Stimulation of monocyte iodination and IL-1 production by tannins and related compounds.

Various tannins and related compounds were compared for their ability to stimulate the iodination (incorporation of radioactive iodine into an acid-insoluble fraction) of human peripheral blood monocytes. The stimulating activity of most of the monomeric and dimeric hydrolyzable tannins was generally higher than that of the trimeric and tetrameric compounds. Compounds that had dehydrohexahydroxydiphenoyl or chebuloyl groups had considerably less activity than those that had other functional groups (hexahydroxydiphenoyl, valoneoyl, dehydrodigalloyl, isodehydrodigalloyl, lactonized valoneoyl, hellinoyl, euphorbinoyl, dehydroeuphorbinoyl or woodfordinoyl group). The methylated derivative, nonacosa-O-methylcoriariin A, was essentially inactive, suggesting the requirement of a phenolic hydroxyl group. Three condensed tannins ((-)-epicatechin 3-O-gallate (ECG)-dimer, ECG-trimer and ECG-tetramer) significantly stimulated both monocyte iodination and their interleukin-1-like factor production. The results suggest the dependence of stimulation of monocyte iodination by tannins and related polyphenols on molecular weight.     

Repeat operations in the management of clival chordomas: palliative surgery.

Some chordomas have a very poor prognosis because of their aggressive growth nature, but the efficacy of repeat operations for these cases has not been well documented. This report concerns 3 patients with aggressive chordoma of the clivus, who underwent operations 6 to 12 times over a period of 8 to 17 years because of symptomatic regrowth. Overall mean interval between repeat operations was 18 months with a range from 5 to 57 months and survival times were 9 to19 years after the first surgery. Main symptoms before each operation were diplopia and visual disturbance. Repeat palliative operations by intentional extradural debulking of the tumour to decompress offending neural structures, as well as maximal removal of the tumour, using appropriate skull base approaches, can mitigate progressive symptoms, and may result in better quality and some prolongation of life, although our patients gradually deteriorated neurologically throughout the clinical course.     

Relationship between morphological and functional changes in the stomach with aging]

The authors investigated the relationship between morphological changes and functional changes of the stomach with ageing, especially in term of change of gastric emptying in 92 healthy subjects. We checked the difference in chronological age and the stomach age in these subjects (in order to assess these subjects). The morphological change was evaluated by extent of atrophic gastritis in endoscopical atrophic border and histological findings of biopsy specimens, and the functional change was evaluated by maximal acid output in gastric secretion. Atrophic gastritis was expanded and maximal acid output was significantly reduced with ageing. From these results we confirmed that there was no difference between the chronological age and the stomach age and the quality of these subjects was very good. Gastric emptying was investigated by the acetaminophen method. In spite of ageing, gastric emptying was almost constant in these healthy subjects.     

Effect of truncal vagotomy on electromechanical activity of the gastric antrum and the duodenum in conscious dogs

Using 5 conscious mongrel dogs, a study was conducted to investigate the vagotomy on gastroduodenal movements. At the first operation, the electrodes and strangage force transducers were attached to the antrum and duodenum; after making an electromyogram and recording contraction waves simultaneously, a transthoracic truncal vagotomy (TV) was performed and similar recordings were done. In order to evaluate the effect of TV on antral motility as well as antroduodenal coordination, the motility of the antrum and average contraction force per time unit were measured before and after TV. Furthermore induced inhibition and propagated excitation were analyzed referring to lag cross correlations before and after TV. The results were as follows: As compared with pre-vagotomy values, the post-vagotomy measured amount of motility as well as the average contraction force were reduced. Before TV in digestive state both propagated excitation and induced inhibition could be recognized. During phase II in digestive state only propagated excitation could be demonstrated, while in phase III both were absent. After TV in digestive state propagated excitation was noted, but the propagating time was shorter than before TV. Induced inhibition could not be demonstrated any longer. Furthermore, during phases II and III in the interdigestive state both were not noted.     

谷氨酸脱氢酶,胆碱氧化酶和葡萄糖-6-磷酸酶对溶酶体中~(67)Ga积累的影响(英文)

目的:比较正常肝组织与肝癌AH 109A,吉田肉瘤中谷氨酸脱氢酶,胆碱氧化酶和葡萄糖-6-磷酸酶的活力对~(67)Ga摄取与积累的影响;方法:制备~(67)Ga枸橼酸溶液给大鼠静注后处死大鼠,制备亚细胞悬液,液闪计数器测定放射活度.结果:~(67)Ga的放射活性在正常肝组织溶酶体中(55％积聚)显著高于肝癌AH109A(32％积聚)和吉田肉瘤(18％)积聚.谷氨酸脱氢酶的活力在正常肝组织,肝癌和吉田肉瘤分别是1830±s 320 U·L~(-1),23±s 6 U·L~(-1)和7±s 2 U·L~(-1);胆碱氧化酶的活力分别是46±s 10 U·L~(-1),25.0±s 0.4 U·L~(-1),2.0±0.4 U·L~(-1);葡萄糖-6-磷酸酶活力分别是2550±s 180 U·L~(-1),84±s 14 U·L~(-1),78±s13 U·L~(-1).结论:正常肝组织中溶酶体酶活力很强,对~(67)Ga的积累起较大作用.癌变组织酶活力降低而作用减弱.吉田肉瘤细胞无肝细胞特点,其溶酶体对~(67)Ga积累作用不大.     

Response of Müller cells following experimental lensectomy-vitrectomy

We used morphological, biochemical and immunohistochemical methods to assess the response of Müller cells after experimental lensectomy-vitrectomy in rabbits. We observed widened intercellular spaces between the Müller cells and nerve fibers of ganglion cells, and increased electron opacity in the Müller cells of eyes injected with silicone oil. No apparent morphological changes were detected in the Müller cells of air-injected eyes. The specific and total activities of Müller cell-marker enzymes (glucose 6-phosphatase and glutamine synthetase) showed an initial increase, followed by a decrease. Glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactivity was not found in the Müller cells of the normal rabbit retina but was exhibited after surgery. Our results showed that markers of Müller cells associated with glycogenolysis and/or gluconeogenesis, glutamate-glutamine cycle and cytoskeletal protein metabolism were affected by the experimental lensectomy-vitrectomy.     

Development of GFAP-positive cells and reactive changes associated with cystic lesions in HTX rat brain.

HTX rat, a congenital hydrocephalic strain, develops ventricular dilatation and cystic cavities in the cerebral white matter after birth. To investigate the reactive changes in glial cells around these cavities, immunohistochemical staining for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a specific marker protein of astrocytes, and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), a thymidine analogue, was carried out on 107 Wistar and HTX rat brains from birth to postnatal day (P) 26. Animals were divided into three groups: Group A, Wistar rats as normal controls; Group B, HTX rats with a normal structure or only mild ventricular dilatation without any lesion in the white matter; and Group C, HTX rats with severe ventricular dilatation and cyst formation in the white matter. Group B rats showed similar development of GFAP-positive (GFAP+) cells to that in Group A rats, both morphologically and quantitatively. On the other hand, Group C rats showed definite structural changes in GFAP+ cells around the cystic cavities from P5. These included enriched cytoplasm and thickened cell processes with increased GFAP expression, and enveloped most cyst walls from P10. However, quantitative examination of the percentage of GFAP+ cells in Group C rats showed a similar developmental profile to those in Group A and B rats. Furthermore, the labeling index of BrdU-positive cells, indicating S-phase cells, in the white matter in Group C rats showed a similar decreasing pattern to that in Group A and B rats from P1 to P26.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Molecular genetics of human aldehyde dehydrogenase.

Four non-allelic genes, which encode four different aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) isozymes, have been cloned and characterized at the present time. The coding nucleotide sequences, and organization of introns and exons of these genes have been elucidated. The ALDH1 gene encodes the major cytosolic ALDH1 existing in the liver and other tissues. The genetic deficiency of this isozyme was found at a low frequency (< 10%) in both Caucasians and Orientals. The deficiency and alcohol sensitivity character are inherited together in one large Caucasian family examined. The ALDH1 gene contains two hormone response elements in its upstream 5' region. The ALDH2 gene encodes the major liver mitochondrial ALDH2 which has a very low Km for acetaldehyde. The atypical ALDH2(2) allele is common (about 30%) in Orientals; and subjects with ALDH2(2) allele, both homozygous and heterozygous status, lack ALDH activity. These individuals are alcohol sensitive and have a markedly reduced risk in developing alcoholism and alcoholic liver diseases. The ALDH3 gene produces a cytosolic ALDH3 isozyme existing in the stomach and liver carcinoma but hardly in normal liver. The ALDH3 locus is polymorphic in Orientals and presumably other populations. The ALDH5 gene, which is expressed in testes and liver, is highly polymorphic in both Caucasians and Orientals. The variation of these two loci may affect the development of alcohol-related problems.     

Vasodilator effects of C-type natriuretic peptide on cerebral arterioles in rats

The vasodilator effects of C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) were investigated in isolated rat cerebral arterioles. CNP caused dose-dependent vasodilation, maximally by 10.0±2.2% at 10⁻⁶ M. The median effective concentration (EC₅₀) was 5.2×10⁻¹⁰ M. In contrast, atrial natriuretic peptide and B-type natriuretic peptide, other members of the natriuretic peptide family, produced little or no vasodilation. Pretreatment with methylene blue (10⁻⁴ M) abolished CNP-induced vasodilation, whereas pretreatment with N^G-monomethyl-

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-arginine or indomethacin did not inhibit vasodilation. Thus, CNP is suggested to cause significant vasodilation in cerebral arterioles via a cyclic guanosine monophosphate-dependent mechanism. © 1997 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.     

Cyclic AMP-dependent phosphorylation of the rat brain ryanodine receptor.

Phosphorylation of the rat brain ryanodine receptor was studied using a monoclonal antibody, Ry-1, against the cardiac ryanodine receptor. A large polypeptide with the same SDS-PAGE mobility as that of the canine cardiac receptor was detected in rat brain membranes by immunoblotting. The brain ryanodine receptor was solubilized from the microsomal membranes with 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonic acid (CHAPS), and more than 85% of the solubilized receptor was immunoprecipitated by Ry-1. Immunoprecipitated receptors were phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The ryanodine receptor was also expressed in cultured fetal rat brain neurons and was phosphorylated by treating the cells with dibutyryl cAMP. The number of cells showing a caffeine-induced Ca2+ transient was increased significantly in the phosphorylating condition. These results suggest that the Ca channel activity of the brain ryanodine receptor is regulated by cAMP-dependent phosphorylation.