Concentration- and Time-Dependent Increase in Specific Airway Resistance after Induction of Airway Hyperresponsiveness by Subchronic Exposure of Guinea Pigs to Nitrogen Dioxide

In the present study utilizing male Hartley guinea pigs, weinvestigated (1) the concentration and time dependency of theeffects of subchronic exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) onairway responsiveness and (2) the concentration and time dependencyof the effects on specific airway resistance under room air(SRaw₀). Animals were exposed to filtered air, 0.06, 0.5, 1.0,2.0, or 4.0 ppm NO₂ for 6 and 12 weeks (24 hr/day). Airway responsivenessand SRaw₀ were determined 1 week before the beginning of exposureat 10 weeks of age and on the day of termination of the exposure.Our results revealed that (1) subchronic exposure to NO₂ inducesairway hyperresponsive-ness, both concentration and time dependently,(2) such exposure also induces an increase in SRaw₀, both concentrationand time dependently, and (3) subsequent to the airway hyperre-sponsivenessinduced by NO₂ is an increase in the SRaw₀. Therefore, NO₂ couldbe a potent risk factor for alteration of pulmonary functionand airway responsiveness.     

Comparison of the effects of KRN2391 and other coronary dilators on porcine isolated coronary arteries of different sizes

Abstract— The present study was performed to determine whether KRN2391 (N-cyano-N′-(2-nitroxyethyl)-3-pyridinecarboximidamide monomethanesulphonate), a novel vasodilator, shows different effects on porcine isolated coronary arteries of different sizes. The vasodilating effects of KRN2391 on porcine large (2·5–3·0 mm outer diam.) and small (0·8–1·0 mm) coronary arteries were also compared with those of cromakalim, nicorandil, nifedipine, nitroglycerin and adenosine. The relaxant effects of these drugs were examined in coronary arteries contracted by 25 Mm KCl. Nitroglycerin caused greater relaxation in large vessels than in small vessels. In contrast, adenosine, nifedipine and cromakalim caused greater relaxation in small vessels. However, there was no difference between large and small vessels in the relaxing effects of KRN2391 and nicorandil. These unique features of KRN2391 and nicorandil appear to be beneficial in ischaemic heart disease.     

Reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview

Abstract  Despite a rapid increase in disabled elderly in Japan, the burden of the caregiver has not been properly assessed due to a lack of objective measurements. Our study was aimed at adapting and validating the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview (ZBI) in Japan, which is one of the most widely used measurements for caregivers' burden in the United States. Sixty-six caregivers answered the self-administered questionnaire, involving the Japanese version of the ZBI and questions regarding their caregiving situation. Our study demonstrated that the Japanese version of the ZBI had equally as high reliability and validity as the original version. The Japanese ZBI had a high test—retest reliability (r = 0.76) and internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.93). The total score of the ZBI was highly correlated with the caregivers' score of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) score (r = 0.50), as well as a single global rating of burden (r = 0.71). It was also shown that demographic distribution of the score of the Japanese version had a similar trend to that of the original version. Caregivers who looked after patients with behavioral disturbances were found to have a significantly higher ZBI score than those who looked alter patients without behavioral disturbances, which is consistent with previous findings. It is concluded that the Japanese version of the ZBI can be used to measure feelings of burden of caregivers in the Japanese population and can be used for cross-cultural comparison.     

In Vitro Biological Activity of an Insulin-like Active Substance Extracted from the Tumor Tissue of a Patient with Primary Liver Cell Carcinoma Associated with Severe Spontaneous Hypoglycemia

Biological activity of an insulin-like active substance, extractedfrom the tissue of a tumor tissue of a patient with primaryliver cell carcinoma associated with severe spontaneous hypoglycemia,was studied in vitro. The substance was acid insoluble. It stimulatedglucose uptake and glucose oxidation by rat muscle and adiposetissue, and these effects were not suppressed by anti-insulinantibody. It stimulated glycogen synthesis in rat muscle tissuebut not in adipose tissue. Oxidation of glucose C-1 by adiposetissue was enhanced strongly by the substance, but it had noeffect on glucose C-6 oxidation. The biological activity ofthe substance resembled that of non-suppressible insulin-likeactivity-precipitated (NSILA-P) rather than that of pancreaticinsulin or nonsuppressible insulin-like activity-soluble (NSILA-S).