Pharmacologic preconditioning effects: Prostaglandin E1 induces heat-shock proteins immediately after ischemia/reperfusion of the mouse liver

Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) has several potential therapeutic effects, including cytoprotection, vasodilation, and inhibition of platelet aggregation. This study investigates the protective action of PGE1 against hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury in vivo using a complementary DNA microarray. PGE1 or saline was continuously administered intravenously to mice in which the left lobe of the liver was made ischemic for 30 minutes and then reperfused. Livers were harvested 0, 10, and 30 minutes postreperfusion. Messenger RNA was extracted, and the samples were labeled with two different fluorescent dyes and hybridized to the RIKEN set of 18,816 full-length enriched mouse complementary DNA microarrays. Serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels at 180 minutes postreperfusion were significantly lower in the PGE1-treated group than in the saline-treated group. The cDNA microarray analysis revealed that the genes encoding heat-shock protein (HSP) 70, glucose-regulated protein 78, HSP86, and glutathione S-transferase were upregulated at the end of the ischemic period (0 minutes postreperfusion) in the PGE1 group. Our results suggested that PGE1 induces HSPs immediately after ischemia reperfusion. HSPs might therefore play an important role in the protective effects of PGE1 against ischemia/reperfusion injury of the liver.     

Preoperative identification of subthalamic nucleus for deep brain stimulation using three-dimensional phase sensitive inversion recovery technique.

PURPOSE: We assessed the feasibility of utilizing three-dimensional (3D) phase sensitive inversion recovery (IR) images for preoperatively determining deep brain stimulator position. METHODS: We measured geometric distortion with a grid phantom and evaluated images of 3 volunteers to determine optimum imaging parameters for 3D phase sensitive IR. RESULTS: Geometric distortion measured less than 1.0%. Respective inversion and recovery times, which provided high T(1) contrast between the subthalamic nucleus and adjacent tissue, were 200 and 4000 ms. In studies of 3 volunteers and 2 patients, the subthalamic nucleus was clearly depicted in 3D phase sensitive IR images. The measured coordinates of the subthalamic nucleus agreed well with those calculated by conventional estimation from midpoint of the anterior and posterior commissure. CONCLUSION: Three-dimensional phase sensitive inversion recovery was useful in visualizing the subthalamic nucleus for effective deep brain stimulation.     

Amelioration by topical bunazosin hydrochloride of the impairment in ocular blood flow caused by nitric oxide synthase inhibition in rabbits.

We investigated whether topical instillation of an alpha(1)-adrenergic blocker would improve an insufficient blood supply in the optic nerve head (ONH) and visual function, in rabbits. The effect of systemic NOS inhibition on visual-evoked potentials (VEPs) and hemodynamics in ONH were determined. VEPs were recorded before and every 15 min during a 120-min observation period after an intravenous injection of 50 mg/kg N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor. Capillary blood flow in ONH was evaluated by the laser speckle method throughout the same period. Then, we investigated the effect of topical instillation of a recently developed alpha(1) adrenergic blocker, bunazosin hydrochloride (0.01%), 60 min prior to the intravenous L-NAME (50 mg/kg) on the changes by NOS inhibition. The VEP amplitudes were reduced by L-NAME (10, 20, and 50 mg/kg) in a dose-dependent manner, while the VEP implicit time was unchanged, and no significant changes were detected in the electroretinogram. The reductions in ONH capillary blood flow and VEP amplitudes caused by L-NAME (50 mg/kg) were significantly suppressed by an instillation of bunazosin hydrochloride. These results indicate that blocking alpha(1)-adrenergic receptors may ameliorate the impairments in blood flow and retinal function caused by NOS inhibition. The enhancement of basal vascular tone due to deprivation of continuous NO production may be diminished by this alpha(1)-adrenergic blocker.     

Detection frequencies and the colony-forming unit recovery of oral treponemes by different cultivation methods

Selected media were compared for primary isolation and detection of oral treponemes from clinical samples. Forty-eight subgingival plaque samples from 45 patients suffering from periodontitis were anaerobically cultivated for 2 weeks at 37°C. Of the 9 media studied, Medium 10 (M10), which was supplemented with 10% rabbit serum and incubated using the plate-in-bottle method, supported the highest colony-forming units of the anaerobes. The treponemal colonies were detected at least on one medium from 83% of the subgingival plaque samples. The new oral spirochete medium in an anaerobic chamber supported the highest detection frequency of the oral treponemes (64% of samples); however, M10 in the plate-in-bottle was found to produce the highest colony-forming unit recovery of the oral treponemes (median 3.6% of the total colony-forming units). This study suggests that M10 in the plate-in-bottle and new oral spirochete medium in the anaerobic chamber are essential in cultivating oral treponemes.     

A study on the development of a filing system for funduscopic images with a personal computer for Twin AMHTS

A filing system for ocular fundscopic image data was developed by using a personal computer for the Twin AMHTS. The development of the system was tried as one of the data transfer system including image data between two similar AMHTSs named the Twin AMHTS through the information network system. The filing system is capable of storing 26782 data of ophthalmoscopic pictures with a data compression mode by using a magneto-optical disk (MOD) whose storage capacity of both sides is 616 MB. It takes no long time for retrieval and display of the image data in the filing system. Good quality of compression and decompression obtained and reproducibility of the ocular fundus picture is favorable regardless of normal or abnormal cases. As a result, it is suggested that the developed system has practical utility although it requires more improvement.     

The effect of the selective PAF antagonist CIS-19 on PAF- and antigen-induced bronchoconstriction, microvascular leakage and bronchial hyperreactivity in guinea-pigs

We investigated the effects of a novel platelet-activating factor (PAF) receptor antagonist, CIS-19 [cis-2-(3, 4-dimethoxyphenyl)-6-isopropoxy-7-methoxy-1-(N-methylformamido)-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydronaphthalene], on PAF-, histamine-, substance P- and antigen-induced bronchoconstriction and microvascular leakage, as well as PAF- and antigen-induced bronchial hyperreactivity to methacholine in urethane-anesthetized guinea-pigs. Administration of CIS-19 (0.5–5 mg/kg, i.v.) inhibited the increase in lung resistance induced by PAF (30 ng/kg, i.v.) in a dose-dependent manner, but failed to inhibit the increase induced by histamine (30 μg/kg, i.v.) or substance P (6.5 μg/kg, i.v.). CIS-19 (5 mg/kg, i.v.) did not inhibit the increase in lung resistance induced by ovalbumin (2 mg/kg, i.v.) in actively sensitized guinea-pigs. PAF (30 ng/kg, i.v.)-induced microvascular leakage, measured by the extravasation of Evans blue dye, was dose-dependently inhibited by CIS-19 (0.5–5 mg/kg, i.v.) in the trachea, main bronchi and intrapulmonary airways, but it did not affect histamine (30 μg/kg, i.v.)- or substance P (6.5 μg/kg, i.v.)-induced microvascular leakage at all airway levels. CIS-19 (2.5 and 5 mg/kg) did not affect ovalbumin (2 mg/kg, i.v.)-induced microvascular leakage in all airway levels in actively sensitized guinea-pigs. CIS-19 (2.5 and 5 mg/kg, i.v.) significantly inhibited PAF-induced enhancement of the bronchial response to methacholine, but had no effect on ovalbumin (0.05 mg/kg, i.v.)-induced bronchial hyperreactivity in actively sensitized guinea-pigs. It is concluded that CIS-19 is a potent PAF receptor antagonist which inhibits PAF- but not antigen-induced bronchoconstriction, microvascular leakage and bronchial hyperreactivity. These results suggest that PAF plays little or no role in early airway responses following antigen challenge. Received: 29 April 1996 / Accepted: 10 October 1996     

Local muscimol disinhibits mesolimbic dopaminergic activity as examined by brain microdialysis and Fos immunohistochemistry

Infusion of muscimol (5×10⁻⁵ M, 60 min) into the nucleus accumbens (NAC) through a dialysis membrane caused a significant increase in extracellular dopamine (DA) and its metabolite, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC). Fos-like immunoreactivity induced by intra-NAC infusion of muscimol was seen ipsilaterally in many accumbofugal target areas, but no Fos-positive neurons were seen in the vicinity of the dialysis membrane in the NAC. Sequential staining of Fos and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactivities revealed that a portion of A10 dopaminergic neurons were double-labelled. These results suggest that muscimol in the NAC disinhibits mesolimbic DA neuronal activity possibly through activity of the accumbofugal GABA neuron system.     

A case of aberrant left pulmonary basal aneurysm arising from the descending aorta]

A 65-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of fever and abnormal shadow in the left lung. An aortogram revealed a large artery arising from the descending aorta supplying the left basal segment and, which then flowed into the pulmonary vein. This artery had an aneurysm and 30 mm in diameter. Bronchography showed compression of the left basal branch. A clinical diagnosis of an aberrant left pulmonary basal aneurysm arising from descending aorta was made, and left lower lobectomy was performed, because of the danger apprehension of the aneurysmal rupture. The procedure was successful. There are only 15 case reports of a systemic artery supplying the lung with normal bronchial branch in Japan. Differences of this anomaly from pulmonary sequestration were discussed.     

Two Autopsied Cases of Familial Sudanophilic Leukodystrophy

Abstract: Two autopsied female sibling cases of sudanophilic leukodystrophy are reported. Case A and case B were the second and third of seven siblings, and a sister and a brother died from severe progressive neurological disease with similar symptoms. Consanguineous marriages were noted in the family of both cases through the past three generations. Case A gradually developed intellectual deterioration and tetraplegia at the age of 29, progressed to akinetic mutism within one year and thereafter survived for 14 years. Neuropathologically, a severe atrophy and degeneration were noted in the white matter of the whole cerebrum, sparing the subcortical U-fibers. Myelin and axons were severely damaged with peripheral astrocytic gliosis. Case B developed similar clinical symptoms at the age of 20 and survived for 7 years in the state of akinetic mutism. Similar postmortem findings as those of case A were found in the white matter of the cerebrum with formation of sudanophilic breakdown products and with thick fibrillary gliosis. The pyramidal tract was completely degenerated. There was no accumulation of abnormal lipid in the brains of both cases.