIL Ne*w Evidence for a Steroid Hormone Capable of Producing Hypertension in Mem M. I, New, M.D., P, H. Saencer, M.D,,* L. S, Levine, M.D.* and R. E. Peterson, M.D,* Department of Pediatrics and iXedicior Vonwil University Medical College New York, N'.Y, The hypothesis that a steroid can pro duce hypertension in man was tested in un 18-year-old male with dexamethasonc-suppressible hypertension. Kdnvcitigation after she years of little or no treatment demonstrated that the hypertension and mild taypcraldosteronism were decreased promptly by a smalt dose of des-amethusone. During dcxometluisorie treatment, when aldosterone secretion was suppressed to less than normal and the patient was normotensive, steroids were given by con stant infusion io an attempt to reproduce the hypertension of the dexamethnsone-frec state. Hypertension was aot caused by five days of aldosterone (A), 18-hydrOXV (I&OH) deoxycorticosterone (DOC) at 1 aig./day, or 0OC at 30 mg./day, How ever, Na+ retention nnd K+ loss was observed during infusion of A and DOC. Hypertension was produced within five days during infusion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) or oral metyrapone. The hypertensive effect of the raetyrspone was eliminated by the additiojml treatment with aminoplutethimidr. These studies sug gest that on ACTH-depender.t steroid other than A, 18-OH DOC, or DOC may be the cause of the hypertension En this patient, The ainmoghitethimide data sug gest that the cause is a steroid and the ruetvrapoiw studies suggest that that steroid is an II desoxvsteroid. Urine and blood col lected under ACTH stimulation and metyrnpone treatment are rich sources from which we may characterise this hormone. Occupational and Covmmmty Asbestos Exposure from Wallboard Finishing Ccmpoimds William J. Nicholson, Phi),, A. Rokl, Ph.D.,* S. A. Fischb&in, M.D.* . AND J. J. Selikoff, M.D, Etmrcnmeiiwi Sciences Laboratory Dtpartoent of Coounucity Medicine The Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City l.'nivertiiy of New York * New Verb, X.Y. The primary purpose of this investiga tion is to evaluate the working procedures mid the occupational exposure to asbestos of men engaged full-time In applying and finishing tape and Tspackie ut the joints of wallboard In the construction industry in New York City. The extent of the exposure to asbestos of others in the construction industry who may work in the same area and to the community at large from the use of sparkle by dwelling owners and others also will be ascertained. Personal nir samples were taken in the breathing zone of drywali construction workers and But], ItY, Acs! Med. exhibit Exhibit 20 e of Producing S. Lkvin'k, M.D.* itlon and K+ losx was Infusion of A and DOC. is produced within five don of adrenocorticotropic I) or oral metyrapone. effect of the metyrapone . the additional treatment iiniide. These Kindles sug4CTH-dependent steroid -Off DOC, or DOC may the hypertension in this noglutethfrnide data sugxse is a steroid and the s sur t that that steroid raid. ne and blood col'H stimulation and mety- are rich sources from traetcrise this hormone. wrnre pom Fischbkix, A[.D.* >< New York ers In the construction work in the same area tnity nt large from the v dwelling owners and ascertained. Personal taken in the breathing instruction workers and 'lull. N. Y. Acad. Med in adjacent areas wliere other building trades employees were working. In 0% ? the persona! samples tlte threshold lim it value (TLV> set by the National Occu pational Safety and Health Act of Gve fibers greater than 5 p in length per milli liter was exceeded. These concentrations are only suggestive of the total exposure to asbestos, since a comparison of >isbestos fiber counts of identical samples shows that for every fiber visible by light microscopy, there are perhaps from 200 to 1,000 fibers that can only be seen by elec tron microscopy. The significance is two fold! all of the asbestos is respirable and, secondly, it is undetected and unmeasured by existing methods of industrial hygiene surveillance. Tea samples of the most com monly used taping and sparkling compounds ou dry walls were analyzed in the lab oratory bv optical microscopy, x-ray pow der diffraction, and electron microscopy io order to determine the minerals present, with particular attention given to the quantitative determination of asbestos min erals. Nine contained various amounts of chrysotlie asbestos; four of the 10 samples contained quartz as a major constituent and two others also contained talc. A simi lar analysis of consumer spudding com pounds showed that three contained from 0 to 10% chrysolite. In a companion study, clinical examinations have been undertaken of S3 workers specializing is taping, two thirds of whom have had otj-Jeast 10 years exposure. X-ray abnormalities were found in 3T of S3 films <58% of the workers). Our preliminary findings suggest that as bestos disease is an important hazard in this trade and that appropriate control measures are required. Influence of Amino Acids on the Formation of Intermediates of the -/-Glutamyl Cycle M. Orlowsx.1, M.D., and S. Wilk* Department of Ffeiftnieotexy The iiotmi Steal Stfcool of Neriicinc of the City University of New York New York. N.Y. Intermediates of the -y-glutamyi cycle, pyrrolidone carboxyiate and <y-glutamyl juiiino adds, were determined in tissues of mice by a new gas chromatographic pro cedure coupled with electron capture detec-' tion. Administration of L-a-aminobutyrate and also certain otlwr amino ucids that are utilized in the reaction which is catalyzed by ^-glutamyl cysteine synthetase led to the accumulation of their yglutamyt de rivatives and also pyrrolidone carboxyiate. This accumulation could be blocked by the administration of L-methionine-R, S-eul- foxiniine. an Inhibitor of y-gluttunyl cys teine synthetase. Vo accumulation of pyr rolidone cnrboxylnte was observed after the administration of cysteine itself. The sep arate administration of several protein amino acids did not affect the levels of pyrrolidone carboxyiate; however, the for mation- of small amounts of the respective y-glutamyl amino acids was observed In the kidney. A significant accumulation of pyrrolidone carboxyiate was obtained after the administration of a mixture containing all of the natural protein amino adds. These experiments demonstrate the exist ence of two separate pathways for the for mation of r-giutamyl amino adds and pyr rolidone carboxyiate. One of these involve* the synthesis of glutathione and apparently operates under a strict metabolic control (Mechanism. The other patbway involves the degradation of glutathione mediated by membrane-bound 7-gtetamyl transpeptidaae and is probably associated with the func tion of this enzyme In the transport of amino acid. Yol.Sl. No. 10, November 1975 1 It I? *