Quantitative analysis of tremor in Minamata disease

Applying the techniques of power spectrum and pulse correlation, we carried out a quantitative analysis of tremor in normal subjects, patients with methyl mercury poisoning (Minamata disease) and patients with other diseases. We found that tremor of methyl mercury poisoning was different from physiological tremor and the other pathological tremors in frequency and amplitude.     

DIFFERENTIATION OF AMYLOID FIBRIL PROTEINS IN TISSUE SECTIONS Two Simple and Reliable Histological Methods Applied to Fifty-one Cases of Systemic Amyloidosis

The potassium permanganate method and the unlabeled immunoperoxidase (PAP) method were applied for distinguishing different types of amyloid fibril proteins in conventionally fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections obtained from fifty-one autopsied cases of systemic amyloidosis and three control cases of well-analysed fibril proteins. All of the eighteen cases "sensitive" to permanganate treatment, whose amyloid deposits lost completely their affinity to Congo red and birefringence under polarized light, were shown to have AA antigenic determinants by the PAP method. Meanwhile, all of the remaining thirty-three "resistant" cases, where Congo red affinity and birefringence were retained at various degree even only in minimal areas, were negative for AA antigenicity. This indicated the feasibility of potassium permanganate method for the identification of AA protein based on this criterion of "sensitivity". Twenty-eight cases were classified as AA, Aγ, A_k or AA+[A_k] the remaining twenty-three cases were unclassified, and there were some discrepancies between the preliminary clinicopathological classification and the protein nature of the amyloid. It is important to differentiate the types of amyloid fibril protein of individual patients because the expedience of selective therapeutic approaches had been suggested. The two methods applied herein are handy and useful for this purpose.     

Distribution of mRNA for CCK-B receptor in the brain of Mastomys natalensis: abundant expression in telencephalic neurons

The distribution of chelecystokinin B (CCK-B) receptors in the Mastomys brain was studied using Northern blot analysis and in situ hybridization technique. By Northern blot analysis using³²P-labeled cDNA probe, the cortex had the highest hybridization signal of CCK-B receptor mRNA in the brain. The olfactory bulb and hippocampus showed a moderate level of signals. In situ hybridization using³⁵S-labeled cRNA probes revealed a wide and region-specific distribution of CCK-B receptor mRNA in the telencephalon. Throughout the cerebral cortex, labeled cells were found in all layers, with higher intensities in layers II, V and VI. Pyramidal cells of the layer II of the piriform cortex showed the highest level of signals in the brain. In the hippocampus, most of the pyramidal cells of the Ammon's horn were labeled, although labeled cells were not detected in other layers. Distinct signals were also detected in the various amygdaloid nuclei, caudate-putamen, reticular thalamic nucleus, hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus and inferior colliculus. This distribution pattern may further support the prominent existence of CCK-B receptors in the brain particularly in the telencephalon.     

Application of a Circular Polarizing Device to an Electronic Endoscope for the Purpose of Prevention of Catch-Light Phenomenon

Abstract: In recent years the electronic endoscope has been increasingly used by medical practitioners in Japan. However, it has been noted that the problem of too strong light refection, which, not only hampers the procedure but also causes eye exhaustion, at the same time making photographic or computerized image processing difficult, is more frequently experienced and is more serious in magnitude when compared with using a conventional fiberoptic endoscope (catch-light phenomenon). In order to ameliorate this problem the authors experimented with the use of circularly polarized light. The combined use of a circular polarizing device to the efferent light path and a filter which blocks certain types of Circularly polarized light to the afferent path has proved to be very effective in eliminating the incidence of catch-light troubles, thus making the endoscopic procedure smooth and efficient.     

An adult form of Gaucher's disease with a huge tumour formation of the right tibia

Summary A case of adult, chronic or non-neuropathic, Gaucher's disease is presented. Severe bony changes, particularly involving the lower limbs developed after a splenectomy had been carried out. Our patient had all the orthopaedic complications of Gaucher's disease. Further, a huge tumour was present in the right tibia caused by the proliferation of Gaucher cells. This feature may be unique but pseudotumour should be listed in the possible orthopaedic complications of Gaucher's disease. The patient was bedridden, but was able to use a wheelchair after his leg was amputated.

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Résumé Présentation d'un adulte atteint de maladie de Gaucher dans sa forme chronique, non neuropathique. De graves lésions osseuses, atteignant notamment les membres inférieurs sont apparues après splénectomie. Ce patient présentait toutes les complications orthopédiques de la maladie de Gaucher. En outre, il existait au niveau du tibia droit une énorme tumeur résultant de la prolifération des cellules de Gaucher. Cette observation est peut être unique mais on doit cependant savoir que les pseudo-tumeurs sont une des complications orthopédiques possible de la maladie de Gaucher. Le malade était grabataire, mais il a pu se déplacer à l'aide d'un fauteuil roulant après qu'il ait été amputé de sa jambe.

     

Ghrelin improves renal function in mice with ischemic acute renal failure

Growth hormone and IGF-1 have been suggested to have tissue-protective effects. Ghrelin is a stomach-derived growth hormone secretagogue. The effects of ghrelin on ischemia/reperfusion-induced renal failure in mice were examined. Ischemic acute renal failure was induced by bilateral renal artery clamping for 45 min and reperfusion for 24 h. Ghrelin (100 microg/kg mouse) or vehicle was injected subcutaneously six times before surgery and three times after surgery every 8 h. Twenty-four hours after reperfusion, the right kidney was isolated and perfused. Acetylcholine (ACh)- and adrenomedullin-induced endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation of renal vessels significantly improved in ghrelin-pretreated mice (%Delta renal perfusion pressure by 10(-7) M ACh -63.5 +/- 3.7 versus -41.2 +/- 5.5%; P < 0.05). This change was associated with significant increases of nitric oxide release in the kidneys of ghrelin-treated mice (10(-7) M ACh 35.5 +/- 5.8 versus 16.9 +/- 3.5 fmol/g kidney per min; P < 0.05). Serum concentration of urea nitrogen (53 +/- 7 versus 87 +/- 15 mg/dl; P < 0.05) and renal injury score were significantly lower in the ghrelin group (2.5 +/- 0.8 versus 5.3 +/- 1.5; P < 0.01). Tubular apoptotic index was significantly lower in the ghrelin group (5 +/- 5 versus 28 +/- 4; P < 0.05). Furthermore, the survival rate after the 60-min ischemic period was higher in the ghrelin group (80 versus 20%; P < 0.05). Ghrelin treatment significantly increased the serum level of IGF-1. However, such renal protective effects of ghrelin on ischemia/reperfusion injury were not observed in insulin receptor substrate-2 knockout mice. These results suggest that ghrelin may protect the kidneys from ischemia/reperfusion injury and that this effect is related to an improvement of endothelial function through an IGF-1-mediated pathway.     

Poly-1.3.4-oxadiazoles. IV. Poly-1.3.4-oxadiazoles containing pyridine rings

In order to obtain tractable aromatic poly(1.3.4-oxadiazoles), the polycondensation of pyridinedicarboxylic dihydrazides has been investigated according to the solution polycondensation procedure using fuming sulfuric acid or polyphosphoric acid as solvent and condensing agent. The resulting polymers were not wholly composed of the 1.3.4-oxadiazole structure, and their molecular weights were rather low (η_sp/c up to 0.18 dl/g). Some properties of the polymers, such as IR- and UV-spectra, solubility, and thermal stability, were compared with those of authentic poly(pyridine-1.3.4-oxadiazoles).