Histamine metabolism in the nasal tissue of human and nasal hypersensitive guinea-pig

Histamine (HA) is the most important mediator of nasal allergy and nasal hypersensitivity. To investigate HA metabolism, HA content and activities of its synthetic enzyme, histidine decarboxylase (HDC) and degrading enzymes, histamine-N-methyltransferase (HMT) and diamine oxidase (DAO) in nasal mucosa of human and toluene diisocyanate (TDI) sensitized guinea-pigs were measured. In human nasal mucosa and nasal polyps, HA content and HDC activity were 80-200 nmol/g tissue, 20-30 fmol/min/mg protein respectively. Among two degrading enzymes, HMT activity was 20-200 times higher than that of DAO. In the nasal mucosa of guinea-pigs, HA content was significantly increased by TDI sensitization, and was decreased immediately after TDI provocation. In 24 hours after provocation, HA content recovered to 80% of pre-provocation level. HDC activity increased by TDI sensitization significantly. Though HMT activity increased slightly by TDI sensitization and provocation, DAO activity was unchanged. The data suggest that, increase in turnover rate of HA is present in allergic nasal mucosa.     

Management of unruptured intracranial aneurysm in Japan: a Markovian decision analysis with utility measurements based on the Glasgow Outcome Scale.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the management of individual patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UN-ANs) using a decision-analytic approach. Transition probabilities among Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) categories were estimated from the published literature and data from patients who had been treated at Kitasato University Hospital. Utilities were obtained from 140 health providers based principally on the GOS. Baseline analysis for a healthy 40-year-old man with an anterior UN-AN less than 10 mm in diameter showed that the quality-adjusted life expectancies for preventive operation and follow-up were 15.34 and 14.66 years, respectively. For a follow-up strategy to be preferred, the annual rupture rate had to be as low as 0.9%. These results were sustained through extensive sensitivity analysis. The results support preventive operation for UN-ANs, and identify problems that can be clarified with a well-designed stratified clinical trial.     

Reduced Inhomogeneity of Angelica acutiloba Plants Propagated Clonally Through Somatic Embryoids

Clonal plants propagated from a single plant of a commercial variety of ANGELICA ACUTILOBA (Umbelliferae) through somatic embryoids induced in cell suspension cultures proved to be significantly more uniform with respect to the contents of medicinally important chemical constituents (ligustilide and choline) of the root when compared with seed-propagated plants.     

Up-regulation of histamine H1 receptors in an allergic rat nasal mucosa model

Inflammation Research -     

A new method of perfusion fixation for the rabbit femur

We report a new method of perfusion fixation for the proximal one-third of the femur of the Japanese white rabbit. Fluids to flush the blood and fix the marrow were injected into the abdominal aorta and drained from the stump of the femur. The oozing of the fluids from the stumps guaranteed complete flushing and fixation. The new method facilitated fixation and decreased the volume of necessary fluids. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of bone marrow fixed using the new method and using the conventional method did not differ. Large fat globules were not observed in the SEM specimens produced using either the new or the conventional method.     

Heart rate and body temperature sensitive diaphragm pacing

Two ways of rate control for diaphragm pacing are proposed. One is rate control using only the patients' body temperature (method I). The other is rate control by both the patients' heart rate and body temperature (method II). To test the effectiveness of these methods, a diaphragm pacemaker which can be controlled by both heart rate and body temperature has been developed. It was applied to nine mongrel dogs. The pacing rate is controlled by atrial blood temperature (method I) or by both heart rate and temperature (method II). The animal's metabolism was elevated by the administration of a pyrogenic drug. It was found that method I is not suited to rapid changes in metabolism; however, it is useful in extreme metabolic elevation. An animal's metabolism was supported by using method II in all ranges of metabolism. This method proved more effective than method I for rate-responsive diaphragm pacing.