Sleep disorder in children with autism

Abstract Eighty-eight children with autism, living in a suburb of Tokyo, were examined by questionnaire from 21 July to 31 August. Experienced sleep disorders were observed in 56 children; 44 of whom had sleep disorders before 3 years old. The average age when sleep disorders were seen to have stopped was 5 years old. The most common problem was difficulty falling sleep ( n = 23), followed by frequent awakening during sleep time ( n = 19), then early morning awakening ( n = 11). Bed-wetting was observed in 22 children.     

Spontaneous disappearance of a renal arteriovenous malformation

Abstract We describe herein a case of complete spontaneous disappearance of a congenital arteriovenous malformation (AVM). A 28‐year‐old male was hospitalized for right flank pain and gross hematuria, followed by bladder tamponade. To improve the patient's symptoms, bladder irrigation was performed. Cystoscopy demonstrated bloody urine from the right ureteral orifice. Right selective renal arteriography demonstrated tortuous, coiled vascular channels with early filling of the renal vein. Thus, right renal AVM was diagnosed. However, the patient refused further treatment and was discharged. One year later, massive hematuria recurred with bladder tamponade and the patient was rehospitalized. Renal arteriography did not show any evidence of AVM and there has been no hematuria since.     

Ocular Membrane Permeability of Hydrophilic Drugs for Ocular Peptide Delivery

The purpose of this study is to investigate the ocular membrane permeability and the permeation mechanism of hydrophilic drugs such as thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), p-nitrophenyl β-cellopentaoside (PNP) and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH). The penetration of hydrophilic drugs was measured across the isolated corneal and conjunctival membranes of albino rabbits using a two-chamber diffusion glass cell. The corneal permeabilities of hydrophilic drugs were much lower than those of beta blockers reported previously. The corneal penetration of TRH was the highest among the hydrophilic drugs studied. Scraping the corneal epithelium increased the penetration of hydrophilic drugs. Conjunctival membranes showed higher permeability to hydrophilic drugs compared with corneal membranes. The permeability of drugs was also analysed by Fick's equation. The partition parameter and diffusion parameter of TRH, PNP and LHRH in the cornea were lower than those in scraped cornea and conjunctiva. In addition to the data of fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran reported previously, the permeability coefficient of hydrophilic drugs through the cornea, scraped cornea and conjunctiva correlated with molecular weight of the drugs. The diffusion parameters of hydrophilic drugs decreased with an increase of molecular weight for all ocular membranes. The extent of dependency of partition parameters on the molecular weights of drugs varied according to the ocular membrane. These results indicate that ocular membranes are sufficiently different in permeation character and mechanism to control the extent and pathway for ocular absorption of hydrophilic drugs.     

Study of anticoagulant mechanism of low molecular weight heparin

The binding ability of low molecular weight heparin (FR-860), and conventional unfractionated heparin (UF-heparin) to factor Xa (F.Xa), thrombin and ATIII was investigated using FR-860- and UF-heparin-Sepharoses. FR-860 could not bind directly to F.Xa. FR-860 bound to thrombin and ATIII with stronger affinity to ATIII than to thrombin. On the other hand, UF-heparin bound to F.Xa, thrombin and ATIII with the strongest affinity to AT III followed by thrombin and F.Xa. AT III mediated the binding between F.Xa and FR-860 and accelerated the reaction between F.Xa and UF-heparin. On the other hand, ATIII did not affect the binding between thrombin and FR-860 or UF-heparin. Diisopropyl fluorophosphate-treated thrombin inhibited the binding between ATIII and FR-860, but not that between ATIII and UF-heparin. These results suggest that the anti-F.Xa activity of FR-860 is mediated by AT III. Furthermore, the difference of antithrombin activity between FR-860 and UF-heparin depends on the capability to form ternary complex of FR-860 or UF-heparin, ATIII and thrombin.     

Antisense Oligodeoxynucleotides for IL-2, c-myc and Transferrin Receptor Synchronize Mitogen-Activated Lymphocytes in the G1 Phase

In order to clarify the role and interrelationship of c- myc , interleukin-2 (IL-2), and transferrin receptor (TfR) expressions on PHA-stimulated lymphocyte prohferation, we examined the effects of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides directed against c- myc , TfR, and IL-2 mRNAs on DNA synthesis and cell-cycle phase. Exposure of PHA-stimulated lymphocytes to each antisense oligomer resulted in approximately 75 80% inhibition of DNA synthesis. TfR expression was not inhibited in PHA-stimulated lymphocytes by c- myc or IL-2 antisense oligonucleotides, suggesting that the expression of c- myc , TfR, and of IL-2 is regulated by an independent mechanism. All three antisense oligonucleotides for c- myc , TfR and IL-2 synchronized mitogen-activated lymphocytes to the G₁ phase as assessed by morphologic blast formation and cell-cycle phase analysis.     

Nephrogenesis accompanied by vascularisation in the mouse embryonic metanephros transplanted into the adult kidney for the creation of additional nephrons

SUMMARY: Metanephric kidneys of nude mice were transplanted on embryonic day 12 into an adult kidney of the same strain, and the growth of the implants was analysed histochemically to investigate the ontogenesis, structure and function of the newly developed additional nephrons. By using a light microscope, developing nephrons at various stages were observed in the implants growing in the host kidney 7 days after transplantation. Immature nephrons, comprising the nephrogenic zone, were intensely positive for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunostaining, but were no longer present 14 days after transplantation. Vascular integration was observed between the host and implant tissues. Electron microscopic observation 14 days after transplantation showed that the afferent arterioles together with juxtaglomerular cells had entered the gtomeruli. All of the cell types were identified in the vascularised glomeruli with erythrocytes. the visceral epithelial cells had differentiated foot processes, whereas the endothelium of the glomerular tufts was rather thick in parts, and most of the epithelial and endothelial basement membranes were not fused. Several parts of the uriniferous tubules, including proximal and distal tubules, could be identified, and it was found that many of them had remained immature. Some proximal tubules with well-developed brush-border microvilli reabsorbed the horseradish peroxidase (HRP) injected into the host inferior vena cava, thus providing evidence of glomerular ultrafiltration in the vascularised implants perfused by the host. These findings indicate that the nephrogenesis in the implants followed a nearly normal developmental route and showed marked vascularisation, which promoted the organogenesis of the implanted metanephros and nephron function.     

Synthesis of L-2-amino-4-hexynoic acid and derivatives

A synthesis is described of optically pure L-2-amino-4-hexynoic acid and its derivatives, which can serve as potentially useful precursors for the preparation of highly tritium labeled norleucine-containing peptides, as well as other side-chain modified peptides. Catalytic tritiation of one derivative of this acetylenic amino acid afforded the (³H)-L-norleucine derivative with a specific activity of 115 ± 5 Ci/mmol.     

Intrahepatic peribiliary glands of humans. II. Pathological spectrum

Abstract The pathological spectrum of intrahepatic peribiliary glands is reviewed here. Several categories of histopathological changes such as necro-inflammation, cystic dilatation, hyperplasia and neoplasia have been identified in this glandular system. Necro-inflammation is associated with biliary tract diseases and chronic advanced liver diseases and may also appear in the livers of subjects with extrahepatic diseases such as sepsis. Cystic changes of microscopic sizes are not uncommon in autopsy livers of chronic advanced liver diseases, portal hypertensive diseases and also polycystic liver of adult type. Grossly recognizable cysts are, however, infrequent and occasionally cause compression of the adjoining bile ducts. Hyperplasia of these glands, which occurs consistently in hepatolithiasis and more variably in other conditions (e.g. biliary tract infection and submassive hepatic necrosis), may be associated with hypersecretion of seromucinous substances. Hyperplasia of peribiliary glands may then lead to mucin-related biliary diseases. In addition, these glands, particularly the hyperplastic ones, could be a precursor of cholangiocarcinoma. The pathological spectrum of the intrahepatic peribiliary glands is being expanded, although a clinical pathological correlation remains uncharted. Furthermore, age-related variations and non-specific reactive changes of these glands remain unexplored.