Suppressor T-lymphocyte dysfunction in MCNS: role of the H2 histamine receptor-bearing suppressor T lymphocytes

To evaluate the number and function of suppressor T cells in children with minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS), we performed an inhibition test of rosette formation and measured leukocyte procoagulant activity. The number of histamine H2 receptor-bearing T lymphocytes (histamine H2 R+ lymphocytes) was markedly decreased at the onset of MCNS but gradually increased and was normalized following steroid therapy. The production of leukocyte procoagulant activity by normal T lymphocytes was abolished by incubation with patient's lymphocytes. However, pretreatment of the normal T lymphocytes with cimetidine markedly decreased the suppression. The results suggest an abnormality in the histamine H2 receptors on the patient's suppressor T lymphocytes.     

The infeasibility of using ten-ring irradiated grafts for tracheal allotransplantation even with omentopexy

In our previous study, we demonstrated that high-dose ⁶⁰Co irradiation was able to prevent rejection of canine tracheal allografts. To determine the maximum possible length of these grafts, in the present study we attempted to transplant five-ring and ten-ring tracheal allografts in two groups of five dogs each. Either five or ten rings were excised from donor tracheas and irradiated with 100,000 cGy of ⁶⁰Co. The irradiated tracheal grafts were transplanted to replace either five- or ten-ring sections of the mediastinal tracheas removed from the recipient dogs. The grafts were covered with omental pedicles and no immunosuppressants were used. Graft incorporation was achieved in four of the five dogs in the five-ring group, and three of these dogs survived for more than 700 days. However, four of the five animals in the ten-ring group died from tracheostenosis accompanied by ischemia within 3 weeks. These findings demonstrate the impossibility of performing ten-ring tracheal allotransplantation using irradiated grafts, even with omentopexy.     

Histamine metabolism in the nasal tissue of human and nasal hypersensitive guinea-pig

Histamine (HA) is the most important mediator of nasal allergy and nasal hypersensitivity. To investigate HA metabolism, HA content and activities of its synthetic enzyme, histidine decarboxylase (HDC) and degrading enzymes, histamine-N-methyltransferase (HMT) and diamine oxidase (DAO) in nasal mucosa of human and toluene diisocyanate (TDI) sensitized guinea-pigs were measured. In human nasal mucosa and nasal polyps, HA content and HDC activity were 80-200 nmol/g tissue, 20-30 fmol/min/mg protein respectively. Among two degrading enzymes, HMT activity was 20-200 times higher than that of DAO. In the nasal mucosa of guinea-pigs, HA content was significantly increased by TDI sensitization, and was decreased immediately after TDI provocation. In 24 hours after provocation, HA content recovered to 80% of pre-provocation level. HDC activity increased by TDI sensitization significantly. Though HMT activity increased slightly by TDI sensitization and provocation, DAO activity was unchanged. The data suggest that, increase in turnover rate of HA is present in allergic nasal mucosa.     

Ross procedure in an infant weighing 4.5 kg

A 6 month-old male infant (weight: 4.5 kg) with congenital aortic stenosis underwent aortic valve replacement with a pulmonary autograft (Ross procedure). The right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) was reconstructed with a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-valved equine pericardial conduit. At the age of 5, re-RVOT reconstruction with an equine pericardial patch bearing a PTFE monocusp was required because of severe pulmonary stenosis resistant to 2 attempts of percutaneous transluminal pulmonary valvotomy. Currently, at the age of 8, the degree of aortic regurgitation is trivial and the pulmonary autograft is free of functional deterioration despite somatic growth.     

Vermis lesions in acute cerebellar ataxia: a sequential imaging study

We report a case of acute cerebellar ataxia (ACA) with discrete paleocerebellar clinical symptoms who underwent serial cranial magnetic resonance images not only with conventional spin echo sequences but also fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequences. The images with the latter sequences demonstrated more conspicuously the high signal intensity lesions in the superior cerebellar vermis and cerebellar peduncle than those with the former sequences. In the convalescent phase, the lesions became markedly atrophic. Thus, the causative lesions for ACA were demonstrated on MRI, and FLAIR provided clear images of the lesion in the vermis.     

Synthesis and antiviral activity of sulfonamidobenzophenone oximes and sulfonamidobenzamides

To find antiviral agents, various sulfonamidobenzophenone oximes (II) were synthesized from the appropriate m-sulfonamidobenzophenones by hydroxylamine reaction. The reaction products were generally obtained as syn/anti mixtures which were separable by fractional crystallization. The anti isomer had more potent antipoliovirus activity than the syn isomer. Various sulfonamidobenzamides (III) which were structurally related to II were synthesized by the reactions of amino-substituted benzamides with sulfuryl chloride or amines with (aminosulfonyl)benzoyl chloride. Antiviral activity was examined by the plaque-inhibition test. Compounds 5, 36, and 69 exhibited strong antipicornavirus activity. The structure-activity relationships are discussed.     

Disposition and excretion of Irgasan® DP300 and its chlorinated derivatives in mice

The distributions of radioactivity were examined by whole body autoradiography and liquid scintillation spectrophotometry in male ddY mice following oral administration of tritium-labelled Irgasan^® DP300 (2,4,4-trichloro-2-hydroxydiphenyl ether) (I) and its three chlorinated derivatives; 2,3,4,4-tetrachloro-2-hydroxydiphenyl ether (II), 2,4,4,5-tetrachloro-2-hydroxydiphenyl ether (III) and 2,3,4,4,5-pentachloro-2-hydroxydiphenyl ether (IV). The autoradiograms at 6 or 24 hr showed that the radioactivity distributed in the gall, liver, lung, heart, and kidneys. Among these tissues the radioactivity was most concentrated in the gall, suggesting the enterohepatic circulation of these compounds. A much higher level of radioactivity in each tissue was observed in mice receiving [³H]-III than the other compounds tested. Most of the radioactivity disappeared from each tissue in 24 hr due to [³H]-Irgasan DP300, [³H]-II or [³H]-IV, but in 96 hr it was due to [³H]-III.The cumulative radioactivity excreted in urine after administration of these compounds was in the order of [³H]-Irgasan DP300, [³H]-II, [³H]-IV and [³H]-III while that in feces was in the order of [³H]-IV, [³H]-III, [³H]-II and [³H]-Irgasan DP300,This work was presented at the 106th Annual Meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan (1986).     

Microspectrophotometric analysis of DNA content in duct epithelial proliferation and invasive carcinoma of the pancreas]

Nuclear DNA content of 131 pancreatic duct epithelial lesions, including 10 normal ducts, 30 intraductal proliferations with mild atypia (groups I-II), 30 with moderate atypia (group III), 24 with severe atypia (group IV), 14 of carcinoma in situ (group V), and 23 invasive carcinomas, was analyzed using microspectrophotometry. DNA histograms were classified into diploid, polyploid and aneuploid patterns. All of normal duct epithelia showed diploidy. Polyploid patterns were observed in 3 (10%) lesions of groups I-II, 17 (56.7%) of group III, 14 (58.4%) of group IV, 7 (50%) of group V, and 6 (26.1%) of invasive carcinomas, and aneuploid patterns were observed in 0%, 10%, 33.3%, 50% and 73.9%, respectively. This distribution of ploidy patterns revealed a gradual shift to the main ploidy from diploid to polyploid followed by aneuploid in proportion to the increase of the degree of epithelial atypia. The frequencies of polyploid cells in each lesion were determined. Their averages were 0.2% in groups I-II, 1.9% in group III, 3.4% in group IV, 4.4% in group V, and 6.7% in invasive carcinoma. The S+G2M phase fractions were significantly higher in proliferative epithelia than in normal. The results of this study suggest that duct epithelial proliferations of the pancreas have "genetic instability" leading to a serial clonal evolution and play a significant role in the progression of pancreatic duct cell carcinoma.     

Effect of halothane and enflurane on hepatic blood flow and oxygen consumption in dogs

We investigated the relative effects of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 MAC halothane and enflurane, and concurrent noxious stimulus on hepatic blood flow and oxygen consumption in 14 mongrel dogs randomly divided into groups of seven each. Hepatic arterial and portal venous blood flow (HABF and PVBF, respectively) were measured continuously using ultrasonic transit time flow meter. Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), cardiac index (CI), hepatic oxygen supply, and hepatic oxygen consumption (H _{O 2}) were measured. Halothane significantly deceased HABF, but not PVBF in a dose dependent manner. Enflurane did not affect HABF and PVBF significantly. MAP and CI decreased in both groups, with halothane producing more marked decreases than enflurane. H _{O 2} did not change with enflurane, but did with halothane, producing significant differences, with halothane being greater at 1.5, 2.0 MAC. A noxious stimulus only caused minor change in blood flow. The results suggest that liver blood flow and oxygen consumption are affected differently by halothane and enflurane and that halothane has a stronger tendency to cause an imbalance between liver oxygen supply and consumption than dose enflurane.(Masaki E, Yasuda N, Tanifuji Y et al.: Effect of halothane and enflurane on hepatic blood flow and oxygen consumption in dogs. J Anesth 3: 118–122, 1989)