Comparison of Plasma Metabolite Concentrations and Enzyme Activities in Beef Cattle Raised by Different Feeding Systems in Korea,Japan and New Zealand

Concentrations of metabolites and immunoreactive insulin (IRI) and activities of enzymes related to energy metabolism were measured in plasma of Korean and Japanese beef cattle, which were raised by the indoor feeding system programmed to feed larger amount of roughage in their growing periods and larger amount of concentrate diet in their finishing periods (Japanese feeding system), and grazing New Zealand beef cattle. By the Japanese beef grading system, Korean and Japanese beef cattle showed high beef quality score, average grade 3.3 and 3.6, respectively. The plasma free fatty acid and lactate concentrations and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities in Korean beef cattle were significantly higher than those in Japanese beef cattle. The plasma lactate concentration in Korean beef cattle was 8.40 mmol/l, which was similar to the values observed in lactic acidosis. The higher activities of plasma LDH, MDH and AST may indicate slight liver damage by slightly acidotic conditions in Korean beef cattle. New Zealand beef cattle fed on pasture which they harvest by grazing showed significantly lower plasma glucose, cholesterol, lactate and IRI concentrations and enzyme activities than those in Korean and Japanese beef cattle fed on larger amount of concentrate diets. Plasma metabolite concentrations and energy metabolism‐related enzyme activities may be good indicators for evaluating metabolic conditions of beef cattle raised by different feeding systems.     

Interaction of epidermal growth factor, Ca2+, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in primary keratinocyte migration

Elevations of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and Ca²⁺ concentrations in the wound site are associated with reepithelialization during wound healing. In addition, Ca²⁺ and EGF can both induce increases in matrix metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐9) synthesis. However, little is known about the interplay of these events in regulating the migration properties of primary keratinocytes on collagen I, the most abundant extracellular matrix component in the skin. We found that EGF stimulated both chemokinetic and chemotactic migration of primary keratinocytes on collagen I; however, MMP‐9 was required for EGF‐stimulated chemotaxis but not EGF‐stimulated chemokinesis. Calcium at 0.5 mM stimulated chemokinetic migration of keratinocytes. Together, Ca²⁺ and EGF stimulated higher levels of chemokinesis than either stimulus alone. Furthermore, Ca²⁺ could restore the ability of keratinocytes from MMP‐9 null mice to undergo EGF‐stimulated chemotaxis. The phosphatidylinositol‐3 kinase inhibitor LY294002 inhibited both EGF‐ and Ca²⁺‐stimulated chemokinetic migration. In contrast, the MEK inhibitor PD98059 blocked Ca²⁺‐ but not EGF‐stimulated chemokinetic migration of keratinocytes. A combination of PD98059 and LY294002 was required to inhibit Ca²⁺ enhancement of EGF‐stimulated migration completely. Calcium‐stimulated chemokinesis was completely blocked by either the protein kinase C‐α inhibitor Gö6976 or the src/fyn inhibitor PP2. Using primary keratinocytes, our results showed how the combined action of Ca²⁺, EGF, and MMP‐9 regulated the contributions of extracellular‐regulated kinase and phosphatidylinositol‐3 kinase toward chemokinetic and chemotactic migration of keratinocytes.     

Congenital disorder of glycosylation type 1a: three siblings with a mild neurological phenotype.

We report 3 siblings (1 male and 2 female) recently diagnosed with congenital disorder of glycosylation type Ia (CDG-Ia) in their mid-20s. They experience mild mental retardation but manage to function independently in society. Their professions are library assistant, professional artistic painter and secretarial work. All three siblings have cerebellar hypoplasia and ataxia, but are able to ambulate easily. Two of the siblings have required strabismus surgical repairs. All have antithrombin III deficiency, osteoporosis, and mild dysmorphic features. Hypergonadotrophic hypogonadism was a feature of the two female siblings. A type 1 sialotransferrin pattern and phosphomannomutase (PMM) deficiency have been demonstrated. They are compound heterozygotes for R141H and L32R mutations in the PMM2 gene. While there is clinical heterogeneity in CDG-Ia, we believe that our patients are among the mildest of intellectually affected CDG-Ia patients reported to date.     

Endocrinology: Predictive value of serum oestradiol concentrations and oocyte number in severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a serious complicationof gonadotrophin usage but it is difficult to accurately predictits occurrence. Previous investigators have identified the combinationof high oestradiol concentrations and oocyte number as beingpredictive in 80% of cases. In this study we sought to identifythe incidence of severe OHSS in patients with high oestradiolconcentrations and large numbers of oocytes and to evaluatethe importance of pregnancy in the development of OHSS. Between1990 and 1993, we studied 139 cycles using two assisted reproductivetechniques [oocyte donor, n =72; in-vitro fertilization (IVF),n = 67] in which either oestradiol (>4000 pg/ml), oocytenumber (>25), or both were elevated. OHSS was diagnosed bystandard criteria. There were no cases of severe OHSS in theoocyte donor group and six in the IVF group. Among 10 patientswith oestradiol concentration >6000 pg/ml and >30 oocytes,only one had OHSS (10%). The relative risk of OHSS with pregnancywas 12 (confidence interval 2.18–66.14). We conclude thatthe risk of OHSS even at high levels of stimulation is lowerthan previously believed. Secondly, donors have a very low riskof OHSS, probably because of the absence of pregnancy. As such,cryopreservation of all oocytes in IVF cycles is a reasonablealternative to cycle cancellation or use of adjunctive medication.     

Postirradiation malignant fibrous histiocytoma expressing cytokeratin. Implications for the immunodiagnosis of sarcomas

A malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the sacrum complicating the course of radiation therapy for endometrial carcinoma is presented. Although the tumor fulfilled the clinical, radiologic, and histologic criteria for a postirradiation malignant fibrous histiocytoma of bone, it also expressed cytokeratin. That this immunoreactivity reflected keratin synthesis by the tumor and not an unusual pattern of cross-reactivity with another intermediate filament such as vimentin is strongly suggested by the reproducibility of the immunoreactivity utilizing both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies and extinction of the immunoreactivity following absorption of the primary antiserum with keratin proteins. This is the first reported instance of keratin expression by a malignant fibrous histiocytoma; it indicates that sarcomas apart from synovial sarcoma and epithelioid sarcoma may sometimes express this protein.     

Assessment of the Severity of Asthma in a Family Practice

The objective of this study was to evaluate clinical history and self-perception of severity as predictors of asthma severity. A short-term longitudinal study was conducted in a family practice in Melbourne, Australia, utilizing peak flow monitoring, medication diary, and self-administered asthma severity questionnaire. Seventy-two asthmatic subjects with a positive bronchodilator or exercise test, aged between 6 and 79 years, were studied. Symptom and treatment items were correlated with peak flow variability and minimal peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR). An asthma severity scale was generated using the partial credit version of Item Response Theory and the participants' severity scores were validated against lung function tests and medication usage. Quantitative modeling procedures were used to investigate the interrelationships of factors associated with peak flow variability. Severity scores demonstrated significant relationships with peak flow variability (partial r = 0.34) and treatment items. Self-perceived severity of asthma in the preceding 2 weeks showed significant association with peak flow variability (partial rho = 0.46) and minimal PEFR (rho = -0.41). The severity module of the Monash Respiratory Questionnaire is a valid and reliable instrument. The most important symptoms appear to be the frequency of use of bronchodilator and frequency of nocturnal attacks. A carefully structured clinical history in conjunction with the peak flow criteria of variability and minimal peak flow rate would be appropriate in the evaluation of asthma severity. Patients' self-perception of the severity of their asthma needs further evaluation.     

Functional MR activation correlated with intraoperative cortical mapping.

PURPOSETo evaluate the spatial specificity of functional MR imaging by comparing it with intraoperative electrocortical mapping.METHODSFunctional MR imaging was performed in 28 patients before awake craniotomy and intraoperative electrocortical mapping. Activation was mapped for finger movement, lip movement, tongue movement, word generation, and counting paradigms. During surgery, finger movement, lip movement, tongue movement, counting, and/or speaking were mapped. The functional images and the photographic recordings of the brain functions mapped during surgery were converted to bit maps and coregistered by a computer program. The distance between the intraoperatively mapped function site and the MR activation site for a comparable function was measured.RESULTSForty-six functions were recorded on MR images and intraoperative maps. In 100% of correlations, the intraoperative site and the MR activation site were within 20 mm; in 87% of correlations they were within 10 mm. For each paradigm, 67% or more of the intraoperative stimulation maps correlated within 10 mm of the MR activation site.CONCLUSIONSFor the tasks used in this study, the activation site on functional MR images correlated well with the site at which intraoperative stimulation identified function.     

Age-Dependent Accumulation of Hybrid Vasopressin-Oxytocin Gene Products but not Hybrid Oxytocin-Vasopressin Products in the Endoplasmic Reticulum of Brattleboro Rats

The age-dependence of the incidence of magnocellular neurosecretory neurons containing abnormal accumulations of peptide in the rough endoplasmic reticulum was examined in homozygous Brattleboro rats and in their wild-type Long Evans counterparts. Neurons in which the immunophenotype of the peptide aggregates indicate that somatic cross-over mutations involving the 5' end of the vasopressin gene and the 3' end of the oxytocin gene have occurred, increased with age in homozygous Brattleboro rats, reaching a maximum of 24 cells per hypothalamus (approximately 0.6% of the vasopressin neurons). The increase occurred in both male and female animals but was significantly greater in females. The average incidence of such cells was 6 times greater in the supraoptic than in the paraventricular nucleus. No such cells could be detected in either nucleus of Long Evans rats despite the evidence for hybrid mRNA in these animals. Moreover, no accumulation of peptide translated from the hybrid mRNAs derived from the 5' end of the oxytocin gene and the 3' end of the vasopressin gene could be detected in either Brattleboro or Long Evans animals. These results strongly suggest that the accumulation of peptide in the rough endoplasmic reticulum of vasopressin neurons in homozygous Brattleboro rats is due to an abnormality other than the somatic crossing-over mutation. A second type of abnormal magnocellular neuron with accumulations of peptide in the rough endoplasmic reticulum, in which the immunophenotype of the peptide reveals products derived only from the oxytocin precursor, was present in both Long Evans and Brattleboro rats, but did not increase with age in Brattleboro rats. The incidence of these cells was similar in the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei.     

Type A behavior pattern and blood glucose control in diabetic children

We studied the relationship between presence of Type A behavior pattern and glycemic response to stress in children with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Twelve male (six Type A and six Type B) and nine female (four Type A and five Type B) insulin-dependent diabetic patients between the ages of 8 and 16 years received a standard meal and blood glucose values were assessed two hours later. All subjects then played a competitive videogame for 10 minutes following which blood glucose was assessed again. Preprandial and postprandial blood glucose values did not differ between the groups. However, only Type A subjects showed a hyperglycemic response to the videogame stress. Type A subjects also demonstrated significantly higher glycohemoglobin values. In order to assure that this effect was due to a differential response to stress and not simply a difference in metabolic response to a meal, a second study was conducted in which blood glucose values were assessed at one, two and three hours following a standard meal. No significant differences in postprandial blood glucose values were observed between Type A and Type B subjects. These data support previous research which has suggested that some but not all patients with IDDM show a hyperglycemic response to stress.