International Notes

International Abstracts Utility of activated charcoal administered at 120 min. alter

aspirin administration in man. Arai K, Yamashita M, Sato S, et al. Jpn J Acute Med 1989;13:1001-1005.

The utility of activated charcoal (AC) administered at 120 min. after aspirin (asp) ingestion was studied in healthy vol- unteers. 2.Og asp was administered orally to men, between the ages of 21 and 26. Then, AC was administered in doses of 3Og, 5Og, and 1OOg respectively, and the amount of asp from urine was measured. AC was administered at 120 min, after asp administration after fasting and immediately after eating the meal. In the fasted condition, the absorptive effect of AC for asp was not observed with any dose AC adminis- tered 120 min. after Asp administration. Immediately after eating, the absorptive effect of AC for asp was not observed with 30g and 5Og AC administration at 120 min after asp administration. But it was a little effective with 1OOg AC administration at 120 min after Asp administration. The ad- ministration of over 1OOg AC is effective at 120 min after toxic substances administration on a full stomach.

The attitude of emergency medical facilities toward problems related to donation of organs for transplantation. Chishiro T, Kitazawa Y, Ishikura H, et al. Jpn J Acute Med 1989; 13:1007-1014.

The problems, as viewed from the position of emergency medical facilities, were investigated to find solutions and to help better define the role of emergency medical facilities with respect to organ donation, and the role of transplanta- tion specialists with respect to organ recipients. The ques- tionnaire survey results showed that while the present emer- gency medical facilities entertained no doubt on the defmi- tion of brain death, not many facilities are as yet prepared to mediate the donation of organs. This is probably due to the fact that transplantation is not their speciality and the debate on brain death regarding organ transplants is currently at a standstill. However, they expressed a desire to cooperate for kidney donations. The number of kidneys to be donated through the mediation of emergency medical facilities is thus expected to increase in the future, despite their objections to approve the concept of linking brain death directly with or- gan transplantation. In conjunction with this attitude on the part of donor-facilities, recipient-facilities are required to promote the organization of a new country-wide network system. This would closely link donor-facilities and recipi- ent-facilities so that they would be fully prepared for neces- sary organ transplants, and so relieve the burden on emer- gency medical facilities. They would furnish donor/recipient coordinators and seek public approval for brain death and organ donation by continuing to vigorously enlighten medi- cal facilities, physicians and citizens in general.

Proper timing of technetium-99m labeled red blood cell scan in detection of gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Aizawa N, Akashi T, Mutsukura T, et al. Jpn J Acute Med 1989;13:995-999.

The authors reviewed 78 cases of technetium99m labeled red blood cell scans which were performed for the detection and localization of lower gastrointestinal bleeding. All of the studies were completed without untoward effects, and were separated into two groups; namely, 47 positive scans (group 1) and 3 1 negative scans (group 2). There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to the age, sex, and final diagnosis. The duration from the presence of melena to the time of the study was significantly longer in group 2 than in group 1 (P < .Ol), and more transfusion was required in group 1 (P < .05). Group 2 included more cases in which the bleeding site could not be determined (P < .Ol) even at the time of discharge. The authors conclude that technetium-99m labeled red blood cell scan should be per- formed as soon as possible in order to get a highly sensitive result to detect and localize the site of lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage.

Determination of bipyridilium herbicides in serum and urine by high performance liquid chromatography using automatic sample preparation technique. Nakagiri I, Susuki K, Shi- aku Y, et al. Jpn J Acute Med 1989;13:989-994.

The authors developed an automatic system for analyzing paraquat and diquat in serum and urine which consists of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), a precol- umn for sample preparation, and a column switching device. The sample preparation precolumn (TSK precolumn PW) was first connected to the analytical column (TSK gel SP- 2SW) of the HPLC with the column switching device, and then it was perfused with a mobile fluid. The precolumn removes proteins in sample materials and separates paraquat and diquat from them using a mobile fluid of 0.005M sodium dihydrogen phosphate in O.lM sodium perchlorate, adjusted to pH 3.0 with phosphoric acid. After a sample of 50 kg is injected into the system and is passed through the precolumn with the mobile fluid for a few minutes, the precolumn con- taining the extracted paraquat and diquat is automatically connected to the analytical column of HPLC by the column switching device. The paraquat and diquat in the precolumn are introduced into the analytical column with an analysis fluid consisting of 0.2M sodium dihydrogen phosphate- acetonitrile (80:20), adjusted to pH 3.0 with phosphoric acid, and the results are printed out. The new system can pre- cisely and easily analyze paraquat and diquat in serum and urine.

A new transcatheter embolization agent: Microfibrillar collagen (Avitene) mixed with indocyaningreen (ICG). Jpn J Acute Med 1989;13:983-984.

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