Seminal lactate dehydrogenase C4 (LDH-C4) isozyme activity in infertile men

Lactate dehydrogenase C4 (LDH-C4) is the specific isozyme of LDH produced by germ cells. We measured LDH-C4 activity in seminal plasma from infertile men with oligozoospermia or azoospermia using gel electrophoresis. Total LDH activity in seminal plasma from infertile patients (n = 99) was 2,487 +/- 1,384 IU/l (mean +/- SD). LDH-C4 isozyme activity was detected in 63 out of 75 seminal plasma samples from infertile patients with a mean of 383 +/- 356 IU/l (13.8 +/- 8.6% of total LDH). Sperm count was positively correlated with LDH-C4 (r = 0.298; P < 0.05), but not with any other LDH isozymes or with total LDH. Seminal LDH-C4 was significantly lower in patients with varicoceles (253 +/- 223 IU/l) than without varicoceles (474 +/- 262 IU/l). Six azoospermia patients were treated with hCG and hMG. Three out of four patients whose seminal plasma revealed LDH-C4 activity responded to the treatment, whereas none of the other two patients without seminal LDH-C4 activity did. These results indicate the clinical usefulness of seminal LDH-C4 as a potential marker for seminal epithelium activity in the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility.     

Establishment and characterization of spontaneously immortalized Schwann cells from murine model of globoid cell leukodystrophy (twitcher)

The twitcher mouse is a murine model of human globoid cell leukodystrophy (GLD; Krabbe disease) caused by a genetic defect in the activity of galactosylceramidase (GALC). An accumulation of cytotoxic metabolite, galactosylsphingosine (psychosine), in myelin forming cells (oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells) of the twitcher mouse as well as patients with GLD has been suggested to cause dysfunction of these cells and subsequent demyelination in the central and peripheral nervous system. To investigate further the cellular pathomechanism of GLD, we established spontaneously immortalized Schwann cell lines from the twitcher mouse. Long-term cultures of Schwann cells derived from dorsal root ganglia and consecutive peripheral nerves of 3-week-old twitcher mice were maintained for 6 months, and spontaneously developed colonies were expanded further and characterized. One of the cell lines, designated TwS1, showed distinct Schwann cell phenotypes, was passaged twice a week and maintained for over 10 months without phenotypic alterations. The TwS1 cells had a nonsense mutation in the GALC genome, and showed markedly reduced GALC activity and elevated psychosine levels. Ultrastructurally, varieties of cytoplasmic inclusions were demonstrated in TwS1 cells. When TwS1 cells were infected with a retrovirus vector encoding GALC, GALC activity was markedly increased and psychosine levels were significantly decreased. These immortalized Schwann cells can be useful in studies on the nervous system lesions in GLD.     

Home medical care using long-term care insurance--centered on home oxygen therapy

About two-thirds of the patients undergoing home oxygen therapy apply for the Long-term Care Insurance. Most of them are aged 75 or over but the degree of necessity of care is relatively low. Two-thirds of them apply for the insurance for the medical care-related reason, which are twice as many as those apply for the insurance because for the medical care-related reason. Medical cares covered by the Long-term Care Insurance include disease control by the visiting nurse, the assistance for the hospital visit using visiting care or day service/day care and respiratory rehabilitation using day care. Special elderly nursing homes are the good place to accept elderly people living alone. The merit of the Long-term Care Insurance is rapid information supply from various professionals to doctors. Since it is also possible to disseminate the doctor's instruction to each staff, it is possible to carry out disease control at home as if they were admitted to the hospital. For these reasons, the Long-term Care Insurance is extremely effective to prolong the period when patients undergoing oxygen therapy are treated at home or to improve their QOL.     

Biodirected epitaxial nanodeposition of polymers on oriented macromolecular templates

Biodirected epitaxial nanodeposition of polymers was achieved on a template with an oriented molecular surface. Acetobacter xylinum synthesized a ribbon of cellulose I microfibrils onto a fixed, nematic ordered substrate of glucan chains with unique surface characteristics. The substrate directed the orientation of the motion due to the inverse force of the secretion during biosynthesis, and the microfibrils were aligned along the orientation of the molecular template. Using real-time video analysis, the patterns and rates of deposition were elucidated. Field emission scanning electron microscopy revealed that a strong molecular interaction allowed for the deposition of nascent biosynthesized 3.5-nm cellulose microfibrils with inter-microfibrillar spacings of 7-8 nm on the surface of the template. The cellulose was deposited parallel to the molecular orientation of the template. Directed cellulose synthesis and ordered movement of cells were observed only by using a nematic ordered substrate made from cellulose, and not from ordered crystalline cellulose substrates or ordered cellulose-related synthetic polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol. This unique relationship between directed biosynthesis and the ordered fabrication from the nano to the micro scales could lead to new methodologies for the design of functional materials with desired nanostructures.     

Gastric carcinoma presenting with extensive extraluminal growth: Report of a case

(Received for publication on Apr. 23, 1999; accepted on Nov. 11, 1999)     

Prenatal diagnosis of lissencephaly (type II) by ultrasound and fast magnetic resonance imaging.

We report a case of lissencephaly which could be diagnosed by detailed examination during pregnancy. We first found bilateral enlarged ventricles in the fetus by routine abdominal ultrasonography at mid-pregnancy. Fast scanning MRI subsequently allowed confirmation of a diagnosis of lissencephaly during pregnancy.     

Fournier's Gangrene: Report of a Case Associated with Paralytic and Mechanical Ileus throughout the Management of the Gangrene

A 65-year-old Japanese male, who was treated for Fournier's gangrene, developed an enlarged erythema over the right thigh and right lower quadrant. The area was surgically debrided, and he was given antibiotics. However, he complained of abdominal swelling with a metallic bowel sound, pain, and vomiting and was then treated for paralytic ileus. Although his symptoms initially improved, he complained again of the same symptoms and underwent surgery for mechanical ileus occurring at the site of a surgical scar from an appendectomy 43 years earlier. This is a very rare case of Fournier's gangrene which caused mechanical ileus of the small intestine and adherence to a peritoneal scar after paralytic ileus due to inflammation of the abdominal fascia following scrotal gangrene.