Reutilization of DNA Breakdown Products from Lymphocytes in Lumen of Intestine

Migration of a very large number of lymphocytes (211.8 x 10⁶ per day)into the intestinal canal of rats, which weighed about 100 Gm., was found.Lymphocytes in the lumen of the intestine were 80.2 per cent small, 15.9 percent medium and 3.9 per cent large. Any recycling of instilling cells intothe intestine could not be observed. Lymphocytes labeled with H³-thymidine,obtained from both thymus and mesenteric lymph nodes of donor rats, werewashed and injected into the intestine of recipient rats. H³ activity of the bloodand thoracic duct lymph plasma after administration of labeled lymphocytesshowed that DNA breakdown products from the lymphocytes in the gut wereabsorbed and transferred by way of both the portal vein and the thoracic duct.Evidence that the activity was actually incorporated into the DNA of proliferating cells of the recipient was demonstrated by autoradiographic means.

Submitted on July 15, 1965 Accepted on October 8, 1966     

Coronary Venous Lead Implantation after an Evaluation by Virtual Histology Intravascular Ultrasound and Stenting of a Stenosis

We describe a patient who developed coronary vein (CV) stenosis shortly (<3 months) after an initial left ventricular (LV) lead implantation with significant fibrous tissue. The virtual histological intravascular ultrasound analysis was useful for characterizing the plaque component of the stenotic lesion and formulating the strategy. A summarized review of the CV angioplasty for LV lead implantations disclosed that CV stenosis was often found in patients who had a previous history of cardiac surgery or an LV lead implantation and that a stent implantation was required to deploy the LV lead in the targeted CV in some (9.3%) patients. (PACE 2013; 36:e59–e63)     

A Philippino Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Variant (G6PD Union) With Enzyme Deficiency and Altered Substrate Specificity

A variant of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) associated withaltered substrate specificity and severe deficiency of red cell enzyme activitywas found in a Philippino male and in his relatives. The genetic pattern wasconsistent with X-linked inheritance. -Thalassemia was found in the propositusand in several family members, but there was no interaction between G6PDdeficiency and -thalassemia. This G6PD variant has two pH optima, at pH5.5 and pH 9.0, while the normal enzyme is inactive at pH 5.5. The substratespecificity of the variant enzyme is different from any known G6PD variant:2-deoxyglucose-6-phosphate and galactose-6-phosphate are good substrates anddeamino-NADP is a better coenzyme than NADP. Although G6PD activityin the variant red cells was only three per cent of normal, quantitative immunologic neutralization suggested that the specific activity of the variantenzyme might be at least ten per cent of that of the normal enzyme. Thisvariant is named after the place of origin, Gd Union.

Submitted on August 11, 1969 Accepted on October 31, 1969     

A Novel Missense Mutation Causing a G487R Substitution in the S2–S3 Loop of Human ether‐à‐go‐go‐Related Gene Channel

hERG(G487R) Channel . Introduction: Mutations of human ether‐à‐go‐go‐related gene (hERG), which encodes a cardiac K⁺ channel responsible for the acceleration of the repolarizing phase of an action potential and the prevention of premature action potential regeneration, often cause severe arrhythmic disorders. We found a novel missense mutation of hERG that results in a G487R substitution in the S2–S3 loop of the channel subunit [hERG(G487R)] from a family and determined whether this mutant gene could induce an abnormality in channel function. Methods and Results: We made whole‐cell voltage‐clamp recordings from HEK‐293T cells transfected with wild‐type hERG [hERG(WT)], hERG(G487R), or both. We measured hERG channel‐mediated current as the “tail” of a depolarization‐elicited current. The current density of the tail current and its voltage‐ and time‐dependences were not different among all the cell groups. The time‐courses of deactivation, inactivation, and recovery from inactivation and their voltage‐dependences were not different among all the cell groups. Furthermore, we performed immunocytochemical analysis using an anti‐hERG subunit antibody. The ratio of the immunoreactivity of the plasma membrane to that of the cytoplasm was not different between cells transfected with hERG(WT), hERG(G487R), or both. Conclusion: hERG(G487R) can produce functional channels with normal gating kinetics and cell‐surface expression efficiency with or without the aid of hERG(WT). Therefore, neither the heterozygous nor homozygous inheritance of hERG(G487R) is thought to cause severe cardiac disorders. hERG(G487R) would be a candidate for a rare variant or polymorphism of hERG with an amino acid substitution in the unusual region of the channel subunit. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 23, pp. 1246–1253, November 2012)     

A case of urethral prolapse in a young girl

Urethral prolapse is rarely reported in the pediatric literature. We report a 4 year old female with urethral prolapse and discuss the etiology and the treatments in children documented in the literature.     

Physicochemical Properties of Calcium Polycarbophil,a Water-absorbing Polymer

The physicochemical properties of calcium polycarbophil were examined. Calcium polycarbophil was decalcified rapidly under acidic conditions, affording polycarbophil. Polycarbophil absorbed about 10 times its own weight of water under acidic conditions, but the swelling ratio markedly increased at above pH 4.0 and reached 70 times the initial weight under neutral conditions. The swelling of polycarbophil was not affected by non-ionic osmolarity, but was affected by ionic strength, showing a decrease with increase of ionic strength. Monovalent metal ions such as sodium and potassium ions in gastrointestinal fluid did not reduce the equilibrium swelling of polycarbophil, but divalent ions such as calcium and magnesium ions did. However, calcium ion only slightly reduced the equilibrium swelling under sodium-rich conditions. The viscosity (as an indicator of fluidity) of polycarbophil was larger than that of CMC-Na at every shear rate and polymer content examined.     

International cooperation of Japanese pediatricians with Cairo University Pediatric Hospital

In connection with ‘Child Year’ in 1980, an agreement on the construction and donation of a pediatric hospital was concluded between the Egyptian and Japanese Governments. Under this agreement, the Cairo University Pediatric Hospital (CUPH) was opened in March 1983, as a four-storey building with 240 beds, and including four operating rooms, an intensive care unit (ICU) and neonatal ICU. The technical cooperation and supply of medical equipment in all areas of CUPH is ongoing during this project. The subject matter of technical cooperation is as follows. (1) Dispatch of Japanese experts to Egypt for short and long terms. (2) Acceptance of Egyptian trainees to Japan. (3) Supply of medical equipment and materials. Through the first 5 years of this cooperation, the management of ICU, operating theaters, medical and surgical wards has improved markedly with great efforts from the Egyptian and Japanese staff. Based on this successful cooperation, the Pediatric Cardiovascular Center was established in 1988 with a two-storey extension in the hospital including two cardiac operation theaters, ICU and other special facilities. Now, CUPH has become the center of pediatric medical care in not only Egypt but also the surrounding Arabic countries, supported by the friendly and close relationship between Egypt and Japan.