Appearance of high-frequency alpha band with disappearance of low-frequency alpha band in EEG is produced during voluntary abdominal breathing in an eyes-closed condition

This study examined the effects of voluntary abdominal breathing (VAB) on the electroencephalogram (EEG) in 22 healthy subjects. VAB was characterized by prolonged rhythmic contraction of abdominal muscles for 20 min in an eyes-closed condition. The breathing rate was instructed to be very slow, i.e., 3-4 breaths/min (inspiratory time for 6-8s and expiratory time for 9-12s). A low-frequency alpha band appeared immediately after eye closing, but it later disappeared and was replaced by a new development of a high-frequency alpha band 4-5 min after the onset of VAB. The subjects had a feeling of vigor-activity with a tendency of reduced anxiety during and/or after VAB, as assessed by POMS and STAI questionnaire scores. On the other hand, during resting in the eye-closed condition, the disappearance of the low-frequency alpha band was replaced by the occurrence of a theta/delta band. The subjects became drowsy in this condition. We therefore conclude that the increase in high-frequency alpha activity is linked to the state of vigor-activity with a tendency of reduced anxiety. Since the urinary serotonergic level significantly increased after the VAB, we suggest that the serotonergic neurons within the brain may produce the changes in the EEG patterns.     

ROUTINE LOW AND HIGH RESOLUTION TYPING OF THE HLA-DRB GENE USING THE PCR-MPH (MICROTITRE PLATE HYBRIDIZATION) METHOD

We describe HLA-DRB1 typing using polymerase chain reaction-based microtitre plate hybridization (PCR-MPH), which can process large numbers of samples. MPH typing is similar to an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), in which a tandemly ligated sequence-specific oligonucleotide is immobilized on microtitre wells. The typing procedure consisted of two steps. In the first, PCR-MPH with 16 probes was performed to determine the specificities of the serological levels (DR1, DR2, DR3, DR4, DR11, DR12, DR13, DR14, DR7, DR8, DR9 and DR10) after generic amplification (‘low resolution typing’). In the second step, DR1, DR2, DR4, DR 12/8 and DR3/11/13/14 were group-specifically amplified based on the results of the first PCR-MPH, and microtitre plate hybridization proceeded in a similar manner to the first step (‘high resolution typing’). Low resolution typing was completed within 2 h after generic amplification, and the results of high resolution typing were obtained in another 3.5 h after amplification. The allelic types classified using PCR-MPH were completely concordant with those obtained by PCR- single-strand conformation polymorphism or PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism.     

Production of antiserum against antitumor protein-bound polysaccharide preparation, PSK (Krestin) and its pharmacological application

Antiserum against a protein-bound polysaccharide preparation (PSK) was produced by immunizing New Zealand White rabbits with PSK. The intestinal absorption of PSK in mice was visualized by indirect immunofluorescent staining with anti-PSK serum. The change in blood levels of 14C after oral administration of 14C-PSK and the recovery of 14C by antiserum were determined. The results indicated that antigenic epitopes in PSK are not completely destroyed during the process of digestion, absorption and distribution, but the changes of serum levels of 14C radioactivity differ from those of immunoreactive radioactivity. These results suggest that multiple processes are involved in the fate of PSK administered orally.     

Non-functioning adrenocortical adenoma in culture. Quantitative and morphological observations

This report describes the morphological responses of unstimulated and stimulated non-functioning adrenocortical adenoma in culture. The removed adrenocortical adenoma was composed mainly of clear-type cells and partially had a small area of cholesterol granuloma. These adenoma cells had many lipid droplets and round to long rod-shaped mitochondria with tubular or tubulo-lamellar cristae which were similar to those in Cushing's adenoma. The non-functioning adrenocortical adenoma cells which were incubated in vitro under ACTH (10 mIU/ml) and angiotensin II (10(-6) M/ml) stimulation, were examined by phase contrast microscopy, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, and the content of cortisol and aldosterone in the culture medium was measured by radioimmunoassay. As a result of exposure of ACTH, the cultured cells revealed the retraction response and production of cortisol and aldosterone. After administration of ACTH for many days, the cultured cells showed characteristic changes in sER and mitochondria. The sER were markedly developed and packed tightly into a network of dilated tubules. Mitochondria were larger and more numerous than in the unstimulated cells. The mitochondria appeared to be entwined by the tubules of the sER. Lipid droplets decreased in number.     

Association and crystallization of poly(ethylene oxide)

The discontinuous change of the lamellar thickness with crystallization temperature was studied for low molecular weight fractions of OH-terminated poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). IR analyses demonstrated that almost all of the molecular chain ends were associated in the molten state, whereas a large part of their ends were free in dilute solution. Discontinuous changes were observed for low molecular weight PEO fractions crystallized from the melt, whereas continuous changes were found both for PEO's crystallized from dilute solution and those with phenylated end groups crystallized from the melt. Accordingly, it was pointed out that the association of the end groups could play an important role in the crystallization mechanism and the conformation of the resultant PEO crystals.     

Malacoplakia of the endometrium. An unusual case studied by electron microscopy and a review of the literature

A rare case of malacoplakia (MKP) of the endometrium in an 88-year-old Japanese woman is presented. By light microscopy, typical Michaelis-Gutmann bodies (M-G bodies) could be identified. Electron microscopic findings revealed M-G bodies in various stages of development. These features suggested that M-G bodies were derived from round electron-dense granules that coalesced to form phagolysosomes. Early-stage M-G bodies were manifested as small, irregular, needle-shaped areas of calcification in phagolysosomes. The present paper reviews 6 cases of endometrial MKP, 5 of which have previously been reported in the literature, and this case being the sixth, to our knowledge.     

Role of the gene 17 protein of bacteriophage T4

Head-related particles of bacteriophage T4 were examined by using heat leakage scanning calorimetry. The 17- particles showed two endothermic peaks on thermograms during their thermal transition process, while 49- particles gave only a single sharp endothermic peak. Thermograms of 17- particles treated with 23- defective lysate were different from those of nontreated 17- particles, and closely resembled thermograms of 49- particles. The 31- defective lysate was also capable of converting thermal properties of 17- particles. These results suggest that there is a structural difference between 17- particles and 49- particles, and that the product gene 17 of bacteriophage T4 is involved in the structural conversion of prohead to a more completed structure.     

Immunopathological correlation between mesangial C3d-deposition and C3d-fixing circulating immune complexes in lupus nephritis

By a direct immunofluorescent technique, glomerular C3d deposition was examined in a total of 50 renal biopsy specimens from patients with lupus nephritis. C3d deposition was then compared with disease activity, glomerular IgG and C3c deposition, and the levels of circulating immune complexes (CIC) measured by a solid-phase anti-C3d assay. There was a good correlation between disease activity and the positivity of glomerular C3d deposits (P less than 0.001), as well as C3c deposits (P less than 0.001). Even in clinically inactive patients, a relatively high percentage (59%) of C3d deposits were positive compared with C3c deposits (17%). Mesangial C3d deposition correlated with clinical disease activity more significantly (P less than 0.005) than capillary wall C3d deposition (P less than 0.025). C3d deposits were detected in all of the 30 cases with positive C3c deposits, and moreover, in 15 of the 20 (75%) cases with negative C3c deposits. Glomerular IgG deposits were almost always associated with C3d deposits, both in mesangial areas and along capillary walls, with statistical significance (P less than 0.005, P less than 0.001, respectively). The serum levels of C3d-fixing immune complexes (IC) were significantly correlated with the positivity and intensity of mesangial C3d deposits. This study demonstrates glomerular deposition of C3d in patients with lupus nephritis and reveals a significant correlation between mesangial C3d deposition and disease activity.     

Interaction between poly(L-lysine) and sulfated poly(vinyl alcohol)

Ionic polymer-polymer interaction was studied in aqueous solution for poly(L -lysine) (PLL) and sulfated poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVS) as functions of pH, the degree of sulfation, the functional unit mole ratio of the two polymers and temperature by means of circular dichroism and viscosity measurements. In all the cases studied, strong inter-polymer complexes were formed at the functional unit mole ratio (VS)/(LL) higher than 1. Although PLL itself is well known to take the α-helical conformation at such a high pH as 11, the PLL conformation in the PLL/PVS complexes did not depend on pH but on the degree of sulfation: at room temperature, PLL took random coil conformation in PLL/PVS-25 (25: degree of sulfation in mole-%) and PLL/PVS-30, and the α-helical conformation (helicity of 70%) in PLL/PVS-46 and PLL/PVS-95. Models for the complex structures are postulated. Methanesulfonic acid did not influence the conformational transition of PLL, supporting that a polymer effect took place in the complex formation between PLL and PVS. Thermal effect on the PLL conformation in the complex is also discussed.