Low-molecular-weight copolymers composed of L-lactic acid and various DL-hydroxy acids as biodegradable carriers

Biodegradable copolymers of L -lactic acid (L -LA) and DL -α-hydroxy acids with relatively low molecular weights, for example L -LA/DL -lactic acid (DL -LA), L -LA/DL -α-hydroxybutyric acid (DL -HBA), L -LA/DL -α-hydroxyisovaleric acid (DL -HIVA), and L -LA/DL -α-hydroxyisocaproic acid (DL -HICA), were synthesized by quantitative direct copolycondensation without catalysts at 200°C. The in vitro degradation, which was evaluated by measuring the weight loss of these copolymers in M/15 phosphate buffer solution (pH 7,2) without enzymes at 37°C, is strongly dependent on the kind and molecular weight of these copolymers, resulting in the formation of different degradation patterns such as parabola type (L -LA/DL -HBA system), linear type (L -LA/DL -LA system), and S type (L -LA/DL -HIVA and L -LA/DL -HICA systems).     

VALUE OF COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY FOR EVALUATING THE INJECTION SITE IN ENDOSONOGRAPHY‐GUIDED CELIAC PLEXUS NEUROLYSIS

Endosonography‐guided celiac plexus neurolysis (EUS‐CPN) safely and effectively relieves pain associated with intra‐abdominal malignancies when the neurolytic is accurately injected. We applied contrast medium to evaluate the ethanol injection sites in patients who received EUS‐CPN due to abdominal pain caused by malignancies. We injected, under the guidance of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), ethanol containing 10% contrast medium into the celiac plexus of patients with intra‐abdominal pain due to malignancies. Immediately after the endoscopic therapy, patients underwent computed tomography (CT) to confirm the injection site. Images of distribution of injected solutions were classified into three groups. Injected solution dispersed in unilateral and bilateral anterocrural space was defined as ‘unilateral injection’ or ‘bilateral injection’, respectively. Injected solution located out of the anterocrural space was defined as ‘inappropriate injection’. Pre‐ and postprocedure pain was assessed using a standard analog scale. Before and 2, 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks after the procedure, pain scores were evaluated. From April 2003 to May 2005, 13 patients were enrolled in this study. Improvement of pain score in the ‘bilateral injection’ and ‘unilateral injection’ groups was significantly superior to the change in the ‘inappropriate injection’ group. Although EUS‐CPN was effective in eight of 13 patients (61.5%), additional EUS‐CPN to the ‘inappropriate injection group’ increased the response rate to 84.6%. Injection of ethanol to the anterocrural space by EUS‐CPN produced adequate pain relief. Immediate examination by CT for confirmation of injection sites after EUS‐CPN would increase the likelihood of induction of pain relief.     

Difference in sensitivity to alkaline phosphatase treatment between rat reticulocyte membranes in which beta-adrenoceptor desensitization was induced by isoproterenol, dibutyryl cAMP and phorbol ester

The effect of alkaline phosphatase (3.1.3.1) on desensitization of beta-adrenoceptor-responsive adenylate cyclase and the role of phosphorylation in desensitization were examined. Treatment of rat reticulocytes with isoproterenol, dibutyryl cAMP and tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA) caused the desensitization of beta-adrenoceptor-coupled adenylate cyclase. When the membranes from dibutyryl cAMP- and TPA-desensitized cells were incubated with alkaline phosphatase for 60 min at 30 degrees C, pH 8.0, the desensitization of isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase was markedly attenuated in both preparations. When the membranes from isoproterenol-desensitized cells were treated with alkaline phosphatase under the same conditions, the attenuation of the desensitization of alkaline phosphatase was less than in the case of treatment with dibutyryl cAMP or TPA. In other words, isoproterenol-induced desensitization was more resistant to alkaline phosphatase treatment. Isoproterenol- and dibutyryl cAMP-induced desensitization of NaF-stimulated adenylate cyclase were also attenuated by alkaline phosphatase treatment. Although the stability of the Gs-catalytic unit complex of adenylate cyclase was reduced by isoproterenol treatment, the reduction of stability was also decreased by alkaline phosphatase treatment.     

Pseudo-adrenal incidentaloma: magnetic resonance imaging in a patient with para-adrenal Castleman's disease.

We report a case of para-adrenal angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia (Castleman's disease) of the hyaline-vascular type. The mass could not be differentiated from an adrenal tumor by ultrasonography and computed axial tomography (CT). However, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suggested the possibility of an extra-adrenal origin of the mass. The intensity of the mass by MRI was homogeneous and of a higher intensity in the T2-weighted image than in the T1-weighted image, a finding similar to lymphadenopathy, lymphatic tumorous mass or metastatic tumor of the lymph node. Ultrasonography, CT and MRI may not be useful in characterizing Castleman's disease, but MRI was useful to distinguish asymptomatic para-adrenal masses from those of adrenal origin.     

Glucose as regulator of glucose transport activity and glucose-transporter mRNA in hamster beta-cell line.

To investigate the role of glucose in regulating glucose transporters in pancreatic beta-cells, we studied the hamster clonal beta-cell line HIT-T15, which retains responsiveness to glucose. Northern blot analysis demonstrates that GLUT2 and GLUT1 mRNA are abundant in HIT cells. After a 24-h culture with various concentrations of glucose (0-22.2 mM [0-400 mg/dl]), the GLUT2 mRNA level in HIT cells increased by 40% at 22.2 mM (400 mg/dl) glucose compared with 11.1 mM (200 mg/dl) without a change in mRNA stability. It also decreased proportionally to the reduction of glucose concentration. Glucose deprivation resulted in a decrease of GLUT2 mRNA to an almost undetectable level, with a marked increase in the degradation rate of mRNA. In contrast, the GLUT1 mRNA was not affected by glucose. We show that glucose uptake is highest in HIT cells incubated at 2.8-5.5 mM (50-99 mg/dl) glucose for 24 h, and that levels in cells cultured at 0 mM (0 mg/dl) and 22.2 mM (400 mg/dl) glucose decrease to approximately 20% of the maximum level. This decrease is consistent with the effects of glucose on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in HIT cells. Our results indicate that glucose is involved in regulating GLUT2 mRNA and glucose uptake activity and that the glucose responsiveness of the insulin secretion correlates with the glucose-induced change in glucose uptake activity in HIT cells.     

Epidemiology of limb-body wall complex in Japan

Limb-body wall complex is a malformation of body and limbs with craniofacial defects. We describe here the epidemiology of this complex using the population-based registry data in the Kanagawa Birth Defects Monitoring Program during the period 1982–1991. Eleven infants (11/428,599 births) with the complex were ascertained in the study. The incidence and spectrum of the defects observed in our cases were similar to those of other studies. The parental ages in the study group were not significantly different from those in the general population. No teratogenic agents and factors were identified in the present study. Most cases were diagnosed prenatally. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.