Distribution of mouse interferon-β in normal and brain tumour-bearing mice

Summary The distribution of¹²⁵I-labelled recombinant mouse interferon- (rMuIFN-) in normal and glioma (203 glioma) bearing mice was studied by radioassay and macro-autoradiography at 15 and 30 min after a single intravenous injection. The level of rMuIFN- in the spleen was about 20-fold higher than in serum. Concentrations higher than the serum level was detected in the lung, liver and kidney. The concentration of rMuIFN- in the brain was 8% of the serum level and the concentration in the glioma 30 min after administration was about 10-fold higher than in normal mouse brain. Macro-autoradiographic study demonstrated a wide distribution range and selective uptake in glioma tissue. Furthermore, we found that mouse gliomas were sensitive to mouse IFN-. Our findings demonstrate that in the mouse glioma model, intravenously administered interferon reaches the tumour.     

Clinical and neuropathological findings in severe athetoid cerebral palsy: a comparative study of globo-Luysian and thalamo-putaminal groups

We divided cases of severe athetoid cerebral palsy originating perinatally into two groups neuropathologically, the "globo-Luysian group" (GL) and the "thalamo-putaminal group" (TP). The major abnormal sites in GL were the pallidum and subthalamic nucleus, and in TP the thalamus and putamen. The lesions in TP were more widespread and frequently accompanied by fibrillary gliosis in the central gray matter of the midbrain, and subthalamic nuclei were dominantly devastated. Concerning the etiology, GL and TP were related to perinatal severe jaundice and neonatal asphyxia, respectively. The patients in TP showed lower mental ability and suffered from more intractable convulsions than those in GL. In GL, rigidospasticity was frequently demonstrated with fluctuation of athetoid movements, while in TP various abnormalities of muscle tone were observed, with rather restricted athetosis.     

Superior petrosal sinus dural arteriovenous malformation with varix indenting brain stem--report of a case and review of the literature

A rare case of the dural AVM mainly around the left petrosal sinus was reported. A 64 years old man was admitted just after the sudden onset of severe headache and nausea. The CT scan revealed subarachnoid hemorrhage in the left ambient cisterns. A small hematoma was also found in the left cerebellar peduncle. External carotid angiogram showed a dural AVM which nidus was located adjacent to the left superior petrosal sinus. Its feeding arteries were as follows; the middle meningeal artery, the artery of foramen rotundum, the accessory meningeal artery, the dural branch of occipital artery and the ascending pharyngeal artery. The voluminous petrosal vein and the dilated cortical veins were identified as drainers and, the portion of the latter appeared as "varix" embedded in the pons, which was clearly delineated by MRI. In the venous phase, stenotic straight sinus and residual Falcine sinus were illustrated. Superselective embolization of the feeding arteries was employed followed by the direct clippings of draining vein. Postoperative course was uneventful. The present case should be classified into the tentorial dural AVM. Only 26 cases of this rarely encountered entity was reported in the literature. Based on both the present and the previously reported cases, the clinical features, treatment and pathogenesis of this disease were briefly discussed.     

Measurement of local blood flow of the intestine by hydrogen clearance method; Experimental study

Local blood flow of the bowel wall was measured by hydrogen clearance method both in the muscular and submucosal layers in the mongrel dog, separately and concurrently. A platinum wire electrode with a bare tip of 0.5 mm in length and 0.2 mm in diameter was inserted into each layer. About 10 per cent hydrogen gas was inhalated directly through the side hole attached to the endotracheal tube for 1–2 minutes and the obtained clearance curves were plotted on the semi-logarithmic scale, which was almost monoexponential. The results obtained were as follows:

1. Mean basal perfusion rate of the muscular layer of the intestine was 0.81–0.92 ml/min/gm, whereas that of the submucosal layer was 1.29–1.31 ml/min/gm, respectively. There was little difference of perfusion rates between the small and the large intestine. The results showed good correlationship with those reported by other authors.
2. The effect of vasoactive substances such as vasoconstrictor and vasodilator on the local blood flow in the bowel wall was confirmed.
3. This method is repeatedly applicable for measurement and also renders the information on the distribution of blood flow in the splanchnic area.

     

Supersensitivity of cortical neurones of the rat to acetylcholine and L-glutamate following chronic morphine treatment

Summary The effect of microelectrophoretically applied L-glutamate and acetylcholine on discharge activity of cortical neurones was studied in naive and in morphine-tolerant/dependent rats. The thresholds for increase in discharge activity elicited by these 2 putative neurotransmitters were 3 times lower in the tolerant/dependent rats than in the naive rats, indicating the development of supersensitivity.     

Automatic detection of rapid eye movements by discrete wavelet transform

In order to detect rapid eye movements (REM) automatically, the Discrete Wavelet Transform was applied to each 8-s segment of electrooculogram (EOG) data for 30 min of 8 h of normal sleep. The Haar function was used as an analysing wavelet because this function is similar to the REM waveform. By shifting the phase of the analysing wavelet by pi/4 of the function, 96% of REM could be detected. The artifacts caused by body movements could be detected simultaneously by this method. Computing time required for the detection of REM was only 11 s for 30 min EOG data.     

New technique for producing hybridoma by using laser radiation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: With conventional methods, cell fusion rate is extremely low, and fusion of two specific cells is not possible. We developed a new method for inducing cell fusion under the microscope by using a microprocessing device by laser. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Under a microscope, the target cells were irradiated with laser beams for trapping. Then, the trapped cells were transferred and placed in contact with the corresponding cells, which were also fixed by laser beam. The pulse laser beams are focused on the contact surface to cut small perforations for mutual communication of the cytoplasms. RESULTS: The fusion rate of mouse myeloma cells was 38%. The rate of hybridoma production of myeloma cell and lymphocyte was 2%. We confirmed the proliferation of the newly formed hybridoma in HAT medium and the production of immunoglobulin G. CONCLUSION: This new cell fusion method is characterized by production of hybridomas of target cells, lower cell toxicity, and a high rate of hybrid production.     

Measurement of protein C inhibitor in seminal plasma is useful for detecting agenesis of seminal vesicles or the vas deferens

Protein C inhibitor (PCI), a plasma serine protease inhibitor of activated protein C, is present at high concentrations in the seminal plasma of normal subjects and is decreased in some infertile patients. We measured the concentrations of PCI, prostate-specific antigen, and fructose in the seminal plasma of infertile patients (n = 125) and of normal subjects (n = 13). We also measured time-dependent changes in the concentrations of PCI and fructose in seminal plasma after ejaculation. A weak correlation was found between the levels of PCI and fructose (r = 0.268, P = 0.016). The PCI level in seminal plasma of patients with seminal vesicle and/or vasal agenesis was significantly lower (P < .01) than in normal subjects. The level of fructose in seminal plasma decreased in vitro in a time-dependent manner after ejaculation, whereas the concentration of PCI was stable at 48 hours after ejaculation. These data suggest that PCI in seminal plasma, as well as fructose, may become one of the markers for agenesis of seminal vesicles and/or the vas deferens.     

Prediction of nodal metastasis by comparative genomic hybridization in biopsy specimens from patients with superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Selection of appropriate protocols for treatment of superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SESCC) is dependent on lymph node metastasis status. Therefore, it is important to know whether lymph node metastasis is present before treatment. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: In this study, we examined the relation between DNA sequence copy number aberrations detected by comparative genomic hybridization and lymph node metastasis in 26 surgically resected SESCCs (training samples). We then assessed whether the genetic information is predictive for nodal status in biopsy specimens from eight newly enrolled patients with SESCC (blinded samples). RESULTS: Pathological examination revealed that 17 of 26 training samples (65.4%) did not have associated lymph node metastasis. Gains of 8q24 and/or 20q12-qter were observed in 12, including all (nine of nine) with nodal metastasis. Fourteen training samples did not have gain of either 8q24 or 20q12-qter. Of the blinded samples, two showed no gain of 8q24 or 20q12-qter, and as anticipated the postoperative pathological examination revealed no nodal metastasis. The remaining six blinded samples had gains of 8q24 and/or 20q12-qter, and lymph node metastasis was detected by postoperative examination in four of these tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Absence of gains of 8q24 and/or 20q12-qter appears to be associated with absence of lymph node metastasis in patients with SESCC; therefore, less invasive surgery can be chosen.