Retention, excretion and translocation of 239Pu in rats following inhalation of 239PuO2 calcined at 1150 and 400 degrees C.

Wistar rats inhaled 239PuO2 particles prepared by the calcination of 239Pu hydroxide at 1150 and 400 degrees C. Lung retention, fecal and urinary excretion, and translocation of 239Pu were compared between the two calcination temperatures. The clearance of 239Pu from the lungs was significantly faster in the rats exposed to 239PuO2 calcined at 400 degrees C (low-temperature group) than those exposed to 239PuO2 calcined at 1150 degrees C (high-temperature group). Both the fecal excretion of 239Pu and the ratio of fecal excretion to urinary excretion was greater in the low-temperature group than in high-temperature group. The amounts of 239Pu translocated from the lungs to the other organs were very small. Even in the liver, which accumulated the largest amount of 239Pu except for the lungs, only 0.13-0.20% of the initial lung burden was retained 1 year after inhalation. The amount of 239Pu deposited in the liver was greater in the high-temperature group than in the low-temperature group both at 1 month and 1 year after the inhalation. These findings clearly suggest that the lung retention of 239Pu in rats is significantly affected by the calcination temperature of 239PuO2.     

Analysis of alpha1-adrenoceptor subtypes in rabbit aorta and arteries: regional difference and co-existence.

This study was done to determine the alpha1-adrenoceptor subtypes and to characterize the functional role of alpha1D-adrenoceptors in the following rabbit arteries: thoracic and abdominal aorta, mesenteric, renal and iliac arteries. In all arteries, selective alpha1D-adrenoceptor antagonist BMY 7378 (8-(2-(4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl)ethyl)-8-azaspirol(4,5) decane-7,9-dione dihydrochloride) dose dependently shifted the concentration-response curves for norepinephrine to the right. Schild plots of the results obtained from the inhibition by BMY 7378 for norepinephrine yielded a straight line with a slope of unity in thoracic (pA2 6.54+/-0.02) and abdominal (pA2 6.73+/-0.03) aorta. Slopes of Schild plots obtained from the inhibition by BMY 7378 for norepinephrine were significantly different from unity in mesenteric, renal and iliac arteries. Slopes of Schild plots for BMY 7378 were not different from unity in chloroethylclonidine-treated thoracic (pA2 6.49+/-0.14) and abdominal (pA2 6.61+/-0.11) aorta. Slopes of Schild plots for BMY 7378 were significantly different from unity in chloroethylclonidine-treated mesenteric, renal and iliac arteries. On the other hand, in Ca2+-free physiological saline solution (Ca2+-free PSS) slopes obtained from Schild plots for BMY 7378 were not different from unity in thoracic (pA2 6.41+/-0.09) and abdominal (pA2 6.28+/-0.07) aorta and mesenteric (pA2 6.55+/-0.06), renal (pA2 6.24+/-0.10) and iliac (pA2 6.64+/-0.13) arteries. BMY 7378 inhibited [3H]prazosin binding to thoracic (pKi 6.44+/-0.08) and abdominal (pKi 6.59+/-0.02) aorta with low potency, and mesenteric (pKi High 8.66+/-0.28, pKi Low 6.34+/-0.14), renal (pKi High 8.71+/-0.33, pKi Low 6.45+/-0.03) and iliac artery (pKi High 8.60+/-0.24, pKi Low 6.56+/-0.13). These results suggest that alpha1D-adrenoceptors play a significant role for contractile responses in renal and iliac artery, but play virtually no role in thoracic and abdominal aorta and that an alpha1-adrenoceptor subtype, which is pharmacologically distinguishable from the alpha1A-, alpha1B- and alpha1D-adrenoceptor subtype, may co-exist in mesenteric artery.     

The von-Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene is not mutated in sporadic ovarian carcinomas

The von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene has been shown to be mutated frequently not only in neoplasms from von Hippel-Lindau disease, but also in sporadic clear cell renal carcinoma. In order to reveal the possible role of the VHL tumor suppressor gene in the development of ovarian carcinoma, a total of 71 primary sporadic ovarian carcinomas were analyzed for the presence of mutations in the exon 2 and 3 of the VHL tumor suppressor gene, using the polymerase chain reaction with single strand conformation polymorphism analysis. No mutations in the VHL gene were found in any of the tumors analyzed. This result shows that the VHL tumor suppressor gene does not play a major role in the tumorigenesis of sporadic ovarian carcinoma.     

Prediction of viability of ischemically damaged canine pancreatic grafts by tissue flow rate with machine perfusion.

We studied the viability of canine pancreatic grafts using a short-time perfusion technique with an organ perfusion machine, "ORPH3000C". The following parameters were examined during perfusion of warm ischemically damaged grafts: Amylase, lipase, and insulin levels in the perfusate after 1-hr perfusion showed no significant correlation with warm ischemic time (WIT), and these indices could not be used to assess graft viability. Tissue flow rate (TFR) at the end of perfusion was significantly decreased with prolonged WIT. TFR correlated with the percent decrease in tissue SOD activity, thus TFR was a reliable predictor of reperfusion injury. Histological studies showed no findings attributable to warm ischemic injury before 1-hr perfusion. After 1-hr perfusion, the grafts were allotransplanted and the relation between TFR and endocrine function of the transplanted grafts was examined. TFR correlated with K value calculated from IV-GTT performed on day 5 postoperatively, suggesting that TFR is a predictable index of isolated pancreatic graft viability. Using TFR levels, this method allowed us to select only grafts with good function prior to transplantation. This technique appears to be of use for pancreatic transplantation from cadaver donors after cardiac arrest.     

Effects of small dose of brotizolam on P300

Nine healthy men (mean age, 22.2 years) participated in two experimental sessions cross-overed randomly in a double blind manner; one with a placebo and the other with 0.125 mg of brotizolam (BTZ) administered in the morning. Resting electroencephalogram and event-related potential under oddball paradigm was recorded before and 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 h after the administration. Mean 30-msec bin amplitude from 240 msec to 450 msec after the stimulus was compared between placebo and drug sessions in order to observe P300. Brotizolam reduced the amplitude of P300 at 6 h after administration. It was noted that the effects of BTZ were most marked at Fz.     

Subjective and functional results after total gastrectomy: prospective study for longterm comparison of reconstruction procedures

Background: Many reconstruction procedures have been developed in efforts to resolve patients' complaints after total gastrectomy. However, there have been few reports of longterm comparisons between reconstruction procedures, especially with regard to the prevention of duodenal food passage. This study was undertaken to compare the longterm subjective and functional results among Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy (R-Y), R-Y with pouch (P-Y), and jejunal interposition with pouch (P-I) after total gastrectomy. Methods: Consecutive patients requiring curative total gastrectomy were enrolled in this prospective study by the envelope method. Results: Hospital stay was longer following a P-I than an R-Y or a P-Y. Over 50% of R-Y patients complained of heartburn, and 20% of R-Y patients showed dumping syndrome throughout the postoperative period, with this rate being significantly different from rates in the other two groups. P-Y patients complained of early satiety in the late postoperative period, while P-I patients complained of early satiety in the early postoperative period. The nutritional index in P-I patients was higher than those in patients with the other two procedures. Gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary dual scintigraphy (GHDS) showed that the rate of bile reflux with an R-Y was relatively high after surgery. Food reflux with a P-Y was increased (9.4% to 11.1%), but with a P-I food reflux was decreased at 3 years after surgery (13.3% to 9.9%). Patients with a P-Y had a faster recovery of body, weight in the early postoperative period; however, at 5 years after operation, body weight recovery with a P-I was greatest. Conclusion: Reconstruction should be performed with pouch formation after total gastrectomy with curative intent. Received: March 7, 2002 / Accepted: September 26, 2002 Acknowledgments This study was partly supported by the University of Tsukuba Research Project. Offprint requests to: S. Adachi     

Coronary artery bypass surgery in a patient with myasthenia gravis

A 73-year-old man with myasthenia gravis required quadruple coronary artery bypass grafting due to triple-vessel disease. Anesthetic management was performed with general anesthesia using a reduced dose of muscle relaxant with the aid of a neuromuscular transmission monitor. He was extubated 14 hrs after surgery without difficulty under this monitor. His postoperative course was uneventful. A patient with myasthenia gravis who required coronary artery bypass surgery was successfully performed by the deliberate preoperative evaluation of patient's myasthenic and cardiac status, and by the careful perioperative management.     

Serine protease inhibitors prevent alcoholic liver injury]

The hepatotoxic effects of alcohol have been described in detail, but factors responsible for its hepatotoxicity have only partially characterized. It now appears that Kupffer cell derived TNF-alpha participates in several aspects of alcoholic liver injury. On the other hand, protease inhibitors have been used successfully for treatment of intractable diseases in which TNF-alpha is involved in the pathogenesis, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Here, we will review new evidence for the proposal that serine protease inhibitors prevents alcoholic liver injury via mechanisms dependent on Kupffer cell derived TNF-alpha.     

Gender difference in alcoholic liver injury]

Gender differences of alcoholic liver injury have been described previously, but mechanisms have only partially characterized. For example, it is known that females develop alcoholic liver injury more rapidly and to a greater extent than males. It now appears that estrogen participates in several aspects of this phenomenon. On the other hand, attention has been directed towards the effect of ethanol ingestion on Kupffer cell function, which is stimulated by gut-derived endotoxins via mechanisms dependent on increased gut permeability and the possible relationship between Kupffer cell and alcohol-induced liver injury.