The involvement of bradykinin in adrenaline-induced pulmonary edema in rats

We investigated the effect of endogenous bradykinin on adrenaline-induced pulmonary edema (PE) by blocking bradykinin receptors. In preliminary experiments, a bolus injection of adrenaline (ADR; 10 microg/kg) solution (10 microg/ml) was determined to be an edematogenic dose for inducing PE. The lung body weight index (LBI) and incidence of PE (IPE) were determined. The IPE and LBI of the group pretreated with Des-Arg9-[Leu8]-Bradykinin (DA-BK, 50 microg/kg, 50 microg/ml) increased significantly compared with those of the control group (p<0.05). On the other hand, there were no remarkable changes in IPE and LBI in the groups pretreated with Hoe140 (D-Arginyl-[Hyp3, Thi5, D-Tic7, Oic8]-Bradykinin (100 microg/kg, 100 microg/ml), captopril (20 mg/kg, 20 mg/ml) or L-NAME (1 mg/kg, 1 mg/ml). Moreover, the IPE and LBI of the group co-treated with L-NAME and DA-BK decreased compared with the DA-BK group (p<0.05). Thus, bradykinin aggravates adrenaline-induced PE through activation of the B2 receptor by the kallikreins as a result of the ADR administration, although the precise mechanism is not known.     

Roles of CLCA and CFTR in electrolyte re-absorption from rat saliva

A molecular basis for Cl- re-absorption has not been well-characterized in salivary ductal cells. Previously, we found strong expression of a rat homologue proposed to be Ca2+-dependent Cl- channels (rCLCA) in the intralobular ducts of the rat submandibular gland. To address the question as to whether rCLCA and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) are involved in Cl- re-absorption, we evaluated the electrolyte content of saliva from glands pre-treated with a small interfering RNA (siRNA). Retrograde injection into a given submandibular duct of an siRNA designed to knock down either rCLCA or CFTR reduced the expression of each of the proteins. rCLCA and CFTR siRNAs significantly increased Cl- concentration in the final saliva during pilocarpine stimulation. These results represent the first in vivo evidence for a physiological significance of rCLCA, along with CFTR, in transepithelial Cl- transport in the ductal system of the rat submandibular gland.     

Clinical Evaluation of protocol for the craniomandibular disorders. 1. Protocol of our department

Craniomandibular disorders are conditions encompassing various types of dysfunction of the stomatognathic system. To define the very nature of morbidity, both differential and pathological diagnosis are absolutely necessary. At present, each medical institution in this country has its own protocol for evaluating and treating craniomandibular disorders. This makes it difficult to exchange and compare data between institutions. In this paper, a protocol worked out by our department after a series of clinical tests and study is presented, and its merits and unresolved problems are discussed.     

Effect of bruxism-like activity on the salivary Chromogranin A as a stress marker

Summary  The aim of this study was to determine whether measuring salivary chromogranin A (CgA) is useful in assessing individual stress levels and whether bruxism-like activity influences the salivary CgA level. From 44 adult healthy volunteers, we collected saliva samples with and without a stress condition (loud unpleasant sound). We assayed salivary samples with an ELISA to determine the content of CgA. We investigated also the effect of bruxism-like activity on salivary CgA production during stress. There were three patterns (group A, B, C) of response to the stressor on salivary CgA. They showed different responses and different effects of bruxism-like activity. This study shows the possibility of evaluating stress levels of individuals by measuring salivary CgA. Salivary CgA responds to psychosomatic stress. Bruxism-like activity prevented a stress-induced increase of salivary CgA in group A and B (75% of subjects), suggested that the reaction of the sympathetic-adrenomedullary system is regulated by the bruxism-like activity of the masticatory organ. The effect of bruxism-like activity in group C (high baseline of salivary CgA) was different from the effect in group A and B. Correspondence: S. Sato, Dept. of Craniofacial Growth Development Dentistry, Division Orthodontics, Kanagawa Dental College, 82 Inaoka-cho, Yokosuka, 238-8580 Japan     

Identification of TEM-135 β-Lactamase in Penicillinase-Producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae Strains in Japan

Ten penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG) strains isolated from 2000 to 2008 were characterized by multilocus sequence typing, multiantigen sequence typing, and plasmid typing. Sequence analysis showed that 8 strains contained a TEM-1 β-lactamase gene. However, two other genetically distinct PPNG strains, isolated in 2004 and 2008, each contained a TEM-135 β-lactamase on different plasmids, a Toronto/Rio type R plasmid and an Asia type R plasmid, suggesting independent origins of these PPNG strains.Antibiotic-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a major public health concern (15). An essential element in gonococcal-infection control is the availability of effective antimicrobial therapy. However, N. gonorrhoeae has developed resistance to multiple classes of antimicrobials. In Japan, the prevalence of fluoroquinolone-resistant N. gonorrhoeae strains is over 80% (12), and N. gonorrhoeae strains with reduced sensitivity and with resistance to cefixime (CFM) have emerged and spread nationwide (5, 7). In contrast to the high prevalence of N. gonorrhoeae strains with chromosomal β-lactam resistance genes, the prevalence of penicillinase-producing N. gonorrhoeae (PPNG) strains with a β-lactamase gene carried on a plasmid is relatively low in Japan. However, the prevalence of PPNG strains in other countries in Asia is high (16). To study the epidemiology of N. gonorrhoeae, nucleotide sequence-based typing methods, like multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and multiantigen sequence typing (MAST), are useful tools, since the analyses yield highly reproducible and easy-to-compare data from different laboratories.Among the 719 N. gonorrhoeae strains isolated from January 2000 to December 2008 in the Nakano Sogo Hospital in Japan, 10 strains (1.4%) were found to be penicillinase-producing N. gonorrhoeae (PPNG) by the nitrocefin test (data not shown). The MICs of penicillin (PEN), cefixime (CFM), and ceftriaxone (CRO) were determined by the agar dilution method (6), suggesting that the strains were highly resistant to penicillin but not to cephalosporins (Table ​(Table1).1). This low prevalence was consistent with other reports (14, 16).

TABLE 1.

Penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains isolated in Tokyo from 2000 to 2008