Recombinant tumor necrosis factor stimulates interleukin-1 production in glomerular cultures from rats with nephrotoxic serum nephritis

We have investigated the effect of recombinant tumor necrosis factor (r-TNF) on the release of interleukin-1 (IL-1) in glomerular cultures from rats with an accelerated autologous form of nephrotoxic serum nephritis (NTSN). Freshly isolated glomeruli from the NTSN rats were incubated for 24 h in the presence of r-TNF. When the glomeruli were activated by r-TNF substantial amounts of IL-1 could be detected in the supernatants as measured by the mouse thymocyte assay. The r-TNF-induced IL-1 activity was significantly higher in rats with NTSN than those in normal controls and the other control group, consisting of preimmunized rats (rabbit IgG), then given normal rabbit globulin instead of NTS. To avoid the effect of prostaglandins on the IL-1 assay, we cultured the glomeruli with addition of indomethacin and assayed IL-1 activity in the culture supernatants. This cyclooxygenase inhibitor augmented r-TNF-induced IL-1 production. Our data suggest that r-TNF can serve as a potent stimulator of IL-1 synthesis in glomerular cultures from rats with NTSN.     

Metabolites of (+)-dehydroabietic acid in rabbits

The seven metabolites of (+)-dehydroabietic acid (DHA) were newly isolated from rabbit urine by liquid chromatography. On the basis of chemical and spectral data their structures were established to be (15S)-8,11.13-abietatrien-16,18-dioic acid, 2 alpha-hydroxy-8,11,13,15-abietatetraen-18-oic acid, (15R)-15,16-dihydroxy-8,11,13-abietatrien-18-oic acid, 2 beta,15-dihydroxy-8,11,13-abietatrien-18-oic acid, (15S)-2 beta,16-dihydroxy-8,11,13-abietatrien-18-oic acid, 2 alpha,15-dihydroxy-8,11,13-abietatrien-18-oic acid, and (15S)-2 alpha,16-dihydroxy-8,11,13-abietatrien-18-oic acid. The possible hydroxylation routes of DHA in rabbits and the difference between the metabolism of DHA in microorganisms and that in rabbits are discussed.     

A newly recognized point mutation in the cytochrome b558 heavy chain gene replacing alanine57 by glutamic acid,in a patient with cytochrome b positive X-linked chronic granulomatous disease

Molecular genetic analysis was performed in a patient with cytochrome b positive X-linked chronic granulomatous disease. A previous Southern blot study, using a cytochrome b heavy chain cDNA as probe, revealed a Pst I restriction fragment pattern for the cytochrome b heavy chain gene (CYBB) different to that of normal individuals. Since restriction length polymorphism with Pst I has never been observed in control individuals and no abnormal restriction fragment patterns in the patient's CYBB was detected with seven other enzymes used, we focussed on the single Pst I site in the CYBB cDNA as being the only mutation site responsible for his disease. A fragment of the patient's cDNA which included the Pst I site was amplified by reverse polymerase chain reaction, and loss of the Pst I site in the fragment was confirmed by incubation with Pst I. Subsequent sequence analysis of the fragment revealed a point mutation in the Pst I site (cytosine to adenine), substituting glutamic acid for alanine at position 57.     

Expression of Lewis Y (Ley) Antigen in Human Anagen Hair Follicles

Lewis Y (Le^y) antigen, a difucosylated tetrasaccharide found on type 2 blood group oligosaccharides of glycolipids and glycoproteins, is thought to be a phenotypic marker predictive of cell differentiation. The distribution of this antigen in human anagen hair follicles was examined by immunohistochemical staining using a monoclonal antibody (AH-6) to Le^y. In the bulbar and suprabulbar portion of anagen hair follicles, Le^y antigen was detected in the three layers of the inner root sheath. Subsequently, the positive staining became translocated to the innermost layer of the outer root sheath in the middle part of the hair follicles. In the upper portion of the hair follicles, Le^y antigen was found in the outer cells of the outer root sheath. These findings suggested that the expression of Le^y antigen in the anagen hair follicles was correlated with the processes of keratinization or terminal differentiation.     

The anterior choroidal artery syndrome

We reviewed 12 cases of infarcts in the territory of the anterior choroidal artery (AChA) on CT and/or MRI. In each case vascular occlusion in the region was verified angiographically. Although the extent of the lesion on CT/MR images was variable, all were located on the axial images within an arcuate zone between the striatium anterolaterally and the thalamus posteromedially. The distribution of the lesions on mutiplanar MRI conformed well to the territory of the AChA demonstrated microangiographically. The variability of the extent of the infarcts may be explained by variations in the degree of occlusive changes in the AChA or the development of collateral circulation through anastomoses between the AChA and the posterior communicating and posterior cerebral arteries. The extent of the lesion appeared to be closely related to the degree of neurological deficit.     

MRI of the brain in chronic carbon monoxide poisoning

We examined 13 patients with chronic carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); all of them had been in an explosion in a coal mine 25 years previously. Symmetrical globus pallidus lesions were observed in 12, as was degeneration of the white matter, with focal cortical atrophy. The temporal parietal and occipital lobes were usually affected, the parietooccipital region being the most frequently and extensively damaged. Of the 12 patients with white matter degeneration 7 had definitely asymmetrical cortical and subcortical lesions. There were 6 patients with dilated temporal horns, probably due to atrophy of the hippocampal gyri. A history of CO inhalation and an awareness of the typical distributions of lesions are important for recognition of the effects of CO poisoning, especially when patients are in the chronic stage.     

Effects of Nd:YAG laser irradiation on ventricular myocardium in dogs using an artificial sapphire tip contact laser catheter]

To apply Nd:YAG laser irradiation through a new sapphire tip contact laser method to catheter ablation in treatment of tachy-arrhythmias, effects of laser irradiation on ventricular myocardium were investigated in 10 mongrel dogs. Nd:YAG lase (1064nm) discharges were delivered to different sites on the endomyocardium at power of 5, 10, 15, 20 or 25w with duration of 3, 5, or 10 seconds (sec.) respectively in closed beating hearts. Histopathologically, the lesion irradiated was clearly demarcated from the normal myocardium by the construction band necrosis zone. The depth of injured myocardium was less than 2mm with 3 sec. irradiations, with 5 sec. from 1 mm to 4 mm in proportion to power increase, with 10 sec. from 3mm to 8 mm in proportion to the power from 5w to 15w and could not be measured in cases of more than 20w irradiations. Although with every irradiation duration, the depth of injury increased in proportion to the power increase. With the same total energy, a longer time of irradiation produced deeper injury than a shorter time. This method makes it easier to keep the laser positioned to target than bare laser, and is suitable for use in catheter ablation.     

The epidemiology and clinical features of anaphylactic and anaphylactoid reactions in the perioperative period in Japan]

In an attempt to review the Japanese epidemiology of the anaphylactic and/or anaphylactoid reactions in the perioperative period, we investigated 105 cases with clinical features of anaphylactic and/or anaphylactoid reaction, which are reported in the Japanese anesthesiology-related journals from 1952 to 1990. Eighty-nine percent of the cases were reported during the last decade. There were 66 males and 34 females. The majority of the patients were below 60 years of age, and most of the patients were in their teens and fifties. Ninety percent of the patients had no past history of drug-induced allergy nor tendencies of atopy. Ninety-four percent of the patients recovered completely without any sequelae, and 0.95 percent of them recovered with serious complications. Deaths occurred in 4.67% of the patients. Most frequent clinical signs were cardiovascular (91.4%) and cutaneous (84.8%) manifestations. Respiratory, signs appeared in 41% of the patients. Patients are frequently unconscious and covered with drapes, and early signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis can be masked. In 25% of the patients cardiovascular collapse, including cardiac arrest and undetected blood pressure, appeared as the first noticeable sign. Causative drugs were confirmed immunologically in 5.7% of the patients. In other cases, causative drugs were presumed based on clinical course. Causative drugs and presumed causative drugs were varied, including blood and blood products (24 cases), intravenous anesthetics (19 cases), local anesthetics (15 cases), and muscle relaxants (9 cases), which were used generally in the perioperative period.     

Electrochemotherapy significantly inhibits the growth of colon 26 tumors in mice

Electrochemotherapy is a novel antitumor treatment involving the systemic administration of bleomycin followed by the delivery of electrical pulses to the tumor. The present study investigates the effects of electrochemotherapy on the growth of colon 26 cells inoculated subcutaneously into the backs of BALB/c mice. The mice were divided into the following four experimental groups: 20 that received no further treatment after the inoculation of colon 26 cells (control group); 20 that received 500 μg of bleomycin intraperitoneally 7 and 9 days after the inoculation (BLM group); 20 that received electric pulses to the tumor 7 and 9 days after the inoculation (EP group); and 30 that received electrochemotherapy 7 and 9 days after the inoculation (ECT group). During 28 days of observation, no deaths due to tumor progression occurred in the ECT group, but there were 18 in the control group, 11 in the BLM group, and 18 in the EP group. While weight loss was observed in all groups, it was most remarkable in the control group. Tumor growth was significantly inhibited in the ECT group, compared to the other experimental groups (P<0.01). The results of this study demonstrated that electrochemotherapy significantly inhibited the growth of colon 26 tumors in mice, without causing any remarkable adverse effects.