Strain difference in behavioral response to a new environment in rats

Abstract Locomotor activity in rats throughout a 24-hour period in a new environment was examined for strain differences and for the capacity for adaptation to that environment. Fischer 344 rats (F344), spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar normotensive Kyoto rats (WKY) were used. The horizontal locomotor activity of individual rats was measured by photocell-utilizing activity-recording devices. The locomotor activity counts on the second day, after 1 day of adaptation, were compared with those after 5 days of adaptation (on the sixth day). In WKY, there was no difference in activity at any period of the day between the second and sixth days. In SHR, the locomotor activity on the second day between 6:00 h and 9:00 h (in the light phase) and between 24:00 h and 3:00 h (in the dark phase) was higher than on the sixth day. In F344, the locomotor activity on the second day between 18:00 h and 2:00 h was higher than on the sixth day. The capacity for adaptation in SHR and F344 was thus poorer than in WKY. The poor adaptation in SHR and F344 was similar to that in depressive patients induced by moving house. These findings suggested that SHR or F344 were suitable for depression research.     

Erectile dysfunction in hemodialysis patients with diabetes mellitus: Association with age and hemoglobin A1c levels

Abstract Aim: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is common in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) as well as those undergoing hemodialysis (HD). The purpose of this study is to investigate the frequency and severity of ED in HD patients with DM and those without DM. In addition, we examined the relationship between erectile function and several risk factors, including presence of DM and hemoglobin A1c levels in HD patients. Methods: This study involved 180 patients on HD, including 66 HD patients with DM (DM‐HD) and 114 patients without DM (non‐DM‐HD). We evaluated erectile function using an abridged five‐item version of the international index of erectile function (IIEF‐5). Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between presence of ED and several risk factors. Results: The total score of IIEF‐5 in DM‐HD patients (9.5 ± 4.2) was significantly lower than in non‐DM‐HD patients (13.5 ± 5.7). The prevalence of severe ED was 42.4% and 18.4% in DM‐HD patients and non‐DM‐HD patients, respectively. Age, cardiovascular disease history, and DM were identified as independent risk factors for the presence of ED. Furthermore, age and elevated hemoglobin A1c levels were identified as independent risk factors for the presence of severe ED. Conclusion: DM‐HD patients are more likely to have ED, and particularly severe forms of ED, than non‐DM‐HD patients. DM and elevated hemoglobin A1c levels were associated with the presence of ED or severe ED, respectively. Aging was identified as an independent factor in both ED and severe ED.     

Early experience of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for T3b renal cell carcinoma

We report our experience with laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for a 79-year-old man who had renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with a renal vein thrombus. For the transaction of the renal vein with the thrombus, we used an endoscopic gastrointestinal anastomosis stapler. The operating time was 4 h and blood loss was 400 mL. The patient could walk and drink on the first postoperative day. He recovered normal activity 30 days postoperatively. There were no intraoperative and postoperative complications. The present report demonstrates the feasibility of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy in patients with T3b RCC who suffer from tumor thrombus in the renal vein.     

A case of insufficient sleep syndrome

Abstract All night polysomnographic evaluation (PSG) soon after admission and at the late period of admission revealed an atypically high sleep efficiency and a prolonged total sleep time. Sleep onset latency and distribution of REM and NREM sleep stages were like those of normal sleepers. On REM latency, while it was remarkably reduced (25.0 min) soon after admission and sleep onset REM period (SOREMP) was found, at the late period of admission it was prolonged and SOREMP was not found. Giving multiple sleep latency test with polysomnography, soon after admission subjective excessive daytime sleepiness had already improved and mean sleep latency (13.2 min) was within normal range. However, SOREMP appeared twice in five tests. We considered that the appearance at the early period of admission was the result of REM pressure growing.     

Faecal clearance of α1-antitrypsin reflects disease activity and correlates with rapid turnover proteins in chronic inflammatory bowel disease

Faecal clearance of alpha 1-antitrypsin was measured in patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease and compared with disease activity and markers of protein-calorie malnutrition. Patients with active ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease showed elevated clearance of alpha 1-antitrypsin and clearance declined in most patients with induction of remission. However, even with inactive disease, elevated protein loss persisted in some patients, presumably reflecting residual inflammation in the intestinal mucosa. There was a significant correlation between clearance of alpha 1-antitrypsin and serum levels of retinol-binding protein and transferrin in patients with ulcerative colitis and with retinol-binding protein in patients with Crohn's disease. Clearance of alpha 1-antitrypsin reflects disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease and correlates with serum levels of rapid-turnover proteins such as retinol-binding protein and transferrin, which are markers for the presence of protein-calorie malnutrition.     

多叶姜黄（Curcuma comosa Roxb.） 的化学成分

目的 对泰国产姜科姜黄属植物多叶姜黄（Curcuma comosa Roxb.） 干燥根茎甲醇提取物的化学成分进行分离和结构鉴定。方法 C. comosa Roxb. 的甲醇提取物经乙酸乙酯-正丁醇-水依次萃取后,对各萃取部分采用正-反相硅胶柱色谱和制备型HPLC进行分离,经理化常数测定、核磁共振技术分析等方法鉴定了化合物的结构。结果 分离得到8个化合物,分别被鉴定为异蓬莪术环二烯酮(isofuranodienone, 1), 蓬莪术环二烯酮(furanodienone, 2), 1(10)Z, 4Z-蓬莪术二烯-6-酮[1(10)Z, 4Z-furanodiene-6-one, 3], 泽泻醇 (alismol, 4), 2, 2, 6-三甲基-1-氧螺 [2, 5]辛-5-烯-4-醇 (2, 2, 6-trimethyl-1-oxaspiro[2, 5]oct-5-en-4-ol, 5), 1-羟基-α, α, 4-三甲基-3-环己烯-1-甲醇 (1-hydroxy-α, α, 4-trimethyl-3-cyclohexene-1-methanol, 6), 6-羟基-3 (1-羟基-1-甲基乙基)-6-甲基-2-环己烯-1-酮 (6-hydroxy-3(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-6- methyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one, 7), (1S, 2S, 4R)-1, 8桉叶素-2-O-β-D-葡萄糖苷 ((1S, 2S, 4R)-2-hydroxy-1, 8-cineole β-D-glucopyranoside, 8) 。结论 化合物3~8为首次从该属植物中分离得到。     

SARS-CoV恒河猴模型动物中组织病理学动态变化

目的在感染的8只恒河猴的SARS-CoV模型动物中,观察肺等组织中出现的系列病理学改变,为针对抗SARS药物筛选、疫苗评价中的免疫病理反应等奠定实验依据。方法SARS-CoV经鼻腔接种8只恒河猴,在感染的第5、7、10、15、20、30和60天,分别安乐处死动物,组织病理取材,制片,观察。结果经病毒分离和RT-PCR证实动物感染是成功的。系列病理改变表明,早期肺组织可见间质性肺炎,水肿、结构破坏、出血,巨噬细胞浸润;后期出现内皮细胞受损及再生,透明膜形成,小血管玻璃样变,肺组织纤维化及肺气肿形成,肺泡网状纤维和弹力纤维破坏并增生等,脾脏、淋巴结生发中心早期有萎缩,后期有恢复等病理学改变均和SARS患者相似。结论感染恒河猴出现与SARS患者类似的临床和病理学改变,为进一步研究该病毒的病原特性、发病机理、药物筛选、疫苗评价等方面的研究奠定了重要基础。     

High-dose mizoribine treatment for adolescents with systemic lupus erythematosus

BACKGROUND: In treating pediatric patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), it is necessary to quickly attain remission to avoid sequelae in various organs and to maintain it over a long period. However, to maintain remission, the prolonged use of immunosuppressants which have various adverse effects, is often necessary in addition to steroids, and complications due to such immunosuppressants pose very important problems. A regimen of mizoribin (MZR) at 150 mg/day divided into two or three doses has been recommended, but while this regimen has been safe, its efficacy has not been satisfactory. However, MZR produces effects dose-dependently, and the dose recommended to date may have been insufficient for the treatment of children with SLE. METHODS: The authors administered oral MZR at 300 mg/day in two divided doses, which is twice the conventional dose for adults, to five adolescents with SLE. Three of these five were markedly steroid-dependent patients and two had previously been treated with steroids only. Thereafter, the authors evaluated the safety and efficacy of the regimen by following the patients for at least 7 months after the beginning of treatment. RESULTS: Patients 1 and 2 had been treated with prednisolone (PSL) and cyclosporine (CyA), but as the duration of CyA administration became long, it was replaced with 300 mg MZR. This transition could be accomplished smoothly. Patient 3 showed repeated recurrence during the treatment with PSL and CyA or CPM, but the symptoms could be controlled by the addition of 300 mg MZR. In patients 4 and 5, the control of symptoms with PSL alone was judged to be difficult, and concomitant administration of MZR at 300 mg was started. This resulted in a decrease in the dose of PSL. The Cmax (C2) of MZR was 1.33 microg/mL or higher in all five patients, and the efficacy of the treatment was satisfactory. Concerning side-effects, hyperuricemia was noted in two patients, but it was resolved in one of them by reducing the dose of MZR and in the other spontaneously while the treatment was continued. Temporary exacerbation of hair loss was observed in two patients, but it disappeared in both of them after a few months. CONCLUSION: MZR could be administered at a high dose effectively and safely. However, monitoring of the serum uric acid level was necessary. High-dose MZR therapy showed an efficacy and safety that would warrant its application to steroid-dependent pediatric patients with SLE.     

Serum glucagon-like peptide-2 levels in neonates: Comparison between extremely low-birthweight infants and normal-term infants

BACKGROUND: Glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) arises from proglucagon within enteroendocrine L cells of the small and large intestines, and its physiological roles have been gradually elucidated. However, the circulating GLP-2 levels in human neonates are still unknown. The aim of the present study was to measure serum GLP-2 levels in extremely low-birthweight (ELBW) infants and normal-term infants, and to compare these values between the two groups. METHODS: Blood samples were collected and serum GLP-2 concentrations measured, from 15 ELBW infants at three stages (stage I, before initial feeding after birth; stage II, point at which milk intake reached 100 mL/kg per day; stage III, corrected 40 weeks of gestation), and from 30 normal-term infants at two stages (stages I and II). RESULTS: No significant difference in basal GLP-2 values at stage I (before initial feeding) was found between ELBW infants and normal-term infants (7.37 +/- 0.95 ng/mL vs 9.47 +/- 0.94 ng/mL). However, in ELBW infants, serum GLP-2 concentrations at stage II were significantly increased, compared with those at stage I (P < 0.0001). In normal-term infants, serum GLP-2 concentrations at stage II were also significantly increased compared with those at stage I (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that initial feeding stimulates secretion of serum GLP-2 in neonates. In addition, the secretion mechanism of GLP-2 is considered to be established at 24 weeks of gestation at the latest.