Caffeine Sodium Benzoate Research Articles

Effect of caffeine on the lethal dose of digoxin in dogs

Caffeine did not significantly alter the lethal dose of digoxin in dogs. The mean lethal dose of digoxin by intravenous administration to seven dogs was 0.26 mg/kg with a standard error of ±0.02; in eight animals pretreated intramuscularly with caffeine sodium benzoate, 50 mg/kg, the lethal dose of digoxin was 0.27 ± 0.01 mg/kg; and in seven dogs infused with digoxin and caffeine sodium benzoate mixture, it was 0.23 ± 0.01 mg/kg. These results did not substantiate the reported antagonism of digitalis toxicity by caffeine.

The reflex effect of certain drugs acting on the receptors of the mesenteric veins in the cat

By employing the perfusion method of the humorally isolated protion of the anterior mesenteric vein in cat the author studied the reflex effect of solutions of adrenalin (1∶106), caffeine sodium benzoate (1∶103), strophanthin(1∶2·106), glyceryl trinitrate (1∶2·105) and cardiazol (1∶2·106) on the heart rate, arterial pressure, and respiration. Adrenalin provoked a rise of arterial pressure and stimulation of respiration by reflex action, while other substances mostly reduced the arterial pressure and depressed the respiration. Caffeine frequently decreased the rate heart. The reflex origin of these reactions was proved by control experiments with 2% procaine solution and labeled phosphorus P32.

Detection of achlorhydria by tubeless gastric analysis with betazole hydrochloride as the gastric stimulant.

THE fact that orally administered betazole hydrochloride is a potent gastric stimulant in man1 provided the opportunity to investigate the possibility of its superiority to caffeine as the gastric stimulant in the detection of achlorhydria∥ by the tubeless gastric-analysis technic.2 This paper describes the results with betazole hydrochloride administered either orally or subcutaneously as the gastric stimulant in a group of persons previously found achlorhydric by tubeless gastric analysis with caffeine sodium benzoate as the gastric stimulant. Method Individuals achlorhydric by the azure A tubeless gastric-analysis technic** with 500 mg. of caffeine sodium benzoate (250 mg. of caffeine base) as . . .

The dissociation of bilirubin from albumin and its clinical implications

Summary The distribution of bilirubin in the body has been described in terms of diffusion equilibria and competitive binding of tissue elements for the circulating bilirubin which is chemically dissociated from albumin. The supposition was made that only dissociated bilirubin can gain access to intracellular fluid by permeation of cell membranes. The amount of bilirubin diffusing into cell fluid is then dependent upon the concentration gradient of dissociated bilirubin across cell membranes rather than total bilirubin concentration. It was shown that the dissociated bilirubin concentration can be increased in extracellular fluids independently of total bilirubin concentration by reducing the binding capacity of plasma proteins for bilirubin. This situation occurs clinically (1) in premature babies who have a relative hypoalbuminemia, and (2) in some newborn infants whose plasma contains substances which reduce the bilirubin binding capacity of albumin. Such substances are hematin, sulfonamides, salicylate, caffeine sodium benzoate, and increased hydrogen ion concentration. By increasing the circulating albumin concentration, it was shown that the administered albumin will increase the total plasma bilirubin concentration by causing a shift of bilirubin from the extravascular tissues into the plasma. The potential therapeutic value of such a procedure was discussed but requires further study before it can be recommended.

REACTIONS FOLLOWING USE OF NASAL DECONGESTANTS

To the Editor:— Recently I had a disturbing experience. I sprayed 0.1% Tyzine nasal solution in the nose of my 22-month-old daughter for an acute upper respiratory infection. Within 30 minutes the entire skin of the child began to go dead white, and in an hour she went into complete vasomotor collapse, with a total loss of consciousness into a flaccid state. There was a dead white color, irregular sighing respirations, and a weak thready pulse. No cyanosis was present. All reflexes were absent. A bilateral Babinski sign was present. Epinephrine hydrochloride, 1:1,000 solution, 0.4 cc., was given subcutaneously, followed immediately by 0.25 gm. caffeine sodium benzoate by hypodermic and 15 minutes later by 0.25 gm. more of caffeine sodium benzoate. Each injection provoked a weak cry. Shortly after the injections wakefulness appeared, with control of voluntary muscles and a bit of voluntary walking and talking. At this point all

PROJECTIVE TECHNIQUE WITH NARCOSIS

1. Recent opinions as to the action of subnarcotic doses of barbiturates on the central nervous system are summarized. Reference is made to the view that electroencephalographic studies of schizophrenic patients suggest a "disorder of neural function," i. e., an organic brain dysfunction. 2. Projective technique with narcosis was applied to 5 cases of schizophrenia. Intravenous nembutal (0.3 gm.) and caffeine sodium benzoate (0.25 gm. to 0.5 gm.) were administered. The dosages were adjusted for the individual patient as judged by clinical response. 3. Detailed analysis of the Rorschach material thus obtained revealed that: A. Narcosis is an aid to the psychological examination of the resistant or inaccessible schizophrenic patient. B. Underlying psychopathological processes are readily elicited. C. Diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic implications of this method are noted. D. Analysis of the psychological material suggests the possibility of organic brain dysfunction in the patients examined. Special thanks are extended to Dr. Reed, hospital superintendent, for his cooperation and kind permission to publish.

Recent Advances in Encephalography

Encephalography, in spite of its relatively recent development, is already one of the important diagnostic procedures used in neurologic and neurosurgical clinics. The method has attained this degree of importance even though up to the present time interpretation of the encephalograms has been based only upon the gross abnormalities seen in the ventricles and the subarachnoid space. Reliance upon this method of diagnosis will undoubtedly continue to increase as the finer cerebral structures are recognized and the significance of abnormal variations in them is appreciated. The increase in the accuracy of encephalography diagnosis depends upon a thorough acquaintance with the appearance of the normal cerebral structures. It, therefore, seems advisable to describe the various structures which can be outlined when the cerebrospinal fluid spaces are filled with air. Two phases of encephalography will be presented here: the technic, and the appearance of the normal subarachnoid space and the structures bordering upon or contained within it. Technic The technic of encephalography varies from one clinic to another and each method has its good and its less favorable features. The method employed at the Neurological Institute of New York, the description of which follows, has proved to be simple and safe in over 1,100 cases. The evening before encephalography is to be performed, the patient is given sodium amytal, grs. 3 (0.2 gram), to insure a restful night. The following morning the dose is repeated an hour prior to the procedure, and about fifteen minutes before the lumbar puncture the patient is given morphine sulphate hypodermically: adult, grs. 1/6 to ¼ (0.01 to 0.015 gram); children, grs. 1/12 to 1/8 (0.005 to 0.007 gram). Breakfast is withheld. Following this, the patient is sent to the roentgen-ray department where the entire procedure is carried out. During the withdrawal of fluid and the introduction of air, notes are made of the patient's status, blood pressure, pulse, respiration, or any change in condition such as sweating, pallor, headache, or syncope. To combat these symptoms, aromatic spirits of ammonia and caffeine sodium benzoate have proved sufficient and are always kept at hand. The patient is seated on a small bench with the forehead resting against an upright Potter-Bucky diaphragm. Lumbar puncture is made with the patient in this position under local anesthesia (procaine). Even when a general anesthesia is used, the same position is employed, this position being maintained throughout the procedure. Only one lumbar puncture is made through the third or fourth lumbar inter-space. The pressure of the spinal fluid is recorded and 10 c.c. of cerebrospinal fluid are withdrawn and 5 c.c. of air injected. Atmospheric air for injection is sucked into the syringe through several thicknesses of sterile gauze to avoid possible contamination by air-borne bacteria.

Injections of Caffeine and Adrenalin and Subsequently Staphylococcus Aureus Suspensions on Myocardium and Endocardium.

Fleisher and Loeb have shown that a single intravenous injection of a mixture of .025 gm. caffeine sodium benzoate and .2 cc. adrenalin chloride causes a gross myocardial lesion in the left ventricle and papillary muscle of the left ventricle in rabbits, in about 60 per cent of cases. We have confirmed their observations, and have in addition observed a lesion in the left auricle which follows these injections in some cases. In order to rule out the possibility that these may be spontaneous lesions, and in order to analyse the functional effects of these myocardial changes, a series of rabbits was examined electrocardiographically before and after these injections. We may only state here that the cardiac condition is not the result of previous spontaneous myocardial disease. Experiments were carried out to determine whether this lesion produced by caffeine and adrenalin injections would render the rabbit's heart more susceptible to abscess formation when, subsequently, a pyogenic organism in culture is injected intravenously. For this purpose 24 rabbits were injected with a single dose each of the caffeine and adrenalin mixture. Then at varying periods afterwards, each was injected with 1 cc. of a 48 hour bouillon culture of a laboratory strain of living Staphylococcus aureus of a sufficient virulence to cause the production of abscesses in the kidneys in a large number of cases without causing the death of the animals within the following three weeks. The rabbits were killed at varying periods following these injections and the organs examined grossly and microscopically. Twenty-three of the 24 animals showed the gross myocardial lesion which usually follows caffeine and actrenalin injections. In addition, 8 had abscesses in the myocardium. Of these 8, 6 showed a single abscess in or in very close proximity to the caffeine and adrenalin lesion in the myocardium of the left ventricle.