Transfer of radioactive mercury across a membrane produced by the application of cantharides to the skin of man

American Federation for Clinical Research

262

eight subjects whose electrocardiograms had been interpreted as indicating left bundle branch block were studied and divided into four groups on the basis of similar QRS SE-loops. Eight subjects presented QRS SE-loops with smooth oval contours tending to enclose single plane areas whose axes were directed posteriorly and to the left. This pattern resembled that of subjects with marked left ventricular hypertrophy. The QRS &-loops of six subjects enclosed narrow irregular areas. Five showed advanced congestive failure suggesting this to be consequent to gross diffuse pattern myocardial damage. The QRS SE-loops of eleven subjects were characterized by local irregularities as might be expected if a local muscle mass were destroyed. Three subjects with minimal clinical evidence of heart disease presented QRS &-loops resembling those of normal subjects. A local lesion interrupting the bundle branch might account for the block in these subjects. RELATIVE AND

AMOUNTS OF QUINIDINE LACTATE

QUININE

DIHYDROCHLORIDE

RE-

QUIRED TO PRODUCE COMPARABLE

ELEC-

TROCARDIOGRAPHIC

CHANGES

AFTER

IN-

TRAVENOUS ADMINISTRATION IN THE DOG.

Ross C. KOT, M.D., Richard France, M.D. and George R. Meneely, M.D. Nashville, Term. (From the Research Laboratory of Thayer

Veterans

Administration

and the Department

Hospital

of Medicine

of Van-

derbilt University School of Medicine.) Since both quinidine and quinine are effective against certain arrhythmias and since a new readily soluble quinidine lactate preparation (Eli Lilly and Company) has become available, it is desirable to assess the relative intravenous effect of this drug with the more commonly used quinine dihydrochloride. In eighty experiments 5 to 20 mg. per kg. of each preparation were diluted in 50 ml. of isotonic saline solution and administered intravenously over a six-minute period to dogs unanesthetized and under nembutal anesthesia. Electrocardiographic tracings were taken at oneminute intervals for ten minutes, at two-minute intervals for the next ten minutes and less frequently thereafter. Consistent and characteristic electrocardiographic changes were found with both drugs. These developed in the following order: (1) elevation of T wave, (2) depression of ST

usually

with development

of a deep

S,

wave, (3) widening of QRS and (4) with high dosage increase in duration of QT and PR. Rate changes were variable but most often showed an increase. On the basis of this method quinidine lactate weight for weight was consistently only slightly more potent than quinine dihydrochloride, much less than the reported differences for the orally administered preparations. TRANSFER OF RADIOACTIVE MERCURY ACROSS

A MEMBRANE PRODUCED BY THE APPLICATION OF CANTHARIDES

TO THE SKIN

OF

MAN. Frank J. Kelly, M.D.

(by invitation), Arthur H. Svedberg, M.D. (by invitation) and Vernon C. Harp, M.D. (by invitation), (Introduced by C. Thorpe Ray, M.D.) New Orleans, La. (From the Department of Medicine, Medicine

Tulane

University

and Charity

School

Hospital

of

of Louisi-

ana, at New Orleans.) Transfer of radiomercury across the base of blisters produced by application of cantharides to forearms of thirty-one subjects was observed during studies of pharmacologic properties of a mercurial diuretic, mercuhydrin. The concentration-time course of radiomercury on both sides of this membrane was followed for four hours after intravenous injection of the labeled diuretic in fifteen cases. There was close agreement between the right and left forearms of the same individual. Considerable variation among different subjects was noted. No differences were observed between control subjects and those with congestive heart failure. Histamine applied locally enhanced the rate of transfer across this membrane. Benadryl did not inhibit this effect. Venous congestion inhibited the rate of transfer slightly. Epinephrine locally had no effect. Substitution of the patients’ plasma for physiologic saline as the fluid bathing one side of the membrane did not alter the concentration-time course. Radiomercury was added to fluid bathing the blister base in sixteen subjects and its rate of disappearance was followed for four hours. A simple exponential rate of disappearance was observed. Congestive heart failure, epinephrine and histamine did not influence results. presence of plasma protein inhibited transfer of mercury. Normal skin was impermeable to mercury. EFFECTS OF BONE MARROW METASTASES.Ulfar 3onsson, M.D. (Intro-

HEMATOLOGIC

AMERICAN

JOURNAL

OF

MEDICINE