Alleviation of gallbladder complications by treatment of hepatic arterial embolization with caerulein

Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) with the concurrent use of caerulein was assessed for the purpose of preventing gallbladder complications often seen after TAE of hepatic carcinoma. Ninety-six cases with primary hepatic carcinoma, who had undergone TAE in the right hepatic arterial region over the past 4 years, were divided into three groups: 22 cases for which embolization was possible on a selective basis by passing the catheter to the peripheral side beyond the bifurcated region of the cystic artery; 40 cases who had undergone TAE in which caerulein was not administered, from the central side of the bifurcated region of the cystic artery; and 34 cases given 20 g caerulein 15–30 min before TAE. A comparison was made using the abdominal pain, pyrexia, rate of leukocytosis and the US findings of the gallbladder as the indices of the gallbladder complications. As a result, it become evident that it was possible to prevent or alleviate gallbladder complications if caerulein were administered before TAE in cases where the embolizing substances were infused in the right hepatic artery from the central side of the bifurcated region of the cystic artery. It was conclusively shown that the gallbladder blood flow decreases if the organ is contracted by caerulein, which in turn causes a decrease in the inflow of the embolizing substances whereby complications are alleviated.     

Assembly of connectin (titin) in relation to myosin and α-actinin in cultured cardiac myocytes

Summary By using polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against connectin (titin) which stain the A-I junctional area and the A-band domain (polyclonal anti-connectin and monoclonal 4C9) and the I-band domain (monoclonal SM1), the developmental relationship of this elastic protein with sarcomeric proteins, especially myosin and-actinin, was examined in embryonic chick cardiac myocytesin vitro under fluorescence microscopy. During premyofibril stages, I-Z-I proteins were detected first (-actinin dots and diffuse actin [phalloidin and anti-troponin C] staining), and later in these areas connectin and myosin dots appeared with nearly identical distribution. Somewhat later, phalloidin-positive nonstriated fibrils were observed in a straight course. They were always reactive with antibodies against a-actinin and troponin C, but unreactive or only weakly reactive with anticonnectin and anti-myosin. Initially,-actinin dots were aligned along these fibrils but did not form striations. As they aggregated to form Z-bands, connectin and myosin started to exhibit typical striations (doublets and A-bands, respectively). No difference in the staining pattern was observed with two kinds of monoclonal antibodies against different domains of connectin filaments (4C9 and SM1) at early phases. As myosin staining began to show clear A-bands, connectin epitopes became arranged in polarized positions. We conclude that primitive I-Z-I complexes appear prior to the assembly of connectin and myosin filaments and then connectin filaments, developing intimately and coordinately with myosin, become associated with the-actinin lines. Thus it appears that the putative elastic protein connectin plays some role in integrating myosin filaments with the preexisting I-Z-I brushes. The occasional absence of connectin and A-bands between two Z-bands, beyond both of which clear sarcomeres have been formed, indicates that connectin is not a preformed scaffold of myofibrils on which sarcomeric proteins accumulate.     

Rhythmical contractions in pulmonary arteries of monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertensive rats

Rhythmical contractions accompanied by an increase in cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations were produced in ring preparations of endothelium-denuded pulmonary arteries from monocrotaline-treated rats, but not in those from vehicle-treated rats, 2-3 h after a resting tension of 15 mN (150-180% of the initial wall length of the artery) was applied. The rhythmical contractions were abolished by nicardipine and ryanodine. Cyclopiazonic acid reduced the relaxation phase of the rhythmical contractions, finally leading to a sustained contraction. Similarly, apamin caused a sustained contraction, whereas charybdotoxin increased the amplitude of the rhythmical contractions. Glibenclamide had no apparent effects on them. Indomethacin and the prostaglandin H2/thromboxane A2 receptor antagonist SQ29548 abolished the rhythmical contractions and reduced the tension, but the thromboxane synthase inhibitor ozagrel had no effect. These results suggest that optimal stretch induces rhythmical contractions in the pulmonary arteries of monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertensive rats, to which both Ca2+ influx through voltage-operated Ca2+ channels and Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum seem to contribute. It is also suggested that small-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels participate in the relaxation phase of rhythmical contractions. Furthermore, prostaglandin H2 released from nonendothelial cells is likely to play a pivotal role in the induction of rhythmical contractions.     

Structural change in dopamine D2 receptor gene in a patient with neuroleptic malignant syndrome

Dysfunction of the dopaminergic system has been suggested as a pathogenic mechanism in neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Therefore, we examined the complete coding sequences of the dopamine D₂ receptor (DRD₂) gene for structural abnormalities in 12 patients with a history of NMS, including two cases of familial NMS. Mutational analysis was performed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), a highly sensitive technique for detecting sequence differences. We found in one patient with a history of NMS a nucleotide substitution at codon 310 (CCG→TCG) of exon 7 of the DRD₂ gene which predicts the replacement of proline to serine in the third cytoplasmic loop of the receptor, a part of the receptor that interacts with G-proteins. A larger series of patients with NMS needs to be investigated to establish whether this allele is associated with an increased susceptibility to NMS. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

The effect of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate on hormone-induced differentiation of rat parotid gland in organ culture

Parotid glands of 5-day-old rats were maintained in DM-153 synthetic, serum-free medium in organ culture for 24 to 48 hr. Differentiation of acinar cells in vitro, as revealed by an increase in amylase activity in the gland and in the culture fluid, as well as by the immunocytochemical demonstration of amylase in the acinar cells, was accelerated by insulin, prednisolone, and l-thyroxine added to the culture medium. The potent tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (10^?7M) inhibited both the unstimulated and hormone-stimulated differentiation of the gland without causing cellular degeneration or necrosis.     

Fine structure of the anteromedial eye of the liphistiid spider,Heptathela kimurai

Background: The presence of efferent fibers in the anteromedial eye of liphistiid spiders kept in natural daily cycles of illuminance has been reported. However, this report is limited to innervation by the efferent fiber and daily rhabdomal changes, and there have been no detailed ultrastructural accounts of the eye. Methods: The fine structure of this eye was examined by electron microscopy. Results and conclusions: The eye consists of a cornea, a lens, a vitreous body, and a retina. The retina contains 13 or 14 receptor cells and glial cells. The rhabdoms are distal to the nuclei of the receptor cells. In the distal region of the receptive segment, the rhabdomeres lie in the center of the cell. In the middle region, anisomorphic rhabdoms formed by microvilli from adjacent cells are at the cell periphery. In the proximal region, the rhabdomeres are situated in the center of the cell. The ocellar nerve of the eye runs toward the protocerebrum and enters the posterior part of the first optic ganglion of the secondary eyes. Pigmented cells and nonpigmented cells are observed. The pigmented cells are located in the most lateral of the eye and cover the whole eye. The nonpigmented cells are located in the receptor cell bodies and extend to the origin of the ocellar nerve. They wind to form capillaries filled with electron-dense material. These structures are discussed in comparison with those of other spiders and other chelicerates. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

HEPATITIS-ASSOCIATED APLASTIC ANEMIA WITH SYSTEMIC PLASMACYTOSIS

An autopsy case of hepatitis associated aplastic anemia was presented. A 58-year-old Japanese female with non-A, non-B hepatitis was admitted on August 2, 1983. Moderate grade of fever and hemorrhagic diathesis appeared on September 16, when hepatitis was evaluated as being under resolving. The peripheral blood and bone marrow findings were consistent with aplastic anemia. Since infection was suggested by increased levels of serum gamma-globulin and CRP, treatment with antibiotics as well as prednisolone and blood transfusion was initiated. Since September 21, gradual tenderness and edema on the right lower abdominal wall appeared. She died on October 3.
On postmortem examination, systemic plasmacytosis with lymphadenopathy and septic monilial infection was revealed. Numerous plasma cells were atypical, but were immunohistochemically proved to be polyclonal. The bone marrow showed a massive and diffuse plasma cell proliferation with extremely scarce myeloid cells and megakaryocytes. There was a large granulomatous lesion with monilial infection in the wall of the ileocecum. By these findings, systemic plasmacytosis was suspected to be due to chronic monilial infection.
The pathogenesis of systemic plasmacytosis in aplastic anemias and in other diseases were discussed with relation to the present case.