Quantitative analysis of surface EMG activity of cranial and leg muscles across sleep stages in human.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to make a quantitative analysis of the changes in cranial and limb muscle activity from wakefulness to light and deep sleep stages and during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep of normal subjects. METHODS: Polysomnographic recordings were made of the sleep of 9 healthy human subjects, including electromyograms of the suprahyoid, temporalis and masseter cranial muscles and the anterior tibialis limb muscle. Quantitative assessments of EMG activity were carried out with root mean square (RMS) and frequency-spectral analysis (FSA) methods. RESULTS: From wakefulness to sleep, a significant reduction (-25.2 to -71.2%; P < 0.01) was observed in EMG activity (for both RMS and FSA) of the 3 cranial muscles using both methods of analysis. The EMG activity of suprahyoid muscle further decreased from non-REM to REM sleep (-17.8 to -43.0%; P < 0.01). In contrast, the EMG activity of the anterior tibialis muscle was only slightly reduced across sleep stages and did not further reduce during REM sleep. During REM sleep, all the 4 muscles maintained minimal activity. CONCLUSIONS: The maintenance of muscle activity during REM sleep suggests that a minimal level of activity is required to preserve physiological functions (e.g. airway patency, posture) related to homeostasis and bodily protection. SIGNIFICANCE: This study suggests that quantitative sleep EMG analysis is important for understanding the mechanisms of sleep-related movement disorders or when objective assessment of changes in EMG activity are needed for diagnostic purposes or for the assessment of drug efficiency.     

Pemphigus Vulgaris Associated with Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia and Elevated TNFα

A 76-year-old female was admitted with many bullae and erythema on her trunk and extremities. A biopsy specimen showed significant intercellular edema in the lower epidermis and eosinophilic infiltration into the dermis and the epidermis. Immunofluorescent staining revealed the deposition of IgG in the intercellular area of her prickle cells. From these histologic findings and the typical clinical features, we diagnosed her as having pemphigus vulgaris. Examination of her blood revealed that she also suffered from autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Despite intensive treatment with prednisolone, she finally died. This case is of interest because of its rarity and the TNFα detected significantly in the blister fluid of this patient.     

In vitro reactivity and in vivo biodistribution of the monoclonal antibody A7 using human gastric carcinoma cell lines.

The monoclonal antibody (MAb) A7 has been used to treat patients with colorectal or pancreatic carcinoma with encouraging results. We therefore determined if MAb A7 would also react with gastric carcinoma cell lines. MAb A7 reacted with seven of eight gastric carcinoma cell lines tested. The intensity of the reaction, measured by flow cytometry, was equal to that of WiDr (colon) and HPC-YS (pancreas) cell lines. In nude mice bearing xenografts of the MAb A7-reactive gastric cancer line MKN45, the percentage injected dose of MAb A7 per g of tumour tissue on day 7 was 9.79; this value was 77% of that on day 1. The in vivo tumour-to-blood ratio of MAb A7 was 2.77 on day 7. Therefore, MAb A7 has long-term retention at binding sites as well as a high probability, high intensity and high specificity of reactivity against gastric cancer, which make it an ideal drug carrier for immunotargeted chemotherapy and immunodiagnosis.     

Effects of naftidrofuryl oxalate, a 5HT2 antagonist, on neurotransmission and transduction systems in the gerbil hippocampus

We investigated the effects of age and naftidrofuryl oxalate (Naftidrofuryl), a 5-HT₂ antagonist, on neurotransmission and transduction systems in the gerbil hippocampus using quantitative autoradiography. [³H]Quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB), [³H]cyclohexyl-adenosine (CHA), [³H]MK-801, and [³H]muscimol were used to label muscarinic acetylcholine, adenosine A1, N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA), and γ-aminobutyric acid-A (GABA_A) receptors, respectively. [³H]PN200-110 labeled L-type Ca²⁺ channels. [³H]Forskolin, [³H]cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), [³H]phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu), and [³H]inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP₃) were used to label adenylate cyclase, cAMP-dependent protein kinase, protein kinase C (PKC), and IP₃ receptors, respectively. Approximately 20% reductions in [³H]QNB, [³H]forskolin, and [³H]PDBu binding were observed in the hippocampus of 9-month-old gerbils in comparison with 5-week-old gerbils. Treatment with Naftidrofuryl (10 mg/kg, i.p., once a day for 7 days) ameliorated these reductions. No changes were found in [³H]CHA, [³H]MK-801, [³H]muscimol, [³H]PN200-110, [³H]cAMP, and [³H]IP₃ binding. The results suggest that Naftidrofuryl may have beneficial effects on the age-related alterations in signal transmission and transduction systems in the brain. Because the acetylcholine system, adenylate cyclase, and PKC are considered to be involved in learning and memory processes, the result may have clinical implications.     

Immunohistochemical study of collagen type III in adenomyosis]

To clarify the mechanism of the origin of adenomyosis, we investigated the immunohistochemical distribution of collagen type III in the human endometrium and the adenomyosis throughout the menstrual cycle. 1) Collagen type III was localized in the stroma of normal endometrium and ectopic endometrium, and in the myometrium. No staining of collagen type III was observed in the endometrial gland. 2) The intensity of staining for collagen type III in the basal layer of normal endometrium was stronger than those in the functional layer. The staining in the proliferative phase was stronger than that in the secretory phase. 3) The intensity of staining of collagen type III in ectopic endometrium paralleled that in the basal layer of normal endometrium. 4) The intensity of staining of collagen type III in the myometrium did not change throughout the menstrual cycle. These results suggest that close similarities exist between stromal cells in normal endometrium and in ectopic endometrium from the viewpoint of the extracellular matrix.     

Experimental models of reflex contractile activity in the rabbit bladder

We were able to produce two highly reproducible experimental models (in the rabbit) that demonstrated a high degree of reflex bladder contractile activity. In one model, a somatovesical reflex was induced by touching or pinching the perineal area. This reflex may be organized through a neurogenic reflex at the spinal level. In another model, rhythmic bladder contractions were produced by distal urethral constriction in the absence of bladder distension. These rhythmic contractions were thought to be due to a supraspinal reflex. In both types of contractile reflexes, intravenous administration of hexamethonium inhibited the reflex contractile activity virtually completely, intravenous atropine inhibited over 90% of the induced contractile activity, thus suggesting that these contractions were mediated reflexly through cholinergic stimulation. These two models of reflex bladder contractions should be useful for the study of hyperreflexic bladders.     

Tumor vascularity under angiotensin II-induced hypertension--angiographic observations

The selective increase in tumor blood flow under angiotensin II-induced hypertension was observed to be the result of passive vascular beds irresponsive to angiotensin II. We investigated whether or not increased tumor blood flow resulting from angiotensin II-induced hypertension could be recognized on angiographic findings. Angiography under angiotensin II-induced hypertension was performed in 51 patients with various cancers, and angiographic findings indicating increased tumor vascularity were recognized in 40 (78.4%) of them. Based on the assumption that the increase in tumor oxygen tension was brought about by increased tumor blood flow, the possibility of utilizing this phenomenon in hyperbaric oxygenation radiotherapy was suggested.     

A case-control study of breast cancer among Japanese women: with special reference to family history and reproductive and dietary factors

Summary To study the effects of family history and reproductive, anthropometric, and dietary factors on the risk of breast cancer among low risk populations, we conducted a hospital-based case-control study involving 908 patients with breast cancer and their matched controls, in Japan. A positive family history of breast cancer significantly increased the risk of breast cancer (odds ratio = 1.52, 95% confidence interval: 1.14–2.03). The risk further increased with increasing number of family members affected. Obesity, single marital status, fewer births, a late childbirth, and less consumption of green-yellow vegetables and dairy products were also associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. These associations were independent in multivariate analyses. There was no increase in risk associated with consumption of high fat foods. When analyzed by menopausal status, the association with family history of breast cancer, especially in the first degree of relatives, was more evident for premenopausal breast cancer. The associations with obesity and lower consumption of dairy products were more pronounced for postmenopausal breast cancer, while those with lower parity and single marital status were stronger for premenopausal breast cancer.     

3 cases of müllerian duct cyst]

We report 3 cases of müllerian duct cyst. Percutaneous puncture, aspiration and instillation of a sclerosing agent under ultrasound guidance was performed in each case. Ultrasound is valuable in the diagnosis is of cysts in the region of the prostate and seminal vesicles. Aspiration under ultrasound guidance would also be of therapeutic value.     

Effects of a new histamine H2-receptor antagonist, Z-300, on gastric secretion and gastro-duodenal lesions in rats: comparison with roxatidine.

We examined the effects of a new compound, N-[3-[3-(piperidinomethyl)phenoxy]-propyl]-2-(2-hydroxyethyl-1- thio)acetamido.2-(4-hydroxy benzoyl)benzoate (Z-300), on the histamine H2-receptor, gastric secretion in rats and dogs, and acute gastro-duodenal lesions or chronic gastric ulcers in rats. Roxatidine acetate hydrochloride (roxatidine), a known histamine H2-receptor antagonist, was used as a reference compound. The pA2 values for Z-300 and roxatidine for the isolated guinea pig atrium were 6.8 and 7.0, respectively. These agents at less than 10(-5) M did not affect the contraction of guinea pig ileum in response to carbachol. Z-300, administered either orally or parenterally, significantly inhibited the basal and histamine-stimulated gastric acid secretion in rats. Gastric acid secretion stimulated by histamine, pentagastrin or carbachol in Heidenhain pouch dogs was also significantly inhibited by the compound. The effect persisted for greater than 7 hr in the case of histamine-stimulation. Oral Z-300 significantly protected the gastric mucosa from water-immersion stress-, indomethacin-, aspirin- and HCl.ethanol-induced lesions and protected the duodenal mucosa against mepirizole- and cysteamine-induced ulcers. These effects on gastric secretion and lesion formation were, as a whole, stronger than those observed with roxatidine. Z-300, but not roxatidine, significantly accelerated the spontaneous healing of acetic acid ulcers induced in rats and prevented the delay in ulcer healing caused by indomethacin. The mechanism of action of Z-300 on acute lesions and chronic ulcers appears to be mostly related to its potent antisecretory and mucosal-protective activities.